I was born in Singapore and grew up on St Michael’s Road, sharing a home with three other families. My childhood was shaped by neighbours who were truly family because we cared for one another, and by the rich spiritual landscape that surrounded us – the Sri Lankaramaya Buddhist Temple, St Michael’s Church, and Shuang Lin Monastery. My father encouraged me to learn the teachings of the Buddha and the Tao, while my mother brought me to catechism. They never debated which faith was greater; instead, they instilled the values that would guide my life: kindness, compassion, and what Martin Luther King Jr. called “the content of character.”

As a teenager, I had to grow up quickly to stand on my own. I made many mistakes, but they taught me that true strength lies in the courage to reflect, take self responsibility, apologise sincerely, make amends, and keep striving to do better. It is truly about the phoenix rising from its own ashes, much like the grace echoed in John Newton’s Amazing Grace.

My greatest inspiration was my mother, Teresa. At 14, she endured family gender discrimination and the hardships of the Japanese occupation of Singapore. Yet she lived with kindness and dignity, teaching me the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. In 1987, she met Mother Teresa of Calcutta – an encounter that left an indelible mark on our family. At 21, I was blessed to be mentored by Reverend Cas, a Spiritualist and disciple of The Venerable Bede Griffiths (Swami Dayananda), the Benedictine monk and mystic whose teachings deeply shaped my spiritual path.

After completing national service in the army, I worked in a range of roles – from Delivery Rider and Fitness Trainer to Account Manager with Needham Standard International Advertising, where I managed the McDonald’s Restaurant account. My career then took me overseas, where I held roles as Marketing Manager, Product Manager, and Export Manager with multinational companies, including EMAIL Limited.

Yet what transformed me most was volunteering with homeless street children in Melbourne. Their courage and resilience awakened something in me. With both trepidation and hope, I chose what Scott Peck called “the road less travelled.” I shifted from my corporate life and returned to university to pursue a broader and more integrated education – in counselling, philosophy, psychology, and spirituality – while deepening my spiritual practice in sacred places and monasteries.

Since 2006, I have worked as a Counsellor with one of Australia’s largest counselling service providers, and I have also served as a Student Mentor in schools. Today, my work feels fully aligned with my calling. It allows me to live a purpose-driven life – one that brings the fulfilment and meaning I once only hoped for.