The Chief Ven Daam hui (倓虛)
Main Hall in Wang Fat Ching She
Introduction
Chronicle of events
1938 |
Hong Kong businessman Mr Wong Kit Wan(黃杰雲) purchased a plot of land at Nine and a Half Miles Castle Peak Road for the construction of a meditation retreat to be used by his third wife, Madam Wong Bik Ngo (王璧娥). |
1939-1944 |
The meditation retreat was formally named Wang Fat Ching She (弘法精舍). Upon the invitation of Madam Wong Bik Ngo (王璧娥), the Chief Tiantai School Monk Dai Haan (諦閑) became the retreat’s resident monk. |
1948 |
The Chief Ven Daam hui (倓虛) became the new head of the retreat. In the same year, he established the Huanan Buddhist College (華南佛學院). Among the College’s early students were Ven Cheung Waai (暢懷) and Ven Wing Sing (永惺). |
1960 |
Madam Wong Bik Ngo (王璧娥) emigrated to the United States. To persist with the commitment to spread the Buddhist faith, Madam Wang donated the meditation retreat to Tung Lin Kok Yuen (東蓮覺苑). |
1967 |
The Sangha Association (僧伽會)’s Ven Sai Chan (洗塵) in consultation with the head of Tung Lin Kok Yuen, Ven Man Sang (愍生), decided to borrow the premises to establish the Hong Kong Buddhist College (香港佛教書院). |
1968 |
The Hong Kong Buddhist College (香港佛教書院) was formally inaugurated. The academy’s first Dean was Ven Kwok Kwong (覺光), the Vice Dean, Wong Wan Tin (黃允畋), and the Head of Administration was the Ven Sai Chan (洗塵). |
1997 |
The Sangha Association formally handed the premises back to Tung Lin Kok Yuen. |
1998 |
Fo Guang Shan (佛光山) leased the premises. |
2004 |
The Centre of Buddhist Studies of The University of Hong Kong leased the premises. |
Past, Present and Future
Wang Fat Ching She (弘法精舍) has nurtured the talents of many outstanding monks and devotees. In 1948, under the initiation and direction of the Chief Ven Daam hui (倓虛), the Huanan Buddhist College (華南佛學院) was established. Many outstanding monks and nuns came to be in the course of its operation. The academy remained open until 1963, when the founder Chief Ven Daam hui (倓虛) entered nirvana. In succeeding years, the premises were nominally leased to the Hong Kong Buddhist College (能仁書院) and the (香港佛教書院), serving as the school campus, and Fo Guang Shan. In 2000, the Centre of Buddhist Studies of The University of Hong Kong rented the site as a centre for Zen practice, and the provision of counseling services.
As the Tung Lin Kok Yuen’s Buddhistdoor (佛門網站) website continues to grow and diversify, its workforce has expanded. Faithful to its founder’s mission of providing Buddhist education and spreading the Dharma, and abiding by the tenet of utilising modern digital and communications technology to spread the dharma, the Centre, returned to Tung Lin Kok Yun on 1 September 2008, has since been turned it into the main operations base for Buddhistdoor. Wang Fat Ching She (弘法精舍) is also now host to a number of Buddhist activities, including scriptural gatherings and meditation classes, providing an environment for devotees to work towards the attainment of wisdom and awakening.
Bodhi is like a tree
And the mirror a cool arbour.
Meditate often
To prevent dust from gathering.
Location
Wang Fat Ching She (弘法精舍) offers an excellent environment for Zen learning and practice. It is conveniently located opposite the Belvedere Garden residential complex in Tsuen Wan, and is easily accessed by public transport. Despite its proximity to town life, the lodge offers a serene, country like environment.