In Memory of Dr Peter Della Santina

Dr Peter Della Santina will always be dearly remembered by his students and friends at IBC. He was a very skillful teacher, who taught by understanding his students' needs and guided them in their learning of Buddha's teachings in academically analytical way and also in practical way by taking examples from everyday life to illustrate certain concepts and teachings. To the Theravada students unfamiliar with Mahayana concepts, he showed them the common link that runs through the 'various yanas' of Buddha's teachings, the seeds of Mahayana concepts as found in the Pali Canon. He interviewed each of the students in his class, listened to them and identify individual differences in learning, adapt to them and help them resolve any difficulties or problems or mental blocks. He was a teacher dedicated to Buddhist practice, committed to his students and imparting his knowledge to his students, in establishing warm friendly relationship with them, in deriving joy in sharing with his class. He was a 'one in a million' kind of instructor, warm, compassionate, understanding. His students love and miss him dearly. We were fortunate to have him with us for a while, and the opportunity to know and learn from him as a teacher, as a friend.

He lives on in the teachings he leaves behind, in his warmth and compassion as a model kalyanamitra. Dr Santina, it is our fortune to have known you as a kalyanamitra. Thank you for your big heart; thank you for listening so well; thank you for showing us the meaning of honour in words and deeds; thank you for the wisdom you shared with us.

2007-08-18 by BCL