How We Got Here
The air in Phnom Penh hummed, thick with a tension that tightened the chest, a feeling too complex for a small boy to name but sharp enough to etch itself into his earliest memories. Panha Pal felt it before he understood it. Then, by the time he was four, the world outside cracked open. Soldiers marched, neighbours vanished, and the familiar rhythm of life shattered into jagged pieces. Survival became the only curriculum. Lessons were learned in the dark, through hushed whispers that tasted of fear, the gnawing ache in his belly that hunger carved, and the ground beneath that never seemed truly still. For six years, life pulsed to the grim beat of Pol Pot's regime.
The young Khmer Rouge guerrilla soldiers enter Phnom Penh on April 17, 1975
Then, flight. A scramble through darkness, a desperate push towards an unknown horizon, culminating under an impossibly bright Australian sun. He was ten years old, blinking against the glare, the weight of unspoken horrors pressing down on his small frame. The war hadn't just stolen his childhood; it had erased the very concept of a classroom, leaving him without even the simplest alphabet song or multiplication table.
School in this new land was an alien landscape. Chalk-scrawled English words swam before his eyes like meaningless insects. The teacher's voice, kind but incomprehensible, droned like a distant engine. Failure felt inevitable.
Yet, something flickered within him, a stubborn ember refusing to be extinguished. While the city outside settled into sleep, Panha hunched over borrowed books under the dim glow of a lamp. His finger traced unfamiliar letters, his lips forming tentative sounds, coaxing meaning from the silent pages with a quiet, fierce intensity. Observing the hardships poverty inflicted had already taught him the value of stability, pushing him towards a different future. His days became a frantic race to catch up, evenings often blurred into work shifts to support his family, sleep a luxury readily sacrificed at the altar of study.
This relentless cycle, fueled by an early recognition of education's power – a recognition that had seen him tutoring peers even in his youth – propelled him forward. His innate ability shone through, earning him a place in a top selective high school and a scholarship. Two decades blurred past in this rhythm of struggle and striving. The culmination wasn't just a certificate; it was tangible proof of that unwavering drive – a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering from a respected Australian university, clutched tight in his hand.
He stepped seamlessly from lecture halls into the intricate world of circuits and code. His sharp mind, honed by years of relentless self-discipline, found fertile ground. Tech startups buzzed into existence under his guidance, retail spaces bearing his imprint opened their doors, and educational projects began to take shape, fulfilling that early drive to share the gift of learning.
Success built upon success, a carefully constructed edifice against the backdrop of his past, in his mid-thirties, the structure began to tremble. Reality felt thin, like worn fabric threatening to tear. Nights bled into days shrouded in a disorienting fog. A profound emptiness hollowed out the core of his achievements, leaving the metallic taste of meaninglessness. The 'why' behind the relentless drive, the pursuit of stability, evaporated, replaced by a raw, existential ache. He explored Western and Chinese philosophies, searching for an anchor in the encroaching darkness, adrift on a sea of questions. The carefully built life fractured again, this time from within, leading even to the painful dissolution of his family.
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Amidst this personal crisis, during his desperate search in 2011, he stumbled upon the Buddha's teachings. Inspiring quotes sparked curiosity, leading him online to the Pali Text Society suttas. The Dhamma wasn't presented as dogma, but as a methodical, almost scientific, examination of the mind – its ingrained patterns, its hidden pitfalls, its latent potential. It resonated deeply with his engineer's logic, offering structured insights into suffering where other paths felt vague. become a monk.
It felt like discovering the missing user manual for the human condition, a practical science to navigate the internal chaos. He saw that true happiness wasn't piled up in bank accounts or measured in accolades, but cultivated through wisdom. The insight struck with the force of revelation: "just as if someone were to place upright what was overturned, to reveal what was hidden, or to carry a lamp into the dark so that those with eyes could see forms." This wasn't abstract; it was a blueprint. He made a quiet vow: one day, he would follow this path fully, perhaps even become a monk.
A year later, in 2012, the abstract understanding became visceral. Standing on his children's school playground, overwhelmed by intense personal pain, the Dhamma’s significance crashed over him. It wasn't just intellectual appreciation; it was a profound, transformative moment, a trembling awareness accompanied by a sense of radiant illumination, just as the ancient texts described. His faith in the Buddha became absolute, unshakable. The path forward clarified: dedicate his life to sharing this illuminating teaching. From this crucible of suffering and insight, the seed of an idea took root: a school. Not just any school, but a place where young minds could gain academic strength and be equipped with the Dhamma's tools for navigating the complexities of life, balancing western intellect with eastern spiritual wisdom.
