VICDOC Winter 2022 - Magazine - Page 10
ENQUIRY
MEDICINE
+
MINDFULNESS
—
Rewarding aspects
of work in a different
medical setting
—
Buddhist mindfulness has a great potential
to teach health care staff to not only be
resilient, conscientious and considerate,
but also realistic about their limitations.
Q1: Where are you currently
working as a doctor and what
does that involve?
––
A: Over the last 7 years I have
been practicing as a General
Registered Medical Practitioner
with special interest in
Occupational Health. With this
interest I had the opportunity
to experience amazing career
opportunities including my most
recent position as a medical
officer for Victoria Police.
I find this position as one
of the most rewarding career
opportunities due to its
uniqueness, which extends the
duty of care of a doctor beyond
individual health and wellbeing.
Some of my duties in this
position includes
» Pre-employment medical
assessments for individuals
interested in joining
frontline services
» Periodic and Fitness for
duty assessments for
current employees of
frontline services.
10
AMA VI C TO RIA
Q2: What prompted you to study
medicine and become a doctor?
––
A: Since a child, I loved reading
books about history, science
and Buddhism. So my earliest
inspiration to study medicine
came through the stories
of King Buddhadasa, a 4th
century Sri Lankan King known
for his medical knowledge
and procedural skills. Stories
described him as a kind and
compassionate doctor who
carried his procedural box during
his village visits, not only helping
the villagers but also the animals
that were injured or sick.
But, my modern day
inspiration was an Indian doctor,
whom I came across at the Sri
Lankan Buddhist Temple in
Varanasi, India during a Buddhist
pilgrim visit with my parents,
brother and two grand-mothers.
This young individual was called
by the chief monk of the temple
to assess my paternal grandmother, who didn’t speak a word
of either his language or English.
As a teenager, I was amazed
by his humbleness, kindness,
patience, professionalism and
generosity while refusing the
donation provided through the
chief monk.
Though there must have been
many other reasons for me to
apply for Medical degree, these
two individuals were the ones
that inspired me to become a
doctor with compassion
and kindness.
Q3: In addition to working as
a doctor you have established
Heal with Buddhism — Unique
Wellbeing Programs. What
motivated you to do this?
––
A: As a Sri Lankan born with
Buddhist upbringing, I was always
interested in Buddhist teachings
and its’ value in individual and
social wellbeing. My interest
became a passion during my
journey as a medical student and
a junior doctor, where I started
learning and practicing Buddhism
in depth. More I read, more I
became fascinated about the
depth of the teachings, which
discuss the science of our mind.