Conversation with Navin Amarasuriya

"Nature never hurries, but everything is done"In this episode recorded in Oct 2025, host Tomo Hamakawa speaks with Navin Amarasurya, the CEO of the Contentment Foundation. Navin’s journey is a rich tapestry of cultural shifts: born in Singapore with Sri Lankan roots, educated in the UK, and now living in the coastal mountains of Itoshima, Japan. His name itself—Navin (New), Amara (Immortal/Endless), and Surya (Sun)—sets the stage for a conversation about reimagining timeless qualities in a transient world.The Three RhythmsSlow: Navin challenges our linear view of time, advocating for a cyclical perspective where "orientation is more important than speed". Drawing from his experience in jungle navigation and car racing ("slow in, fast out"), he explains why moving faster when lost is the most dangerous thing you can do. His primary daily practice for slowness is the Japanese ritual of bathing—transforming a communal onsen visit into a deep, hour-long integrated meditation that honors the body and reconnects the soul to stillness.Flow: Navin views flow through a Daoist lens—not as something to be chased, but as a "natural, self-organizing order" to be allowed. He shares a practical (and relatable) example of sensing flow during a frustrating airline booking: realizing when it’s "not the time" and letting go of the struggle. He introduces the "Way of No Preferences," suggesting that when we hold our desires lightly, we can flow more easily with the river of life rather than fighting the current.Glow: For Navin, glow is a state of "enoughness". He describes beauty that radiates from the inside out, using the metaphor of "Lighthouse Schools"—institutions that simply stand and shine without running around looking for ships to save. He reflects on the continuity of light, acknowledging that his own glow is a reflection of the teachers and ancestors who came before him.The Additional Word: NONavin chooses the word "No" to accompany the trilogy. He describes it as a "loving no"—a tool that allows us to say "yes" to things more deeply. In a world of infinite digital distractions, the ability to close certain doors is what allows us to walk through the remaining ones with true intention and community.Key Imagery and TakeawaysMonks at the Airport: A charming story from the Plum Village tradition about how to walk "fast and mindfully" without rushing.Deepening the Roots: A reflection on Masanobu Fukuoka’s "do nothing farming," where true health is found in the invisible roots below the surface rather than just the harvest above.The Thief and the Moon: The Zen story of the monk Ryokan, who found gratitude even when his only possession was stolen, because the thief "gave him the moon".Vipassana Strategic Retreats: Why Navin prioritizes 30-day meditation retreats, allowing enough time to move past the "mini existential crisis" of the first few days into a deeper baseline of presenceNavin Amarasuriya’s profile, in his own words"I serve as CEO of the Contentment Foundation, where we bring scientifically grounded wellbeing practices into school systems around the world. My path into this work unexpectedly began in luxury goods. Raised within a 153 year old family business crafting objects of desire, I found myself with an early view of accumulation’s end game. It left me curious about enoughness, perception, and the stories people tell themselves through the things they pursue.I come most alive where curiosity sharpens into inquiry, where people gather around timeless questions, and where small acts of presence and care send ripples far beyond what the eye can see."LinkedInTomo Hamakawa. Social entrepreneur, accidental hotelier, regenerative facilitator, strategic advisor, father of 4 kids - living in Ubud, Bali.  ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠Please share your comments, questions, and requests!⁠https://forms.gle/2UqGMwUw6BS66cGF7