Chu Kim Chong (傳護), Consultant

Years before Ocean Sky Chan Monastery was established, Chu Kim Chong, a real estate businessman, was in the middle of constructing a 5-story building in San Juan City for commercial purposes. He recalls: “At that time, a scouting monk from Chung Tai Chan Monastery was looking around Manila for a place to set up a Philippine branch. The monk was not impressed with the sites that were shown to him. After he saw my unfinished building and reported back to Taiwan, Chung Tai quickly decided this property was a good place to establish Ocean Sky.”

That was how Mr. Chu and his supportive wife, Benita (傳法) started their involvement with the Monastery. From a purely business transaction with the sale of the property, they went further by extending their hospitality to the Chung Tai Shifu who came to supervise the completion of construction. For the convenience of the monk, the couple housed and fed him at an adjacent apartment while the finishing work was on-going. They also provided the workers and interpreted for the Shifu when dealing with the locals.

After the completion of construction, Mr. Chu and Benita went further by giving the much needed manpower and skills in the unloading of images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas when these arrived in containers from Taiwan. And then, when meditation classes began, the couple came to attend the different levels of classes regularly. When asked how the study of Buddha’s teachings has changed his life, Mr. Chu said: Actually, before I came to Ocean Sky, I did not understand Buddhism at all. But after attending the classes, and listening to the Dharma talks, I can now appreciate Buddha’s teachings more, and have even started to practice by chanting the sutras and prostrating in repentance ceremonies. I also learned how to be respectful of the Three Jewels.” While Benita is the supportive wife, she is also a good cook, and has, at one time, volunteered in the kitchen of Ocean Sky, cooking delicious vegetarian meals during big events.

Years later, up until the present, Mr. Chu and Benita continue to show concern and provide assistance and resources with the various needs of the Monastery, big or small. He said: “We live far and find it inconvenient to come to Ocean Sky regularly. But, whenever we are in the vicinity, we make it a point to visit the Monastery and see the Shifus. If I did not do that, I would not be true to myself, and would feel disrespectful towards the Shifus. It is but a small gesture of appreciation for all the valuable lessons that my wife and I had learned from Ocean Sky.”