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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 31

Learning from Ehi Passiko

By Zulhaqem bin Zulkifli

A lot of my friends are Buddhist,
they always seem to be very
pleasant. While I was at NTU, I was
invited to the event organised by
the Buddhist association, which was
non-sectarian like YBAM. There was
also a panel discussion about the
similarities and differences between
Zulhaqem bin Zulkifli is a 28-year-old Singaporean student. He Islam and Buddhism. Naturally, I sat
is currently doing his MPhil in Buddhist Studies at Faculty of with my Buddhist friends, but many
Oriental Studies, University of Oxford on a Government of Singapore Muslims gave me a strange look.
scholarship. He specializes in Buddhist philosophy at Oxford. Zulhaqem I did not agree with the religious
completed his undergraduate degree in philosophy at Nanyang allegiance. Unconsciously, I started
Technological University (NTU), Singapore. Zhi Yi, a fellow post taking courses in Buddhism during
my undergraduate as electives. I
graduate student at Oxford, interviewed Zulhaqem on April 30, 2021 was beginning to relate Buddhist
on why he chose to study Buddhist philosophy for Eastern Horizon. thoughts and philosophy to the

things I was doing. Personally, I
Zhi Yi: What motivates you to family. Back then, the Singapore found a lot of the Buddhist teachings
choose Buddhist studies for your Buddhist Lodge had been giving are very applicable. For example,
MPhil? financial aids to everyone in I really cherish the teaching of

need regardless of their religious ‘ehipassiko’ and go find it out
Zulhaqem: First of all, the background, which was very striking yourself as a philosopher.
curriculum of my philosophy degree to me. I was very curious because
at NTU was very diverse. During the you would normally see church Looking back, I did not think I
Buddhist philosophy module, there helping Christians and mosque would be interested in Buddhism
was a visiting scholar Professor helping Muslims. When I was 13 or even do a master in Buddhist
Brook Ziporyn from University of years old, the monks from the studies. It took a lot of courage to
Chicago who came and taught us Buddhist Lodge visited my house face the societal perception and
about Chan and Zen traditions from and assessed our situation. It was the relatives who were worried
China and Japan, as well as Tiantai my first time meeting Buddhist about my career after completing
and Huayan Buddhism. Prior to this, monks in my own house. I remember a degree in philosophy. I wanted to
I have always been a very curious asking my parents why they were spend two years (doing this MPhil)
person. I do not just go by traditions bald and wearing robes. In fact, I learning and satisfying my thirst for
or where I am from. That was the was surprised by the questions they knowledge. Thankfully, my family
first time I considered Buddhist asked. At that point, we were very has been very supportive especially
philosophy and Buddhism as a used to people asking us about our my dad. I was not sure what I was
tradition. This has also reminded state of living and problem we faced, doing then. I applied for different
me of my childhood memory. but the monks cared about how we universities including University of
were doing, what we needed and Edinburgh which had a very strong
I came from an underprivileged what was the best for us. Buddhist background. Many of them