The originally named Kun Yam Thong Temple (Deng Bi An) was known throughout Kuala Lumpur for the Gwan Shr Yin Bodhisattva that it houses...
A cultivator, Wu Huai Ren, when passing by the site of the present monastery, saw a maiden in white walking towards the woods. He chased after the maiden but she suddenly disappeared. The monk believed she might be a manifestation of Guan Yin Bodhisattva. With such an auspicious sign, the monk proceeded to build a small thatched hut on the site of the present monastery in 1880 and studied Buddhist teachings there. As the virtues of those cultivators who occupied that thatched hut spread, the faithful came to support them and that thatched hut grew to be a temple...
When the Venerable Master first led a delegation to Malaysia in 1978, he sowed many seeds for the proper Dharma. People were deeply moved by the Venerable Master's virtue. During his 42-day nationwide tour of Malaysia, over 6,000 people took refuge with the Triple Jewel, an unprecedented number in Malaysian Dharma propagation...
Upon meeting the Venerable Master, the manager and trustees of Kun Yam Thong were so touched by the Venerable Master's virtue that they agreed on a resolution to officially offer the temple to the Venerable Master in 1993. The establishment of an orthodox monastery is just like a brilliant sun, bringing a sense of peace and tranquillity to the busy and anxiety-ridden downtown Kuala Lumpur. In March 1993, two monks were appointed trustees and subsequently in September 1993, the Venerable Master sent a monk disciple to serve the monastery.
Amidst the backdrop of skyscrapers and the office blocks in the middle of Kuala Lumpur, the century-old temple quite naturally drew lots of attention not only from tourists but from office workers in the area too. Hence, in 1994, the Vegetarian Food Court was opened to promote healthy vegetarian food to the general public. Through this channel, the young and educated people, both local and foreign, were slowly drawn into the teachings of Buddhism...
Freely distributed books on Buddhism became a feature of Kun Yam Thong, thus making available texts on proper Buddhism to the general public in Mandarin as well as English. With the availability of books on Buddhism in English, the appeal of Buddhism began to spread to the English-educated public of non-Malay descent; as well as foreigners. Devotees from all walks of life and nationalities were beginning to throng the temple for vegetarian food, Buddhist teachings and spiritual solace...
Between the years 1994-1995, cracks appeared on the walls and floors of Kun Yam Thong as a result of tunnelling along the side lane. The original Kun Yam Thong, having become termite infested in the greater part of its structure, became unable to support the building let alone withstand the tunnelling disturbance. Decrepit from old age, Kun Yam Thong could no longer take in the sea of devotees who thronged to the temple. Hence, reconstruction had to take place in the hope of helping more people "Deng Bi An" (arrive at the farthest shore).
At the turn of yet another century, a grand Emperor Liang's Repentance Ceremony as well as a Food Offering ceremony were conducted before the decrepit structure of Kun Yam Thong was torn down on 13th of August, 2000. During the reconstruction period from year 2000 to 2005, regular Dharma assemblies continued despite the constrains of space. Devotees from all walks of life continued to throng the temporary temple on a daily basis for assemblies as well as to patronize the Vegetarian Food Court. The distribution of Dharma books continued uninterrupted...
The new monastic structure retained its Chinese architectural heritage while keeping abreast with modern requirements. All decorative materials, including roof tiles, altars, incense burners, lattices, bronze lamps and Buddha images as well as the fibre glass ceiling were imported from China, having been manufactured to exact specifications...
