Synopsis "Memoirs of a Buddhist Canadian: Happy but Striving"
""A unique memoir blending personal history, cultural development in Canada over five decades, philosophical explorations and a distinctively powerful reading of Buddhism. This is a book to be read carefully and joyfully!" "Suwanda Sugunasiri's Memoir is more than an autobiography. Written by a man who defies categorization, it is a document of Canadian society transforming itself from what was in many ways still a polyglot British colony into a committed multicultural community. Its protagonist is a Sinhalese Sri Lankan immigrant, carrying his deeply ingrained native culture and religion to his new home in the west...What gave his contributions (to Canada and multiculturalism) their unique value was his remaining firmly rooted in the principles and practice of Buddhism, so that whatever he offered in advocacy or criticism was always advanced in the spirit of toleration, with understanding and with friendly good humour." - Foreword by Professor Lionel Steiman, Senior Scholar, Department of History, University of Manitoba "Sugunasiri helped shape the development of Buddhism in this country. His life story is a prism through which the history of Buddhism in Canada comes into focus." - Professors Victor Hori, McGill University and Janet McLellan, Wilfrid Laurier University, Wild Geese: Buddhism in Canada "An intelligent, insightful first-person account of the development of Canadian multiculturalism, Buddhism in Canada, and more. As told by an active scholar and journalist, this rare and detailed Memoir should be of interest to all Canadians and of importance to future historians." Ron Graham, renowned Journalist, Author, The Last Act: Pierre Trudeau, the Gang of Eight, and the Fight for Canada ""Suwanada Sugunasiri's Happy Bu t Striving takes the reader on an astounding ride through Canadian social history beginning in the 1970's -- multiculturalism, interfaith relations, education, and literature. What resonated. What resonated with me most was the recounting of the elements in his life leading to happiness and striving, and the importance of the Buddhist concept of kamma - both action and result! This extraordinary sociobiography provides many insights for the next generations striving to ensure equity and inclusion for all Canadians. "" - Dr. Karen R. Rock, C.M., Human Rights Consultant, President, JSpaceCanada Suwanda H.J. Sugunasiri is a US Fulbright Scholar with five academic degrees - London, Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto - OISE. During his five decades living in Canada, he made his mark in many diverse fields, including multiculturalism, interfaith relations, literature and Buddhism. As an advisor, promoter, advocate and activist, his prolific articles numbering over 200 have been published in diverse publications, including the Toronto Star, he appeared numerous times on the CBC, TVO, Vision TV, CTS, among others.
