Bhante Cunda

Visiting Monastic Teacher

Bhante Cunda was born in Malaysia and named Kim Yee Chan. Kim Yee’s family moved to Perth Western Australia when he was 4 years old. Kim Yee spent his time between Perth and Christmas Island where he worked for a period of time. At the age of 23 Kim Yee came across Buddhism while at Christmas Island listening to recorded tapes of Ajahn Brahm’s meditation instructions. Consequently a few months later he visited Bodhinyana Monastery for the first time.

For the next 11 years, Kim Yee frequently visited the monastery and volunteered maintaining vehicles for the monastery. Kim Yee was soon referred by the monastery as “our Monk-anic”. During that period, Kim Yee had asked his parents twice to become a Monk, but was declined. Knowing that his parents would never change their mind after the 2nd attempt, Kim Yee decided to go ahead without his parents’ permission.

In 2008 Kim Lee ordained at the Bodhinyana Monastery and joined its community as Bhante Cunda. Bhante Cunda’s family has since then accepted his decision seeing the positive change in Bhante.