santavana.org

Santavana Forest Hermitage (santavana.org) offers a mix of in-person and online Buddhist study and meditation programs, plus recorded teachings and downloadable texts. Its activities fall into four recurring formats: Dharma classes, meditation practice sessions, retreats, and published study materials. Most programs are open to the public, and some require advance registration.

Types of Programs

Dharma Classes (佛法班)

The hermitage runs both on-site and online Dharma classes. Examples from its published schedule include:

• 「趣入福業道」佛法班 — held on selected Thursdays (October 15; November 5, 19), open to participants.
• 「出離心解脫行」網絡佛法班 — an online class guided by 淨永老師, held Fridays 8:00–9:30 p.m. (UTC+8) across November and December, with registration required.

Meditation Practice (止觀共修)

Regular 止觀共修 (samatha-vipassanā group practice) sessions are held at the education center on selected dates (October 18; November 1, 15, 29), described as a series of 14 sessions. These are open to participants without a stated prerequisite.

Retreats (禪修營)

The hermitage organizes multi-day retreats, including:

• 『慧命成長』三日營 — a three-day camp, December 17–20, registration required.
• 「安般念十六特勝」禪七（第二期） — a seven-day ānāpānasati retreat, December 21–28, registration required.

Recorded Teachings and Downloadable Texts

Programs are often recorded and posted afterward. Recent examples include video recordings of the 福慧雙修日 series (themes: 「心為主導者」,「正法律久住」,「六和敬精神」,「歷史的教誨」), a lecture on 「療心・法為良藥」, and a talk by 惠敏長老 on 「諸行無常」. The abbot's written works — including lectures on 布施、尸羅、羼提、毘梨耶及禪波羅蜜 — are available for download.

Teachers and Instructors

• 方丈開仁長老 (Abbot Ven. Kai Ren) is the primary teacher for several programs and the author of the downloadable lecture texts. His 2026 itinerary is published on the site.
• 淨永老師 guides the online 「出離心解脫行」class.
• 定融法師 (founder of Singapore's 圓點心寧中心) led a two-day 佛教輔導・基礎 workshop.
• 惠敏長老 (from Taiwan) gave a specialized lecture on Buddhist philosophy.

Who Can Participate

The published materials describe most activities as open to the general public (歡迎參與, 歡迎報名). The range spans introductory and advanced levels:

• Beginners can start with Dharma classes, group practice, or recorded videos.
• More experienced practitioners may prefer the 禪七 retreat or specialized courses such as 「界作意入門」, which participants reportedly wished to study in greater depth the following year.

Some programs — notably the online class, the three-day camp, and the 禪七 — require registration. Others, such as group practice and public lectures, are described simply as open to attendees.

Practical Notes

• Location: Activities take place at the hermitage in 斗亞蘭 (Tuaran) and at the education center in Alamesra, 亞庇 (Kota Kinabalu).
• Bookstore hours: 寂靜書軒 is open Saturdays 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
• Free clinics: The hermitage also hosts periodic free Chinese medicine consultations (中醫義診) at its education center, open to the public.
• Donations: The site includes a 隨喜贊助 (donation) option and sells limited-edition coffee cups (RM15–RM20) at the hermitage and education center.

For current dates and registration details, check the 最新訊息 (Latest News) and 活動預告 (Event Preview) sections of santavana.org, since schedules are updated periodically (the annual activity list was last updated September 28, and the abbot's itinerary October 3).

Santavana Forest Hermitage (santavana.org) operates at two named locations in Sabah, Malaysia: the hermitage itself in Tuaran (斗亞蘭) and an Education Centre in Alamesra, Kota Kinabalu (亞庇). The site lists specific opening hours for its bookshop and流通 (distribution) points, and it posts schedule adjustments under its latest news section. If you are planning a visit, the two things to confirm are which site hosts the activity you want and whether the hours have been adjusted that week.

The Two Locations

The Education Centre is the venue named for recurring programs. For example, the Chinese medicine charity clinic held on 27 September 2026 took place at the Education Centre in Alamesra, and the two-day Buddhist counselling workshop on 19–20 September 2026 was also held there.

Opening Hours

• 寂靜書軒 (the bookshop): open Saturdays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The site notes this as an adjusted schedule ("開放時間調整"), so treat it as the current posted time rather than a permanent one.
• Distribution points for the limited-edition coffee cups: Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., at both the Tuaran hermitage and the Alamesra Education Centre.

The site does not publish general daily opening hours for the hermitage grounds or the Education Centre outside these listed windows. If your visit is not tied to a scheduled event, the bookshop hours above are the only concrete visiting window given.

Activities and Where They Happen

Most listed programs run at the Education Centre and require registration rather than being drop-in:

• Buddhist study classes — e.g. the "趣入福業道" class on 15 October and 5, 19 November (Thursdays); the online "出離心解脫行" class guided by 淨永老師 on 6, 13, 20, 27 November and 4, 11 December, 8–9:30 p.m. (UTC+8).
• Meditation — 止觀共修 sessions on 18 October and 1, 15, 29 November (14 sessions total) at the centre; a three-day "慧命成長" retreat from 17 December (8 a.m.) to 20 December (8 a.m.); and an ānāpānasati seven-day retreat from 21 December (8 a.m.) to 28 December (9 a.m.).
• Health and wellbeing — Chinese medicine charity clinics on 18 October and 15 November, open to the public; a yoga class on 1, 15, 22, 29 November, 9–10 a.m., at the centre.
• Talks and gatherings — the 2026 year-end 雅集 on 20 December.

