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Buddhism in Singapore

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Buddhism
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As of 2010, 33.3% of Singaporeans aged 15 and over identified themselves as Buddhist.[1] Among them, the majority are Chinese, although there are also small minorities of Sinhalese and Thai.

Mahayana is the most prevalent form of Buddhism in Singapore, but there are also sizeable communities following other traditions such as Theravada and Tibetan. The representative organisation of Buddhism in Singapore is the Singapore Buddhist Federation.

Contents

History []

The presence of Buddhism in Singapore is evident since Srivijayan times. In line with ancestral practices, many Chinese inhabitants incorporate elements of Taoism and Confucianism into Buddhism. By virtue thereof, there is a strong trend blending towards Thai Buddhism, which is seen to bear cultural similarities for its ability in encompassing Chinese culture and practices as represented in Taoism. Theravada, the oldest Buddhist school of thought, is seeing a potent growth in Singapore in the past decade.

The Singapore census includes detailed data on religion and ethnicity. Figures on Buddhism in 1980 shown that 27% of Singaporeans are Buddhists, up to 31.2% in 1990 and 42.5% in 2000. It is also noted that there is a significant increase of interest in the Buddhist teachings (dharma), practices, and customs (i.e. chanting, meditation, and offering formality). With a younger and more informed population, Buddhism is seen as the most viable religion in Singapore. However, there was a drop to 33.3% in the 2010 census.[1]

Traditions and ceremonies []

There have been efforts to distinguish certain customs and practices in both Buddhism and Taoism as folk traditions and practices by a minority. The majority of adherents of these faiths, however, are unaware of such distinctions. This is to be seen in the vagueness of identification distinction amongst the followers of the faiths. As such, many self-proclaimed "Buddhists" are actually adherents of Chinese folk traditions who visits temples of Chinese folk traditions for worship rather than learning the dharma from Buddhist monasteries. Similar trends are also witnessed in countries such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Traditions []

The Mahayana, Theravada, and Tibetan schools have acquired sizable followings. Monks from Sri Lanka, Thailand and other countries have come to teach their form of the dharma to Singaporean Buddhists. As a result, a number of Theravada and other Buddhist temples like the Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple have sprung up in recent years.

Buddhism in modern Singapore []

The Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple on Race Course Road is often referred to as the Temple of 1,000 Lights.

In recent years, due to the increasing publication of Buddhist books, the appearance of internet sites in English, the availability of modern Buddhist music as well as courses conducted in English, more and more English-speaking Chinese, especially younger Singaporeans, are joining Buddhist circles. A forerunner of these developments, in the early 20th century, was the largely Chinese-supported but English-language Buddhist mission and school run by the Irish Buddhist U Dhammaloka. As a nation of immigrants, majority from mainland China, Buddhism in Singapore inevitably took the form of Chinese Mahayana perspective. Therefore practitioners of Chinese Mahayana remain the majority of the Buddhist populations in Singapore. However, the rise of Thai Buddhism in Asia, which denomination rests on the oldest school of thought of Theravada, there is a strong proliferating trend of averting to this intrinsic form of Buddhism. The Japanese Buddhist organisation, the Soka Gakkai International, has many members in Singapore. It is registered as the Singapore Soka Association. It has taken part in National Day Parade, Chingay Parade, inter-religion dialogue, cultural, art and educational seminars, and humanitarian relief, such as during and after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Singaporean members of the Soka Gakkai are mostly Chinese. Another sect of Buddhism that is seen making slow inroad into Singapore is the Tibetan school, which seems to benefit from the writings of Western monks and writers, such as the Dalai Lama, Thubten Chodron, and Tenzin Palmo. The Zen school has also gained its prominence and footholds in Singapore, partly due to the tradition of Chinese Mahayana in Singapore.

Singapore's Buddhist temples and religious circles are highly organized and very often have a connection with foreign religious organisations, especially in China, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States, the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka etc. Many foreign Buddhist associations and temples have also established branches in Singapore to propagate Buddhist teachings and activities. For instance, the Taiwanese Fo Guang Shan, one of the largest Buddhist organisations in the world, together with Buddha's Light International Association, has a branch in Singapore (Buddha Light Singapore), tasked with propagating Zen practice， the teaching of dharma and the bodhisattva path. Buddhist temples and associations are spread all over Singapore, ranging from small to large.

The largest Mahayana temple in Singapore is Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, whilst the Theravada school is represented by an equally prominent temple, the Wat Ananda Metyarama Temple. These temples hold many activities such as chanting, meditation, retreats, and dharma talks, as well as offering courses on dharma and meditation, very often attended by thousands of devotees and adherents of the respective lineage.

Religious liberty in Singapore has also provided a conducive environment for the development of varying Buddhist practices. Furthermore, as with Taoism, Buddhism is taking a turn into a new vista with the elevation of educational levels amongst followers and devotees, where more are seen to indulge in spiritual practices and self-enhancement such as meditation, practicing mindfulness, studies and understanding of religious history.

Several Buddhist youth groups organise activities such as camps, dharma lessons, meditation classes, fellowship and community services for the young. They include kmsYM, the Youth Ministry of Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Temple, the Youth Group of Singapore Buddhist Mission, WAY (Wat Ananda Youth), Buddhist Fellowship, 3GEMS, a group of youths offering guided Buddhist tours around major temples in Singapore and Dharma In Action set up by a group of Buddhist enthusiasts to promote the learning, understanding and practice of life-style Buddhism in modern societies.

List of Buddhist organisations in Singapore []

SCHOOL GROUPS

  • Ngee Ann Polytechnic Buddhist Society
  • Nanyang Polytechnic Buddhist Society
  • National University of Singapore Buddhist Society
  • National Technology University Buddhist Society
  • Singapore Institute of Management Buddhist Bhavana
  • Singapore Management University Buddhist Society
  • Singapore Polytechnic Buddhist Society

References []

  1. ^ a b "Statistical Release 1: Demographic Characteristics, Education, Language and Religion". Census of Population 2010. Singapore Department of Statistics. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  • Chia, Jack Meng Tat. "Buddhism in Singapore: A State of the Field Review." Asian Culture 33 (June 2009): 81-93.
  • Kuah, Khun Eng. State, Society and Religious Engineering: Towards a Reformist Buddhism in Singapore. Singapore: Eastern Universities Press, 2003.
  • Ong, Y.D. Buddhism in Singapore: A Short Narrative History. Singapore: Skylark Publications, 2005.
  • Shi Chuanfa 释传发. Xinjiapo Fojiao Fazhan Shi 新加坡佛教发展史 [A History of the Development of Buddhism in Singapore]. Singapore: Xinjiapo fojiao jushilin, 1997.
  • Wee, Vivienne. “Buddhism in Singapore.” In Understanding Singapore Society, eds. Ong Jin Hui, Tong Chee Kiong and Tan Ern Ser, pp. 130–162. Singapore: Times Academic Press, 1997.

External links []