Temple-in-focus --  

Lot 1412 Jalan Ponorogo, Batu 18 ?

Kampung Sungai Tiram 81800 Ulu Tiram, Johor Bahru, Tel: 019-77371410

Knowing that the chances of practising and living a secluded life in a forest in Singapore are very slim, Ajaan Keng established across the causeway a forest monastery for all practitioners with help from his devotees.

Santi Forest Monastery is a Buddhist community for practising monks, nuns and lay people. It is located on 12-acre palm oil plantation in Ulu Tiram, Johor. One third of the land was donated by a dedicated devotee. The abbot is Ajaan Keng, a monk ordained under the Thai Forest Tradition established by Phra Ajahn Sao Kantasilo & Phra Ajahn Mun Buridatto. He is a Singaporean and the resident monk of Palelai Buddhist Temple in Singapore.

Founded in 2000, the monastery aims to offer accommodation and training for Buddhist monastics who wish to train in the forest meditation tradition with the aspiration to realize enlightenment. Lay people may visit or to stay in order to meditate and experience the monastic lifestyle. There are, however, no meditation retreats for lay people.

The monastery is equipped with water, electricity, toilet and showering facilities; individual kutis (meditation huts) and a sima hall (main shrine) used for meditation, dhamma talks and chanting. There is no charge for accommodation and training as Santi Forest Monastery is a non-profit charity that runs solely on donations basis. Building of kutis and other facilities is ongoing as the monastery adapts to its growing community.

There is food offering for the Sangha daily. Those wishing to offer food may come before meal time at 10:30 am.

Those interested to visit or stay at the monastery please call before coming. Those who are planning to stay should be prepared to observe the eight precepts.

Contact in Singapore: 6443 3324 (Palelai Buddhist Temple)