Kwan Yin Chan Lin (KYCL) International Zen Meditation Centre -- Lot.109 Telok Ramunia, 81620 Pengerang Johor Tel: 0207-826 4848

Situated in a small town 30 minutes' drive away from the ferry terminal, the Centre sits on a 3-acre land bordered by hills and the sea. A sense of coolness and tranquility can be felt as one takes a walk in its garden, landscaped with lotus pond, little stream, stone path and pavilion.

The premises used to house a seafood restaurant which had a hall, kitchen and dormitory. When the Centre moved in, it inherited the existing facilities and was inaugurated a month later. The hall which became the main shrine was renovated a few years ago to increase its capacity, comfort and appeal.

The International Zen Meditation Centre at Pengerang was established to ease the strain on the KYCL Centre in Singapore. Originally located in Pulau Ubin, KYCL had to move to mainland Singapore because of land acquisition by the state. As the number of devotees and activities increased, the unit in Lavender Street was no longer able to sustain the expanding congregation. Its abbot, Ven. Chi Boon then, had a vision to build another centre to accommodate the Centre's growing needs. He noticed that the lives of busy city dwellers are highly stressful and tense. He then proposed setting up a centre that is close to nature which can provide a peaceful and relaxing space to settle the body and mind, in order to practice the Dharma diligently. With help from the devotees, a quiet and secluded piece of land in Pengerang was found and the KYCL International Zen Meditation Centre was established in 2000.

Since its establishment, the Centre has invited Zen masters from all over the world to teach the Dharma and organizes retreats of 3-day, 7-day or longer every month. The instructor Ven. Chi Boon has received inka (authorization to teach) from Zen Master Seung Sahn in 1989. Besides retreats, the Centre also organizes activities like offering to the Buddhas, chanting and refuge-taking. For schedules, please visit www.kyclzen.org. To participate, please call 6392 0265 to register.

"In order to meditate, I think one has to go to places close to nature like mountains, forest and near the water. Singapore is lacking in these. Staying in high rise buildings and flats is hard to nurture real practitioners. One gets tired from being locked up for the whole day. Here we have spacious land, forest, mountains and the sea. We can be one with nature because we are part of nature."

- Ven. Chi Boon, Abbot of KYCL International Zen Meditation Centre