It was a wet day on 14 December when Bodhi Travel hosts a group of local students from SIM on a Buddhist temple tour.  Despite the continual drizzle, PK and the youngsters were in high spirits as we explored the intricacies of Buddhist philosophy and art in two Chinese temples and one Thai temple.

Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery

The temple bell – this temple bell is over one hundred year old and bears testament to the long history of the Shuang Lin Monastery (SLM).  With inscription of the names of founding monastics and sponsors, the bell is also a precious document recording important milestones for the SLM.

The temple bell is an essential equipment in the Chinese Buddhist temple.  Together with the temple drum, they serve the purpose of announcing dawn and dusk to the residents.  SLM has just started on their next phase of conservation with the restoration of the Drum Tower and Bell Tower.

An informative exhibition on the restoration of the two Towers is currently open to the public at the Dharma Hall (2^nd level). Do check it out if you are visiting SLM!

The last stop of the tour was to view this majestic and serene looking Reclining Buddha.  Depicting the final days of the Shakyamuni Buddha at Kushinagara, the quiet and dignified setting gives a sense of peace to our visitors.

Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery

Following SLM, we moved on to Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery (PKS) where the group gets to see the largest Buddhist temple in Singapore with its eclectic mix of traditional Chinese buildings and new modern structures.

The first stop in PKS is the Hall of Great Compassion where we can view the three major statues of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.

The unusual designs and symbolism of the statues were shared with the students with discussions on how these symbols reflect Buddhist philosophies and Chinese cultures.

The main shrine in PKS is the Hall of Great Strength where the statue of the Shakyamuni Buddha is placed.  Next to this shrine are the Bell and Drum Towers.  In the horizon is the mammoth Venerable Hong Choon Memorial Hall.  This Hall is four-storied and houses offices, meeting rooms, classrooms, kitchen, canteen, a museum and the Hall of No-Form (multi purpose hall).

Despite their age, the graceful traditional Chinese cravings on the roofs of the temple buildings are beautiful and a sight to behold.

The eclectic nature of buildings in PKS can be seen from this photograph where we can see different styles.  In the middle is the new meditation centre.  Nearing completion, it will be ready in 2020 for the local community to participate in retreats or meditation practices.

Wat Ananda Metyarama Thai Buddhist Temple

Our last stop for the day is the very ornate Wat Ananda Metyarama Thai Buddhist Temple.  Located at Bukit Merah, Wat Ananda is the oldest Thai Buddhist temple in Singapore, having been established in 1925.  Walking up the stairs to reach the temple grounds, we were greeted by nagas and kinnaras.

Along the way, we saw a Bodhi tree before stepping into the main grounds.  The students were impressed by colourful murals depicting the life of the Buddha.  There were also murals of the wheel of life and the footsteps of the Buddha.

Introducing the Wat Ananda and the temple grounds.  Behind PK is the statue for the Four-Headed Buddha, a shrine dedicated to Guan Yin Bodhisattva and the administration office.

Contact us now if you're interested with our Singapore tours! 

• Wat Ananda Metyarama Thai Buddhist Temple
• Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
• Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery
• and many more!!

Email: [email protected]  |  Whatsapp: +65 8751 4833

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