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 orphanizes in his hometown. For the sake of supporting poor students’ education, he took over a local orphanize 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 to learn meditation in an academic way, Sugato Bhikkhu completed a certificate course, Masters of Mindfulness from prominent Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University. He is so diligent and passionate to continue 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 learn 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 Cumilla, 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 becomes well-known in Southeast Asia and beyond. Exchanging his missionary works, Venerable Sugato Bhikkhu received a number of 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 Elementary Level, Dhamma Studies for Secondary Level, Dhamma Studies for 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 philanthropist 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 also planning to start 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.
