''What I want to do is help as many people as I can. That's what I became a monk for.''

~ Venerable Shi Ming Yi

The Straits Times, 31st August 2001

Venerable Shi Ming Yi (释明义法师), the Abbot of Foo Hai Ch'an Monastery was born in 1962. Venerable Ming Yi took his tonsure at the age of 21.

In September 1994, he took over the Chronic Sick Unit of Woodbridge Hospital (now known as Institute of Mental Health) and founded Ren Ci Hospital (Ren Ci).

In 1996, Venerable Ming Yi was awarded the Public Service Medal by the Late President Ong Teng Chong, in recognition of his contributions to the community and healthcare.But to him, none of the amount of funds raised, the recognition or titles that he received would be more significant than the patients' care.

''Being able to do something for the patients and talking to their families is the best satisfaction I can get. That's all I want.''1 he mentioned in an interview.

1 The Dhamma Times, 31st August 2001


In almost all fundraising events, Ven Ming Yi emphasized on staff involvement and reducing expenditure in order to give more to patients' medical and nursing care. Among others, the hallmark of the Hospital should be the Ren Ci Charity Show that touched the hearts of Singaporeans.

Besides MediaCorp artistes' performances, Venerable Ming Yi also invited foreign artistes such as Nancy Sit, S.H.E., Andy Lau, the late Blackie, Richie Ren and David Tao to help raise funds. All these stars performed on a voluntarily basis. However, the highlight of the Show must be the daring and selfless performance by Venerable Ming Yi himself. At the inception of the Show 2003, he abseiled down from a 45-storey Suntec Tower, that helped raised $6.4 million and moved many people.

Guided by the principles of compassion and loving-kindness towards mankind, Venerable Ming Yi has bravely taken on the challenge to look after the sick and needy. His 14 years of dedication, conviction and unwavering love towards the patients are indisputable and immense.

He visits the patients and calls them by names. He has created a HOME for the patients. He would not push patients to pay for the hospital bills. He knows that these patients, mainly from low income families or destitute, would have nowhere else to go.

His every effort and time spent at the Hospital is always towards improving the lives and living conditions of the patients.