Reverence Dr. Sumana Siri
D. Th (Oxford), D.B.S., B.A. (Hons) D.Hom(Med.) (U.K.), N.M.D., D.H.M. (U.S.A.), F.B.I. H. (U.K.), Executive Director, Medical Consultant
Born 1st January to Singapore parents in Malacca, 52 years ago, Ven. Dr. Sumana Siri belongs both to Singapore and Malaysia.
After his primary school in Geylang, at 11+ he became the first boy to be ordained in Singapore's history in 1964, at Sri Lankaramaya where he won a gold medal in the Sundays School.
His teacher was Ven. Moratuwe Sumana Maha Thera, Chief Monk of Sri Lankaramaya, in the 60s. Subsequently, the young Venerable went to Sri Lanka and got himself trained in all aspects of Buddhism including Oriental languages. Learning science at college with Western Classics and Economics, he then embarked on University education, which earned him a Diploma and an Honours degree together with certs in German, French, and Hindi. He now speaks 11 languages.
After 15 years serving Malaysia particularly his Penang Centre and Singapore, he went to London University and studied Law. At the same time in 1991, he established the Buddhist Realist's Vihara in London and Italy in 1997.
4 years of Medical Studies in London gave him a Diploma and Doctorate in Homeopathy Medicine. He was made a Fellow in the British Institute of Homeopathy. Concurrently, the American Naturopathic Medical Association conferred a doctorate on him.
As a widely read scholar Ven. Dr. Sumana at 52 has been and served 52 countries giving research papers in Sociology, History, Criminal Laws and Medical Ethics apart from all aspects of Buddhist Philosophy and practice. Having attended 124 international conferences in many fields he is able to reach people at different levels and takes about 40 flights a year.
Soon his German devotees will establish his branch temple in Berlin. The venerable had helped to establish Geneva and Zurich Buddhist Viharas.
In the year 2000, for 9 months he walked the entire Great Wall of China creating a world record. Yet, he had time to finish his Post Graduate Degree in Christian Theology at Oxford University.
Ven. Dr. Sumana is ever active during his sojourns in Malaysia and Singapore, and has been to India 40 times in different capacities, by his 40th Monkhood Anniversary.
His next effort in 4 years is to walk round the world for peace, starting from Palestine and ending in Israel.
The World Federation of Peace with 3 million members has awarded him: Ambassador of Peace.
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