 听 >
Audio and Video links on this page require Realplayer
Sujvala spent the first 38 years of his life being called Bruce and recently has spent much time wondering about the meaning behind this name.
Research took him as far as 'unknown French origins' - despite his birth name being chosen after careful consideration from his father. "My father chose my name because it was short and it couldn't be abused. He was trying to guard me against teasing or bullying and that sort of thing," he said. "However growing up as a kid in the 1970s when Bruce Forsyth was at the height of his fame, I had a lot of people saying 'nice to see you' and that kind of thing," he added. As Bruce, he moved through his life pondering a strange fact about names - that more often than not people don't actually choose their own. The same was true when Bruce decided to adopt a Buddhist name as chosen for him by his preceptor, Saddhaloka. But the difference this time is that he feels his name has been selected from an enlightened source and by someone who knows him very well. "I joined the western Buddhist order just over 10 years ago. Throughout this time I've known my preceptor - his name is Saddhaloka which means Light Of Faith," said Sujvala. "It's quite a name, it both reflects one's current personal qualities and also gives an indication of qualities one might aspire to. "After a few weeks at the retreat I was given my new name in a special ceremony. It's听 Sujvala, which means thoroughly, excellently, beautifully, glowing or blazing," he added. One month on Sujvala has been back from the retreat for about a month and has been back at work for about three weeks. "The reception from my friends was very good. Everyone around where I live adopting my name and the guys at work all taking on the challenge of calling me by a new name. I've found this very encouraging," said Sujvala. "I think one of the things that鈥檚 beginning to set in is the feeling that it's going to wear off and I expect to go back to normal. It's just beginning to dawn on me that this is not going to happen," he added. Despite being given a new name, Sujvala accepts that some things will remain the same. "People like my father who gave me the name, he's going to stick with Bruce and that's fine with me," said Sujvala. | 