Pal Buddhist School wasn't merely founded; it was forged from this conviction. On January 29, 2013, its doors opened, welcoming students from Years 7 to 12 into a NESA-accredited haven. The following year, 2014, marked consolidation: the name changed from Pal International School, cementing its identity; the first cohort of Year 12 students celebrated graduation; affiliation with the Buddhist Council of NSW began, and crucial tax-deductible status was achieved.
Inside, the school buzzed with growth: hammers echoed as the first science lab took shape, a serene Temple Room was established, graced by a donated Buddha statue, and the clatter of weights announced the opening of the PBS Gym. Momentum built steadily. 2015 saw the arrival of the first international students under new CRICOS accreditation, while parents formed the inaugural P&F Committee, strengthening the community fabric. Books found new shelves in a refurbished library, and the first school bus began its daily routes. By 2016, the comforting aroma of hot meals filled the air with the opening of a canteen, generously funded by the Tzu Chi Foundation and the P&F. Dignitaries acknowledged the school's unique mission, with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Madam Men Sam An officially opening the Paget Sayers Library. The school gained authority to accredit its own teachers, partnered with Teach4Peace and the CDSSA sports association, welcomed Bodhidasa as its first Buddhist Chaplain, and gained accreditation for specialized English classes for international students.
Growth demanded foresight. 2017 brought the formation of an Advisory Board, NESA approval to extend education down to Year 3, and the appointment of Venerable Jinasiri as Spiritual Advisor. The curriculum adapted, compressing HSC courses, while groundwork commenced for the new primary section and fundraising began for a permanent campus vision in Leppington. January 2018 saw the eager faces of the first primary students, construction began at the Leppington site, Mr. Pal himself stepped into the role of School Buddhist Chaplain, the satisfying thud of basketballs echoed on a new court, and cherished traditions like Pal Vesak Day and Teacher Appreciation Day were established.
The school's impact became quantifiable. In 2019, it climbed to 172nd in the NSW HSC rankings and proudly topped the Fairfield region in NAPLAN results. Students found new avenues for growth in Training Grounds programs and platforms for their voices in societies like VOSS. 2020 saw the finalisation of the Leppington land purchase, a significant milestone. Even as a global pandemic reshaped the world, the Pal community rallied: clippers buzzed for the Shave4Vesak event, raising over $50,000; much-needed shade sails unfurled over playgrounds; an International Student Club fostered connection; debates were hosted; the canteen received a facelift; new SRC initiatives launched; and teachers and students adapted seamlessly to online learning.
Innovation didn't pause. 2021 introduced advanced Training Grounds, integrated online learning platforms (including CRICOS online access for overseas students), launched the vibrant “Season of Wonder” CAPA series, and forged collaborations with distance education providers. A love for reading was actively fostered through a new literacy club and mandatory book reviews, while the spirit of generosity flowed overseas with the Gift of Giving project supporting a residential school in India.
2022 marked significant academic achievement: Pal Buddhist School broke into the top 100 HSC rankings statewide (ranking in the top 45 for private schools), reaffirmed its top NAPLAN spot regionally, and ranked second regionally for HSC students achieving high ATARs (95+). More Training Grounds programs launched alongside the PAL B.U.I.L.D initiative. Students enjoyed a completed soft fall court, a second bus joined the fleet, representation extended internationally with a student office in Cambodia, club grants funded new awnings, and a fundraising gala brought the community together, raising over $170,000. Finally, CRICOS accreditation expanded to cover the full K-6 primary range, completing another chapter.
Through these twelve years of tireless dedication, pouring his energy, resources, and vision into the school, making profound personal sacrifices, Panha Pal shaped its culture and values. The school’s success, reflected in academic rankings and, more importantly to him, the observable morality of its students, stood as a testament to his vision of creating a pioneering Buddhist educational model for the Western world. He passionately advocated for more institutions that nurture both intellect and spirit, believing the Dhamma to be the ultimate protection, the most valuable possession, the highest teaching. His aspiration remained clear: propagate the Dhamma for generations to come, planting these seeds of wisdom worldwide, and he called on others to support this vital work.
Now, with the school thriving under capable leadership, its future secure, and his own daughters grown and pursuing careers in education, aligning with his lifelong passion, the time felt right. The visions that had called to him for over thirteen years could no longer be ignored. With a clear conscience, the path laid out by his 2011 vow beckoned. The builder could finally lay down his tools, the engineer step away from the blueprints. Panha Pal prepared to renounce the worldly life he had rebuilt so meticulously, to embrace the disciplined simplicity of a Dhutanga kammathana monk, fulfilling the promise born in a moment of profound playground illumination.