I would usually go for a personal meditation retreat towards end of the year every year to reflect on the current year as well as recharge and prepare myself for the coming year. This year was no exception too. Initially I was contemplating between going to Thailand as I got contacts to go to the forest monasteries there or Santi Forest Monastery in Ulu Tiram, Johor, Malaysia where Ajahn Keng (also a Singaporean) is the abbot. Previously I have been to Ji Jing Yuan at Kajang, Selangor; Ji Jing Lin in Pahang; Dhamma Light Meditation Centre at Api Api, Johor and last year was at Batu Pahat, Johor. I like to move ard a bit for now to check out different monasteries, their style and schedule. Maybe eventually I'd settle for one that I feel would be most conducive for my cultivation=)
Eventually I decided to go Santi Forest Monastery. Save money on air fare=P. I jio another friend along this time round. Usually I like to go alone or with just a couple of friends. It is a personal preference in which I feel I would not be "distracted" by familiar faces. Wrong view??=P
As Ajahn Keng was in Thailand at the time we were to go down, I seeked permission from Bhikkhu Lee who is left in charge of the monastery. Bhikkhu Lee kindly agreed immediately.
It was a mad rush as usual before going for the 2-week long retreat in which I would switch off my mobile and be cut off from the rest of the world=) as I need to settle all outstanding issues on hand. An irony? Now rush like mad, then later in retreat, just calmness...??
I was grateful to Bro Xin Hao from Singapore Polytechnic Buddhist Society who gave me information on how to reach there using the public transport (which really freaks me as I do not speak malay and would not know if the bus takes me all the way to Kedah!!) as well as the latest map which proves to be extremely useful.
Basically one can take a bus (either SBS Transit 170 or the yellow Causeway Link) from Kranji mrt all the way to Larkin Terminal in Johor. From there, look for a bus with a sign indicating Ulu Tiram. Pay RM$3 and you would be on your way. Surprising the journey took abt 30 mins only. However as there is some construction going on ard that area, the bus would not turn into Ulu Tiram Terminal. Thus you need to keep a lookout for TM (I figure it stands for Telco Malaya or something like that) Building which is easy as it is quite prominent (before that, do note that you are already in Ulu Tiram area) and press the bell to stop the bus. After that, you can easily ask for directions to Ulu Tiram Terminal which is just 5-10 mins away. Take the blue-coloured cab which cost RM$14 to finally reach Santi Forest Monastery. If you are like me who don't speak malay, you can show the map to the driver, a praying sign (anjali) and say the name "Ah Ming" (apparently one of the regulars at the monastery) . The driver would understand easily.
The real formal cultivation would start very soon. Look out for the next blog=)
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
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