tipitaka network ... his life, his acts, his words                 sabbe satta bhavantu sukhi-tatta

News at Tipitaka Network

up a level

He takes degree to help others in need

The New Paper (Singapore), Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Helping those in need has taken him on a lifelong journey of learning.

At 26, he earned a law degree to provide free legal advice.

At 40, he completed a three-year Mandarin training course so he could counsel non-English speaking prisoners here.

Now, Buddhist monk Nakulugamuwe Sumana Thero, 60, is back in school again.

The Singapore permanent resident, who was born in Sri Lanka, is pursuing a three-year Bachelor of Counselling at SIM University (UniSIM).

He has been counselling senior citizens, drug addicts and prisoners for more than 20 years.

So why bother with the paper chase?

Reverend Sumana said: 'Previously, I'd just use my religious knowledge during counselling to advise the person on how to change for the better.

'I signed up for the UniSIM course so I can learn how to provide counselling more systematically and professionally.'

The second-year UniSIM student had no prior formal training in counselling.

Rev Sumana had graduated from the University of Colombo in Sri Lanka with a LLB in 1976.

He was admitted to the bar but chose not to practise law due to opposition from the religious and legal fraternities.

He recalled: 'The religious associations felt as a lawyer, I'd have to twist the truth, thus violating Buddhist principles.

'The lawyers felt I'd spoil the market... I did think that I could provide legal services free of charge if people needed help.'

The controversy played out in the media for three months and ended up in court when several religious associations sought to prevent him from practising.

Although the court ruled that it was the monk's civic right to practise, he decided not to take the lawyer's oath in the end.

Rev Sumana said: 'It was not a waste of my education. I can still advise people on the various outcomes of going through the legal process.

'I tell them how much they'll spend and that they may not win, and I tell them about the option of mediation as well.'

His law degree also resulted in an unexpected benefit more than 30 years later.

Based on his qualifications, he was awarded a UniSIM scholarship, which covers all the tuition fees for his degree, including exam fees and course material.

Counselled drug addicts

Rev Sumana first came to Singapore in 1982. He was invited to be the resident monk at a temple run by the Sri Lankan community here.

He also counselled drug addicts.

He later helped to establish the Society of Buddhist Volunteers, a welfare organisation that caters to senior citizens.

Rev Sumana said he later extended his counselling services to prisoners.

When he realised that '99 percent of prison counselling is conducted in Mandarin', he left for the National Taiwan Normal University where he studied Mandarin from 1987 to 1990.

Scholarships from the Taiwan university and the Society covered his tuition fees.

He said the Society had offered him a salary for counselling senior citizens when they applied for his permanent residency.

However, he said: 'I take what I need for my personal expenses and donate the rest back to the Society.'

Rev Sumana said he has been able to apply what he learnt from the course, like interview techniques and how to conduct group counselling, to his work.

He said: 'I've learnt that counselling is not about giving advice, but building up people's confidence and helping them to find their own solutions.'

However, he has had to reduce his prison counselling sessions from three to five days a week to two to three days.

'Besides attending classes for two to three hours twice a week, we also have to do online tutorials and research, and there's lots of reading,' he explained.

'I am fully occupied every day. I work till 1am or 2am to complete the activities for the course.'

Rev Sumana said his biggest challenge so far is the technological hurdle.

He said: 'Previously, I only used the computer for writing letters, but not for online searches. I was struggling in my first semester, but my younger classmates always helped me out.'

He recalled how he submitted his first assignment wrongly and found out only when the IT department informed him.

The university then arranged a special session with the IT staff for him.

source: http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,197319,00.html

Buddhist News Features:

Thursday, May 4, 2023 Vesak Extra!
UN: At this time of strife, Buddha’s teachings are a source of solace and strength

Sunday, May 15, 2022 Vesak Extra!
UN: Each crisis reminds us of how far we have fallen away from Buddha’s timeless teachings

Wednesday, May 26, 2021 Vesak Extra!
UN: Let’s resolve to build lives of peace and dignity for all on a healthy planet

Samsara Pulse
Florida
`Come and visit`: Inside a Buddhist temple in Homestead and the people who call it home


Samsara buzz
Dr. Gamini Jayasinghe, a key figure in the dissemination of Buddhism across the US


Samsara buzz
Preserving the sacred treasures in our care with treasure caretaker training


Pakistan
Agreement signed to preserve Taxila archaeological heritage


India
Arunachal Dy CM inaugurates Theravada Buddhist convention hall in Namsai


Samsara buzz
Holistic healing: The role of Buddhist thought in modern mental health


Samsara buzz
Buddhas of Bamiyan: The colossal twin statues that stood sentinel over Afghanistan — until the Taliban destroyed them


New York
Thai consul general participated in inauguration ceremony of the stupa at Wat Pa Buddha Thai Thavorn Albany


Samsara buzz
Leon Kennedy & Burmese meditation


Samsara buzz
Never forget Tibet: The Dalai Lama’s untold story on streaming platforms worldwide


Samsara buzz
Hidden gem: An abundance of Buddhas in Hong Kong Buddhist art museum


China
Traditional Shoton Festival celebrated in Lhasa


Samsara buzz
The Buddhist ‘Dead Sea Scrolls’


Samsara buzz
Radical openness in volatile times


Samsara buzz
Short journey home: Awakening to freedom with Thích Nhất Hạnh


England (UK)
The world’s oldest printed book and rare ancient manuscripts from the Mogao caves in China to go on show in London


Iowa
Annual Theravada Dhamma Society of Iowa picnic highlights culture and religion of local Burmese community


Samsara buzz
Ven. Dr. Butawatte Sri Saranankara Nayaka Thera, Chief Adhikarana Sangha Nayaka of Malaysia


Samsara buzz
Walking the path of awakening: Thai meditation master Phra Thepyanmongkol (1929–2018)


Cambodia
Phnom Sampov: The pearl of Battambang



Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammāsambuddhassa.
Buddha sāsana.m cira.m ti.t.thatu.