Because several of these are dated and marked "歡迎報名" (registration welcome), confirm the current schedule before travelling.

How to Check for Changes

The site's 最新訊息 (latest news) section is where schedule changes and event reports appear — for instance, the bookshop hour adjustment and the annual activity list, which was updated on 28 September. New posts are added regularly (recent entries are dated into October 2026), so this is the section to re-check close to your visit date rather than relying on a cached list.

Practical Notes

• The site is primarily in Chinese; location names appear in both Chinese and, for Alamesra, in Latin script.
• The hermitage and the Education Centre are in different places — Tuaran and Kota Kinabalu — so confirm which one your event names before setting out.
• The site does not list a phone number, email address, or street address in the material available here. For contact details or directions, check the site directly, as that information is not reproduced above.

You can support Santavana Forest Hermitage (santavana.org) in three main ways: making a 随喜赞助 (donation), purchasing 流通物品 (流通 items) such as the limited-edition coffee cups, or participating in and helping with its activities. The site lists a donation entry ("隨喜贊助 Donation") and a purchase entry ("訂購 Purchase") for the coffee cups, with distribution at two locations: 寂靜禪林 (Tuaran) and the Education Centre (Alamesra, Kota Kinabalu).

Donations (隨喜贊助)

The homepage includes a 隨喜贊助 Donation link, which is the main giving entry point on the site. The site does not publish specific donation amounts, payment platforms, or whether online payment is available, so those details are not confirmed by the available information.

One related practice mentioned on the site is that some activities are free and open to 隨喜護持道場 (supporting the monastery as one wishes). For example, the September Chinese medicine free clinic was described as "全程免費，並開放大眾隨喜護持道場" — free of charge, with the public invited to support the monastery as they wish.

流通 Items: Limited-Edition Coffee Cups

The site promotes three limited-edition coffee cups, described as adding "一份寧靜與微笑" (a bit of calm and a smile) to daily life.

Distribution locations (流通地點):

• 寂靜禪林 (Tuaran) — Saturdays and Sundays, 10a.m.–4p.m.
• 教育中心 (Alamesra, Kota Kinabalu)

The site provides an 訂購 Purchase link for ordering. It does not state whether shipping is available or what payment methods are accepted.

Supporting Through Participation

Beyond money and purchases, the site shows several ways to engage with and support the hermitage's activities:

• Join courses and practice sessions — for example, the 佛法班 (Dharma classes), 止觀共修 (calm-abiding and insight group practice), 瑜珈班 (yoga class), and 禪七 (seven-day meditation retreats). Some require registration (歡迎報名).
• Attend public events — such as the 中醫義診 (Chinese medicine free clinic), 佛法講座 (Dharma talks), and 歲末雅集 (year-end gathering).
• Volunteer or help with events — the site reports on activities like the free clinic and workshops, which rely on organizers and helpers, though it does not list a dedicated volunteer sign-up page.
• Visit the 寂靜書軒 (bookshop) — open Saturdays 10a.m.–4p.m., 歡迎參訪 (visitors welcome).

What the Site Does Not Specify

The available information does not confirm:

• Specific donation amounts or suggested tiers
• Online payment methods or platforms
• Whether the coffee cups can be shipped
• A formal volunteer application process

For these details, use the 隨喜贊助 Donation and 訂購 Purchase links on santavana.org, or contact the hermitage directly through the site.

Santavana Forest Hermitage (santavana.org) lists its upcoming events and courses in the Latest News (最新訊息) and Activity Announcements (活動預告) sections of its homepage. There you will find dated notices for Dharma classes, meditation sessions, retreats, workshops, and community services, along with schedules and participation details. If you only need the current calendar, start with the annual activity list and the abbot's yearly itinerary, both of which are updated periodically.

Where the event information lives

The homepage is organized around the hermitage's guiding principles and a news feed. The practical scheduling information appears in these places:

• 活動預告 / Latest news – the main feed of dated announcements, including annual activity lists and individual event notices.
• 2026年 寂靜禪林全年活動 – the full-year activity list, noted as updated on September 28.
• 方丈開仁長老2026年行程 – the abbot's 2026 itinerary, noted as updated on October 3.
• Individual posts under 最新訊息 – reports, recordings, and registration notices for specific events.

Because these pages are updated over time, treat any date you see as the version current at the time of that update, and confirm before traveling or registering.

Types of activities you can expect

The announcements cover a recurring mix of study, practice, and community care:

How to read a listing

Most notices follow a similar pattern. For example, the 「趣入福業道」Dharma class lists dates (October 15; November 5, 19, on Thursdays) and invites participation. The 止觀共修 lists session dates (October 18; November 1, 15, 29) and a location given as "於中心" (at the center). The online Dharma class specifies a teacher (淨永老師), dates, a time of 8p.m.–9:30p.m. (UTC+8), and an invitation to register.

