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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 17

Embracing the Dharma with

Compassion and Determination

By Venerable Ji Chi

Venerable Ji Chi (继持法师) graduated from National University of
Malaysia (UKM) in 1993, with a major in Psychology. She was ordained
as a Buddhist nun in 1996 by the late Venerable Zhu Mo (竺摩法师)
[1913-2002]. She also studied at the Malaysian Buddhist Institute where
she graduated in 1998. She travels extensively to Malaysian universities
to conduct Dharma workshops and meditation classes. Amidst her busy
teaching schedule, Venerable Ji Chi undertakes quiet retreats to study
the Dharma.

Wuan Hoong of Eastern Horizon interviewed Venerable Ji Chi on 21 Jan
2024, where she shared about her experience with Venerable Zhu Mo,
advice for students who have graduated from university, and how she
has practiced with her busy schedule. The interview was then translated
and edited by both Wuan Hoong and Zhi Yi.

Wuan Hoong: Can you please share with us how you me back home. However, the compassion shown by
encountered Buddhism and decided to be ordained Venerable Javana left a lasting impression on me.
as a Buddhist nun?
After the retreat, I began learning the Dharma
Ji Chi: When I was 7 years old, my elder sister was systematically together with my sister and her
involved in organizing a meditation retreat in our friends at the local Buddhist Society, Zheng Xing Hui.
hometown Muar, Johor, with a few friends. They invited Occasionally, we would invite speakers like Ven. K. Sri
Venerable Javana from Kelantan to teach meditation Dhammananda for Dharma talks. I am deeply grateful
and Abhidharma. Back then, it was rare for a reputable to our Chinese Dhamma teacher, Mr. Liu Kuan Zheng,
monk to travel around the country to teach meditation. who came to teach Buddhism every day on his bike.
My sister, who was in charge of preparing meals for the He conducted his classes in my mother tongue, which
Venerable, brought me along during the retreat. It was made the entire Dharma learning process more in-
my first encounter with a monk. His loving-kindness was depth and thorough. He would patiently answer any
embracing. Even though I was new to meditation and Dharma queries, teach the usage of ritual instruments,
I only knew simple practices like paying homage and and guide us in dharma sharing. I also participated
doing prostrations, the Venerable allowed me to stay and in a Buddhist youth camp and I was very impressed
learn alongside other retreatants. I remember vividly by the compassionate, patient and mindful Venerable
that he simply wrote on a wooden plank to teach rather teachers. I was envisioning myself teaching the Dharma
than a proper chalkboard. During the evening meditation and interacting with people using the same manners.
session, I became very frightened by the dim light and I thought this would benefit more people. This was
the quiet environment with everyone sitting calmly on probably my first aspiration to get ordained as a nun.
their cushion, and I started to cry! My sister had to bring