The Seon Buddhist centre is a community in the Korean Mahayana tradition in Kinglake, Victoria. The centre has had many locations across its 28 years. In 1997, a property at Shepards Flat near Daylesford was suggested to Venerable Chi Kwang Sunim. Korean students photographed it and sent it to Venerable Chi Kwang Sunim, who showed it to her teacher in Korea who agreed it would make a good temple. Within a week, the deposit money was raised. The house on the Shepards Flat property was a ‘shell’ so a small interim temple was set up in Hepburn Springs, which quickly became popular in the community. Due to the Asian Financial Crisis in 1998-1999, continued donations became difficult to source, so the interim house at Hepburn Springs was sold to complete the repairs at the Shepards Flat property.¹ Classes began there with good attendance, but over time people requested a centre closer to town. The community moved to Emerald, before settling in its current location in Kinglake.  

The long-time Abbess of the centre is Venerable Chi Kwang Sunim, who has also chaired the Australian Sangha Association and the Buddhist Council of Victoria.² Currently, the centre offers small meditation retreats, community support work, and are undertaking a hall rebuilding project. 

By: Juewei Shi and Sioh Yang Tan

References: 

¹ Chi Kwang Sunim, “Buddhist Life Stories of Australia | Ven Chi Kwang Sunim,” conducted by Deakin University, interview, 2015, posted May 13, 2026, by Nan Tien Institute, YouTube, 1:17:39, https://youtu.be/dCS56t2XOL8. 

² “Ven. Chi Kwang Sunim Dhamma talks and community welfare sharing,” Buddhist Society of Victoria, accessed August 7, 2026, https://www.bsv.net.au/ven-chi-kwang-sunim/.