Benjamin Yeung (傳康), Advisor

Benjamin Yeung heads his own construction company. Through his efforts, much of the repair work and renovation around Ocean Sky has been accomplished. For example, the retiling of floors, repair of wooden flooring, and the painting of the walls and ceiling of the monastery were all done by his workers, and sincerely offered by Benjamin for the Three Jewels. His wife Priscilla and son Alex are also active volunteers around the monastery. Priscilla cooks delicious and healthy vegetarian meals to offer everybody one day a week. Alex has followed his father’s vow to support Ocean Sky, and now, through his own company, is also doing his share to fix whatever is needed by Ocean Sky.

Priscilla brought her husband Benjamin to Ocean Sky. He remembered the first time he came into the monastery: “The monastery is very different from other temples. It is modern, and very clean. The Chan hall has wooden floors, and air conditioning. The compassionate Shifus are also warm and friendly.”

Benjamin and Priscilla like to chant sutras. He recounts: "We go to the monastery almost every night to chant the Medicine Buddha Sutra. One time, the chanting was almost halfway, when I suddenly felt my blood pressure dip. I had to get out of the Chan hall quickly, lie down outside and rest for 15 minutes, before I went back in.”

Benjamin, his wife and son travel to Chung Tai every year for the Tour of Bodhi Mind. He said: "Chung Tai was so magnificent. It was my first time to see thousands of people chanting in one big ceremony. Since 2008, I have consistently participated in the Medicine Buddha completion ceremony for three consecutive years." But because he had just undergone a kidney transplant, he couldn’t go to Chung Tai for two years in a row. He said: "Next year, when I’m better, I will definitely go back to Taiwan.”

After the kidney transplant, Benjamin slowly came to realize that "whatever one plants in the past, he will reap the retributions surely in this life or in the future." He said: "I must have done so many evil deeds in the past, which is why I am reaping the bad consequences today. I also recall that in early 2011, former Abbess Master Jianyong advised me to keep on cultivating diligently, so that I can get a good kidney. So, I participated diligently in all the Dharma ceremonies, and chanted the Medicine Buddha Sutra, which was the reason why I was able to receive the hard-to-find kidney for transplantation.”