Cover Image Photo Credit: DNA India
By M.krishnamoorthy
#KasihAyah
Father Ananda Krishnan, whose towering achievements, among many, were building the KLCC Petronas Twin Towers, and his son, decided to become rich and become a monk.
The late Ananda was a man who shunned the limelight, preferring action over applause and humility over headlines. His father and son, Ajahn Siripanyo, are a story and a legacy worth sharing, because every father has a story worth sharing.
Unlike many sons, Siripanyo is the monk who said “NO” to Ananda’s billion-dollar fortune; I wrote in my book, Ananda Krishnan: Inspiring Billionaire.
As Siripanyo is a monk in the dense jungles of Thailand, Ananda visited him occasionally. His son stayed away from city life because it is a top priority for Buddhist to practise filial piety, and monks are no exception.
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In my 9th book on the Inspiring Billionaire, Succeed the Ananda Way, I state: “There was a time when Ajahn Siripanyo travelled in his father’s private jet with him to Italy for his 70th birthday. This humble monk, wearing only a robe and a small tote bag, drew quite a lot of attention in Italy.
Nevertheless, Ananda, as a father who lifted his son's moral spirit, guided and protected him, and showered him with love in his quiet, steadfast ways.
With all the wealth of a billionaire father, can you imagine his son, a young man, could give up everything
(billions) and lead a simple life as a forest monk? The Theravada tradition holds that monks eat only once a day, with the afternoon as a period of fasting from solid food. It is pretty standard for a young man from the wealthy Ananda family. Siripanyo chose not to enjoy his luxurious life: driving a sports car, wearing fancy clothing, and, of course, with a beautiful woman by his side.
However, an exceptional one will truly choose an extraordinary path in life, and Ajahn Siripanyo is one of the few examples of the Modern Age, Siddhartha Gautama Buddha.
Despite all the restraints, there were moments of resilience, compassion, and love that shaped the cordial, warm father-son relationship.
Ananda was not only a father to his monk son and two daughters. He touched the hearts of many families by providing scholarships and free tuition through NGOs. The help was extended to many families affected by psychological trauma, especially teenagers who were uprooted from the estates and experienced culture shock in towns and cities.
Once, while visiting Siripanyo at the monastery in the deep jungles of Thailand, Ananda shared an anecdote about his son inviting him to meditate with him in the caves.
During their meditation, a snake crawled towards him, and he alerted his son nearby. The reply was, "Don't move, Daddy, stay calm, and it will slither away. It surely did, but only after evoking a bucket of sweat on me,” Ananda recalled the event, smilingly nodding his head.
Ananda was a true father figure to many adults and children with disabilities whose lives he touched and changed, and they will miss him. But they were unaware of his help because he always kept his aid to the needy anonymous. thousands of lives, bringing joy and leaving a positive, indelible mark on me.
Many are rich, but only a few can feel empathy and also have a good fatherly heart like Ananda Krishnan. He will be dearly missed as he passed away on 28th November 2024.
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Freelance Writer M. Krishnamoorthy ( https://helloimkrishna.com/) is a media coach, adjunct professor, and undercover journalist. He has freelanced with Bernama, NST, The Star, and Malaysiakini. He also freelances as a fixer/coordinator for CNN, BBC, German, and Australian Television networks and the New York Times. As an undercover journalist, he has highlighted society's concerns.
M. Krishnamoorthy is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you can express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and monetize your content while reaching millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!M. Krishnamoorthy is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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M. Krishnamoorthy (krishnamuthaly@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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