When checking a listing, look for:

1. Date and day of week – some entries give both, which helps confirm the schedule.
2. Time – often in a.m./p.m. or with a time zone for online sessions.
3. Location – either the center, the hermitage in Tuaran, or online.
4. Registration wording – phrases such as 歡迎報名 (registration welcome) or 歡迎參與 (participation welcome) indicate whether you need to sign up in advance.

Replays and reports

Not everything requires attending in person. Several posts offer recordings and write-ups after an event, including:

• 【福慧雙修日4】and【福慧雙修日III】activity reports with recorded video.
• 【療心、法為良藥】Dharma talk report and recording.
• A lecture by Elder Huimin on dependent origination, with recorded video and a course report.
• 禪一「界作意入門」course report.

These are useful if you missed a session or want to review the content before deciding whether to join a future one.

Practical notes

• The hermitage and the education center are different locations. Some activities are held at the center in Alamesra, Kota Kinabalu; others at the hermitage in Tuaran. Check each listing.
• The bookstore (寂靜書軒) is open Saturdays, 10a.m.–4p.m., if you want to visit in person.
• Some items are for purchase. The site shows limited-edition coffee cups (e.g., RM15 and RM20) with a 訂購 / Purchase option and listed distribution points. This is a merchandise listing, not an event.
• Donations are mentioned in connection with some activities (for example, the free clinic notes that the public may support the center 隨喜護持). The site does not present event attendance as paid unless a listing says so.

To stay current, check the 活動預告 / Latest news feed first, then open the annual activity list or the abbot's itinerary for the broader schedule.

santavana.org is the website of Santavana Forest Hermitage (寂靜禪林), a Buddhist monastery and practice community whose online presence centers on teaching, retreats, and community activities. The site is primarily in Chinese and is aimed at practitioners and supporters in Malaysia, particularly around Kota Kinabalu (亞庇) and Tuaran (斗亞蘭). It functions as a noticeboard for upcoming events, a library of recorded Dharma talks, and a point of contact for donations and merchandise.

What the site is for

The homepage states the hermitage's four guiding aims:

• 實踐佛陀教誨,延續佛法慧命。 — Practice the Buddha's teachings and continue the Dharma's life.
• 重視僧伽教育,落實六和精神。 — Value monastic education and put the spirit of the six harmonies into practice.
• 促進僧信互動,依法護持三寶。 — Promote interaction between monastics and lay followers, supporting the Three Jewels in accordance with the Dharma.
• 發揚人間佛教,淨化社會人心。 — Advance Humanistic Buddhism and purify society and minds.

These aims explain the site's content: it is less a general encyclopedia and more a working calendar and archive for a living community.

Main sections and content types

Who runs it and where activities happen

The site identifies 方丈開仁長老 (Ven. Kai Ren, the abbot) as a central teacher, giving courses and writing the monthly Dharma reflections. Activities take place at two named locations:

• 寂靜禪林 (Santavana Forest Hermitage), Tuaran (斗亞蘭)
• 寂靜禪林教育中心 (Education Centre), Alamesra, Kota Kinabalu (亞庇)

The 寂靜書軒 (bookshop/reading room) is listed as open Saturdays 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

What kinds of events appear

The event listings show a mix of recurring and one-off programs, including:

• Multi-session Dharma classes, some in person and some online (e.g. 8 p.m.–9:30 p.m. UTC+8)
• 止觀共修 meditation sessions held roughly every two weeks
• Free Chinese medicine clinics (中醫義診) offering consultations to the public
• Yoga classes
• Multi-day retreats, such as a three-day 「慧命成長」camp and a seven-day 安般念 ( mindfulness of breathing) retreat
• Guest lectures by visiting monastics, such as 惠敏長老 from Taiwan

Reports on the site give a sense of scale: a 2026 Chinese medicine clinic served 10 patients; a lecture on 「療心・法為良藥」drew 37 attendees; a two-day Buddhist counseling workshop had over 30 participants.

Language and audience

The content is written in Chinese, with occasional English terms (for example, "Latest news" and "Purchase"). Dates, times, and locations assume a Malaysian audience, and the time zone is given as UTC+8 for online sessions. If you do not read Chinese, the site will be difficult to navigate, though recorded videos and some course materials may still be usable.

Practical notes

• Donations: The site has a 隨喜贊助 (donation) section, and some events are described as free with an invitation to support the center voluntarily.
• Purchases: Limited-edition coffee cups are listed with prices in Malaysian ringgit (RM15 for 100ml and 180ml, RM20 for 250ml) and collection points at the hermitage and education center. The site uses the word "purchase," but no online payment platform is named in the available material, so ordering details would need to be confirmed directly.
• Schedules change: Listings carry update dates (for example, "9月28日更新"), so check the latest news before traveling to an event.

In short, santavana.org is the working website of a Malaysian Buddhist hermitage — useful if you want to join a class or retreat, watch recorded teachings, or support the community, and less useful as a general introduction to Buddhism in English.