Early Childhood
Born in Laksam of Cumilla District of Bangladesh, Sujit Kumar Singha was born
in a prominent Buddhist family. His mother’s name is Kanan
Bala Singha, and his father’s name is
Manmohan Singha. Understanding
Young Sujit’s deep interest in Dharma Studies, his mother sent
him to learn Buddhism from an eminent Buddhist scholar, the most Venerable
Jyotipal Mahathera. Young
Sujit was so blessed that he was ordained as a novice monk (Samanera) and higher ordination (Bhikkhu) under Venerable
Jyotipal Mahathera. Following
Theravadin rules (Vinaya), master Jyotipal
Mahathera gave a new monastic name to young Sujit Kumar as Sugato Bhikkhu.
Introducing
Philanthropists in the Buddhist Way
Inspired by the greatest Buddhist
philanthropist Venerable Jyotipal Mahathera, the 10th Sangharaj (the supreme patriarch of Bangladesh), young Sugato Bhikkhu started his volunteering
service to help orphanages in his hometown. For the sake of supporting poor students’ education, he took over a local orphanage for
six years. With a heart of
dignity to serve poor and orphanized students, Sugato Bhikkhu continued his
volunteering philanthropist service until he left his motherland for Thailand
for his higher education.
Education in the
Land of White Elephant
For Southeast and South Asians,
Thailand is renowned as the land of white elephants. Because of the devotees' altruistic hearts toward
monastic members, Thailand is also known as the land of yellow robes. Venerable Sugato
Bhikkhu arrived in Thailand in 2006. Soon after he came to the land of Siam, he started
his Masters of Arts in Buddhist Studies at Mahamukut Buddhist University. Apart from
academic education, he learned the Theravadin way of insight meditation (Vipassana Bhavana) from various meditational institutions. Due to his fond
interest in learning meditation in an academic way, Sugato Bhikkhu completed a
certificate course, Masters of Mindfulness from prominent
Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University. He is so diligent and passionate about continuing his
higher education up to the Ph.D. level based on
Mindfulness practice.
Noble Tie between
Bangladesh and Thailand
Following the noble footsteps of the
Buddha, Venerable Sugato Bhikkhu is a peacemaker. He always shares his thoughts of harmony and social
unity among people who cross borders and beyond. Because of his charismatic teachings in Dharma,
numerous Thai devotees follow Ven. Sugato’s footsteps. Fonding to his teaching, many Thai devotees urged
him to travel to Bangladesh. Since he arrived in Thailand, many Thai devotees
visited Bangladesh and learned about its cultural heritage, people, and customs. Inspired by
Venerable Sugato Bhikkhu, Thai devotees’ generous
support helped to build up a monastery, named World Peace Pagoda Analayo, which
is located in front of Salban Vihara of Cumilla. It is noteworthy that Salban Vihara was one of the
prominent Buddhist learning centers during the Pala and the Gupta period of
Bangladesh and is renowned as the sister institution of the eminent Nalanda and
Vikramshila University of India. In addition to Venerable Sugato Bhikkhu’s visionary thought, Thai devotees continued their
dharma relations between Bangladesh and Thailand.
Missionary
Activities in Bangladesh
Venerable Sugato Bhikkhu has an
altruistic heart for supporting students, especially those who are under the
poverty line. For the sake of
poor Buddhist students, he established a Buddhist Educational Foundation in
Comilla, Bangladesh. Under
the Buddhist Educational Foundation, currently, 654 students are studying and
regularly receiving books, study equipment, and scholarships. Recognizing his
heart for free education for poor students, devotees of Bangladesh renowned him
as a missionary monk of Bangladesh. It is noteworthy that Venerable Sugato Bhikkhu was
deeply inspired by his missionary service by the great Bengali philanthropist
and missionary monk, the most Venerable Kripacharan Mahathera, and the most
Venerable Jyotipal Mahathera.
International
Recognization
Because of altruistic service and
missionary work, Venerable Sugato Bhikkhu became well-known in Southeast Asia
and beyond. Exchanging his
missionary works, Venerable Sugato Bhikkhu received several invitations to
join in international conferences and Buddhist symposiums around the world
below:
World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) Conference, Korea. 2016
World Buddhist
Sangha Council (WBSC) Conference, Malaysia. 2018
Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Conference, Taiwan. 2018
International
Buddhist Conference (IBC), Vietnam. 2019
Interested in
Buddhist culture and pilgrimage, Venerable Sugato Bhikkhu traveled to
Singapore, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
Publications
Apart from his missionary and
meditation service, Venerable Sugato Bhikkhu composed a number of books that
were appreciated by devotees and followers. His composed books are Dhamma Studies for the Elementary Level, Dhamma Studies for the Secondary Level, Dhamma Studies for the Higher
Level, and Navaka Bhikkhupakarana. Venerable Sugato Bhikkhu’s compiling books
are nominated as textbooks for the Friday School of Buddhist Education
Foundation of Bangladesh.
Present Service
and Thoughts
Venerable Sugato Bhikkhu has been
continuing his philanthropic service for the sake of Buddhist devotees and
seekers all around the world. He also continues to teach novices and monks at Wat
Phutthabucha Monastery in Bangkok, Thailand. Propagating the Buddha Dharma, he donated numerous
Buddha statues to remote areas of India and Bangladesh. He is diligent and passionate about continuing his Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies at the
Mahachulalongkornrajavidyala University of Thailand.
Following
the greatest Bangladeshi Buddhist philanthropists: Venerable Kripacharan
Mahathera and Venerable Jyotipal Mahathera, may the legacy of Sugato Bhikkhu
continue in every direction of this universe.
Tributing the contribution of Venerable Sugato Bhikkhu, this brief biography is written by Dr. Sanjoy Barua Chowdhury, Lecturer, Mahidol University, Thailand.