About Us

Background

Shun Yeung Taoist Association is a non profit organisation located in the south of Sydney. The aims of Shun Yeung are:

• Teach and practice Taoist teachings and meditations
• Introduce traditional Chinese culture to those interested
• Fostering friendship and goodwill among Australians of all backgrounds to create the harmony society.
• To assist the community through charity work and education.

Shun Yeung Taoist Association was established in 2003 by Master Kwan Nam Chan (Chris). Master Chan began studying and practicing Taoism at the age of 10. After graduating from secondary school in Australia, he moved on to teach and practice Taoism in Canada, Hong Kong and other Asian countries. He understood that Taoism is a universal religion that suit for all cultures and all ages, but it was a not well-known religion in Australia. Hence he made it his mission to introduce Taoism to those with little opportunity to know the Tao in Australia.

With little money to survive, he started the Shun Yeung altar on the balcony of Mrs Wong’s house. Later this progressed to a small rented house in Merrylands, Sydney. In 2005 Shun Yeung was able to move to a bigger property in Kingsgrove with the help of Mr Choi. However because of the location of this property, it was unable to obtain council approval as a ‘place of worship’. Because of this reason the promotion of Shun Yeung Taoist Association, and thus Taoism, has been challenging and difficult. Hence the immediate goal of Shun Yeung Taoist Association is to find a suitable council approved property to promote Taoism and to share its benefits with the community.

Objective

Shun Yeung Taoist Association is dedicated in the promotion of harmony and life balance.

1. To foster and encourage the principles of Taoism
2. To provide a meeting place for disciples of the Taoism religion
3. Making Taoism tradition and traditional Chinese culture more accessible in the western culture society
4. Educating youths about morals and ethics
5. Promoting the Taoist ecology and preserving the environment. Organise groups activities to help clean and preserve the community’s environment
6. Promoting the study of eastern principles in psychological health and their application in Australia
7. Promoting the model of harmonious society and human relationships
8. Establishing a “harmony village” to create an agricultural environment. This aims to teach people how to grow vegetations and to provide people an opportunity to experience and learn from nature. An opportunity to be back to basics and to calm the mind
9. Publishing English Taoist articles and books to the public
10. Providing free traditional Chinese medical treatments for the elderly and poverty (namely, Chinese herbs, acupuncture and reflexology)
11. Promoting free Tai Chi and Qigong classes to the elderly to help them strengthen their health and balance. This will help reduce falls and injuries and in turn help relieve the burden of government health welfare
12. To provide charity and social welfare to the public where needed and to promote the practice of Taoism
13. To provide counselling service and functions to teach alternate ways in dealing with daily life problems
14. To provide counselling service for hospice patients

Looking ahead
Shun Yeung Taoist Association hopes to achieve the below:
5 years from now:

• Purchasing a suitable and council approved land for place of worship and establishing an agriculture ‘harmony village’, a retreat for city dwellers to escape to and a place for people to experience and learn from nature
• Establish free medical services (Traditional Chinese medicine) for the elderly and patients experiencing chronic pain.
• Counselling service for hospice patients (traditional Chinese methods used).
• To provide free culture sessions for Australian born Chinese and anyone interested to bridge understanding and encourage diversity.

Long term objective:

• Continue to promoting the village and Taoism
• Expanding and extending functions and services to people of need and the community
• To extend counselling services from hospice patients to people with needs (traditional Chinese methods used).
• Greater focus of conserving the environment through Tao sessions and activities

Summary
Shun Yeung Taoist Association is dedicated in the teaching and promotion of Taoism and helping the community through charity work and programs. We strongly believe in conserving the environment and our younger generation through education and activities.