KYCO's History

Posted in About Us

History of The Kuan Yin Contemplative Order (KYCO)

We have come a long way and the road that we have coursed through since the inception of our Order has been laden with memories, more sweet than sour. For a spiritual centre to celebrate its 25th Anniversary as a solid entity is no common feat and this can only be attributable to the will and blessings of our Divine Mother Kuan Shih Yin P'usa and the Divine Gurus.

The birth of the Kuan Yin Contemplative Order (KYCO) in 1979 was sparked by an inner cry for divine intervention by Tony Wong (Sifu), whose brother Nelson Wong was afflicted with cancer in December 1978. Sifu's earnest cry for divine help was well responded when on the 10th night of the Chinese New Year in 1979, his body was 'taken over' by a Deity who declared Himself as 'The Spirit of The North'. The ensuing moments were a mixture of confusion, perplexity and amazement for all present. When things became calm, the Deity told Sifu that the Lord of the East, Wong Lo Sin See, on hearing his pleading, had invited Him to come down to save Nelson's life. Before departing, He told all present then that Sifu was to be a Buddhist in this life.

Sifu's experience that night was just the beginning of a long series of Divine teachings imparted nightly to him by Taoist Deities notably Guru Wong Lo Sin See, The Spirit of the North and Guru Chi Kung. Soon after they informed Sifu that he belonged to the Lotus Family of the Divine Mother Kuan Shih Yin P'usa, thus began another round of Divine teachings. In the absence of a human guru for reference and guidance, the fledgling years were rather difficult for Sifu. Undeniably, the roles played by Master Yap Cheng Hai and Michael Boey, (fondly called 'Si Pak' by our members) did much to enhance the assurance that what he went through spiritually had nothing to do with the dark side.

The health of Nelson improved with the passage of time and at the prompting of Kuan Shih Yin P'usa, the Kuan Yin Contemplative Order (KYCO) was formed. The 1st Kuan Yin Festival was held on the 19th day of the 6th Moon 1979, but the Order was only formally founded during the 9th Moon Festival of the same year, held at Graphic Press, No. 3 Jalan 225, Petaling Jaya, in the very office of Sifu. The first three disciples to be brought into the Order were Chia Shou Wen, San Peng and Tee Siew Seet. They were later joined by another 12 compris­ing of Henry Kam Man Heng, Wong Kam Leong, Alan Wong Chee Mun, Hoh Yong Yong, Alex Lee Chuen Foong, Ronald Chong It Too, Wong Cheong Fai, Chin Teh Cheow, Khor Boon Chuan, Chan Siew Kheong, Kiew Cheh and Dolly Lim Kim Huay. Strangely though, Sifu had no hand in the choice of the disciples; they were all selected by the Divine Mother Herself.

What sets the KYCO apart from the other temples, not in a boastful way, is that the Divine Gurus imparted teachings directly to Sifu and from him to the devotees of the Order. Then, as now, there was no lack of miracles that must have drawn many a devotee to the Order. The case of Auntie Cheah, the birth of disciple Henry Kam's son, the unique display of heavenly lights appearing in the sky in front of Graphic Press one night after prayer and the miraculous cures experienced by Nelson Wong of seven threatening relapses of cancer are good testimonials of the great love and compassion that the Divine Mother has been showering upon us.