The Journey to the City where the Trail Begins

Energetic and inspired … forty people from Buddhist Gem Fellowship (BGF) made their way to the Lion City to support and attend the musical drama show by Buddhist Fellowship (BF), Singapore in Raffles Hotel – a colonial styled building in the heart of the city. The bus journey was pleasant and gay as everyone got to know each other.

As the group arrived in Singapore, they headed straight to Kong Meng San Por Kah See (KMSPKS) temple in Bright Hill in Bishan. It was so amazing to see such a huge and majestic building with extensive architectural design from the Chinese dynasties to the modern and practical themed concepts.

Cell Tono Lim, the Youth Ministry Programme Executive of KMSPKS welcomed us and he is so humble and welcoming. The group was then treated to light refreshments and was later taken for a guided tour around the temple grounds which comprises of several halls of veneration and also crematoriums.

The Venerable Hong Choon, the one who developed KMSPKS had put in a lot of effort in developing the place and now, after his passing away, a memorial hall was built to appreciate his work done and also a tribute to his legacy.

7.30 PM 26th January 2008 Raffles City – Passage of Time – A musical drama about a true story of the life and times of a lady was staged by fellow members of the Buddhist Fellowship at Jubilee Hall, Raffles Hotel. Renowned artiste like Neo Swee Lin (in Phua Chu Kang) and Angie Monksfield, Nick Shen casts in the drama. It is a masterpiece produced based on the life story with the teachings and advice by Ajahn Brahmavamso in his book “Opening the door of your heart”. Themes and lyrics were composed from the book and it is original and rhythm to soothe the heart.

Sunday morning – The journey, the trail begun, a trail through centuries of rich history, the Nalanda Trail at the Asian Civilization Museum along the scenic Singapore River. The journey took us through from the time when the Buddha was born till the dispensation of His Dhamma to the various regions of the world like Afghanistan, Europe, China, Asia and Tibet with the influence of Great people such as Alexander The Great, Fa Hsien, and Mahinda & Shangamitta. The artifacts were loaned from India and some by personal collectors.

The most exquisite of all was the display of the authentic Buddha’s relics which was believed to be the ‘untouched’ by Emperor Ashka in India with inscriptions stating that it belongs to the Sakyan Clan.

Special thanks shall be extended to KMSPKS for the complimentary tickets and their hospitality and also to the volunteer guides at the trail.

Later that morning, the group headed to Buddhist Fellowship (BF) at Off Pasir Panjang Road. There, Ajahn Brahmavamso preached on kamma. He highlighted that a person shall be able to recognize the Buddha nature in another person and shall praise the Buddha nature found in them. This, he says, creates peace, happiness and joy and goodness in a person. He adds that when a person has these feelings, it is equaled to enlightenment. BF’s Chairman Mr. Lee took us on a tour to its multilevel building facing the port and also the hill. The building was built with much consideration towards the conservation of environment to the facilities for the less able and not forgetting the safety of the adolescents.

Later that evening, the group left Singapore with their hearts content and the youths were able to establish better and stronger ties with fellow Singaporeans and this would bring INCOVAR to greater horizons and the rest, was ah inspiring and heartiest contentment to be able to meet people and especially Ajahn Brahmavamso himself. Overall, everything went on fine as Singapore is a fine city. About the hotel, hahaha! Hotel 81, located at Geylang, the center of the nightlife of the city was aloud and live all day and night long.

~ Submitted By Allex Lim