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20 EASTERN HORIZON | FACE TO FACE

The Importance of Good

Dharma Teachers

By Ven. Kai Ren

Ven Kai Ren (開仁法師), who hails from Sabah,
worked as an accountant after graduating with
a diploma and degree from Systematic College in
Petaling Jaya, Selangor. He is currently the Abbot of
Santavana Forest Hermitage, Tuaran, Sabah.

Due to his interest in Buddhism, he went to Fu
Yan Buddhist Institute, Taiwan, in 1996, where he
studied and completed the junior, senior and post
graduate studies in 2005. In 1997, he decided to
Ven. Kai Ren portrait
become a monk and was ordained by Venerable
Wen Jian, abbot of AngHuk Temple in Penang. Ven
Kai Ren then taught Buddhism at various Dharma
centers in Taiwan, including FuYan Buddhist
Institute, ITung Women’s Buddhist College, Light
of Wisdom Dharma Hall, and Kaoshiong City Right
Belief Buddhist Youth Association from 2005 to
2018. He was also appointed as the Vice Chancellor
at Light of Wisdom Dharma Hall from 2014 to
2018. In 2019, he was appointed as the Abbot of
Santavana Forest Hermitage in Tuaran, Sabah, a
During the Kathina celebration in 2019, Ven. Kai Ren gave a Dharma position he has held till today.
talk in the meditation hall.

Zhi Yi Wong of Eastern Horizon interviewed Ven Kai
Ren on October 2, 2022 who shared his personal
background prior to becoming a monk, his experience
as a student and later lecturer of Buddhist studies in
Taiwan, how he applies Dharma in his daily life, and the
importance of training good Dharma teachers who can
educate others on how to apply the Buddha’s teachings
and benefit from it in their everyday lives.

Santavana Forest Hermitage

Santavana Forest Hermitage was founded in 1998. It is
Ven. Kai Ren was giving Dharma talk at Santavana Education Centre in
Kota Kinabalu. located in the district of Tuaran, about 50 km away from
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The monastery sits on forested
hills, overlooking the coastline of western Sabah.