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Drawing credit: He You Zhi
Shuang Lin manifests the Buddha’s Mahāparinirvāṇa
In the year 624 BCE, Prince Siddhārtha was born to the royal family of Nepal. He was the only son of Śuddhodana and was supposed to inherit the throne. However, after witnessing the pain inflicted by old age, sickness and death, he chose to leave home to pursue the Read More...
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Drawing credit: He You Zhi
Gift from a celestial maiden
One full moon night, in the residence of nobleman Xiao, his wife vividly dreamt of encountering a celestial maiden who offered her an unusual flower. Shortly after, she became pregnant. The whole Xiao family was overjoyed when they heard of the good news. Immediately, they went before a Buddha Read More...
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Drawing credit: He You Zhi
Leaving home for Noble Practice
Master was born into a rich family. Since young, he was a vegetarian, bright and kind. He and his young brother Xing Hui, read extensively after having become spiritually inspired as they grew up. At last, they realize that nothing is better than Buddha’s supramundane teachings of four noble Read More...
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Drawing credit: He You Zhi
Dharma pronunciation by Weimiao
One day, when Master Wei Miao, the abbot of Yi Shan Xi Chan monastery in Fuzhou was passing through Hui’an county, he visited QīngYīn monastery and shockingly saw how the Xiao family conscientiously carried out the Buddha’s practices. Moved by their genuine devotion, Master Wei Miao delivered a sermon Read More...
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Drawing credit: He You Zhi
Leaving the country for their Pilgrimage
After many years of observing pure practices, Master Xian Hui decided to go on a pilgrimage to Buddha’s homeland. In 1892, 12 members of the Xiao family of male and female departed from Xiamen by boat, travelling first to India and then to Sri Lanka. The pilgrimage enabled them Read More...
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Drawing credit: He You Zhi
Six years stay in the Mountain
The Mount Laṅkā in Ceylon was no doubt a place ideal for noble practices. Everyone was happy once they saw the peaceful environment around the mountain. Rapidly they built some cottages near the caves with the monks occupying one and the nuns another. For six years, they strived on Read More...
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Drawing credit: He You Zhi
Dream of a golden figure
Low Kim Pong, the chief donor of Shuang Lin Monastery was born in a farmer’s family in Nanjing county, Zhangzhou city, Fujian province of China. When he was twenty years old, he left his home to make a living in Singapore. After becoming successful in small business, he opened Read More...
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Drawing credit: He You Zhi
The offer of land and construction of the monastery
Early the next morning, Low hurried off to the port to wait for the appearance of this special visit. After a whole day of waiting, a ship finally approached from the west with Master Xian Hui and his family on board. Low was so thrilled that he invited Master Read More...
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Drawing credit: He You Zhi
The construction of Shuang Lin Monastery
Mr. Low was a leader of the Chinese Society for the wealthy in Singapore, whose call to action resulted in an active fundraiser which received tremendous response from the Chinese in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. The Chinese immigrants hoped to see a Chinese temple erected in Nanyang (the name Read More...
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Drawing credit: He You Zhi
Passing of the Abbot
In 1901, Master Xian Hui passed away. The abbot of Shuang Lin Monastery was deeply respected by the followers in Singapore and the news of his passing was a heavy blow for them, especially when construction had just begun. Faced with uncertainties of the future, it was emotionally difficult for Read More...
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Drawing credit: He You Zhi
A monument erected, A Journey back home
However, the realization of this vision was met with another setback, as the second abbot Master Xing Hui passed away the following year (in 1902). Overwhelmed with grief of losing her son, Master Ci Miao (the mother of Master Xian Hui and Master Xing Hui) returned home with other Read More...
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Drawing credit: He You Zhi
Restoration of Shuang Lin
These buildings are massive art pieces that are highly rich in Chinese traditional architecture character. With a building style based on Chinese traditional construction techniques, Shuang Lin Moanstery has received countless number of visitors and admirers throughout the years. However, the magnificent halls have suffered damages during the World Read More...
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Shuang Lin manifests the Buddha’s Mahāparinirvāṇa
In the year 624 BCE, Prince Siddhārtha was born to the royal family of Nepal. He was the only son of Śuddhodana and was supposed to inherit the throne. However, after witnessing the pain inflicted by old age, sickness and death, he chose to leave home to pursue the true meaning of life at the age of 29. After six years of rigorous practices and contemplations, Prince Siddhārtha finally gained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, thus becoming The Unsurpassed One, known also as Śākyamuni Buddha. The founder of Buddhism, after enlightenment, preached in many places including Nepal and what is now known as India for about 45 years. In the year that Buddha was 80 years old, he entered Mahāparinirvāṇa under a pair of Shorea robusta (or commonly known in Sanskrit as śāla) tree in the city of Kuśinagara. Before his passing, he instructed his disciples that it is necessary to follow the precepts to attain salvation, and to live with humility and gratitude. Shuang Lin Monastery was named as such in order to commemorate Buddha entering parinirvāṇa under the twin śāla trees. According to the records from Sutras, the twin śāla-trees were born with matching roots that were connected at the bottom. When Buddha was about to enter parinirvāṇa, one of the trees was so devastated that it turned white with its flowers gradually withering and barks splitting. The other tree, nevertheless survived. The legacy of the twin śāla-trees became a story that all the disciples would never forget.
Gift from a celestial maiden
One full moon night, in the residence of nobleman Xiao, his wife vividly dreamt of encountering a celestial maiden who offered her an unusual flower. Shortly after, she became pregnant. The whole Xiao family was overjoyed when they heard of the good news. Immediately, they went before a Buddha statue and vowed to becoming vegetarians for their love of the unborn baby and all lives. This is thus the unusual anecdote in the birth of Shuanglin Monastery’s founding abbot, Master Xian Hui during the fading years of Qing dynasty in a village located in Hui’an county of Quanzhaou, Fujian.
Leaving home for Noble Practice
Master was born into a rich family. Since young, he was a vegetarian, bright and kind. He and his young brother Xing Hui, read extensively after having become spiritually inspired as they grew up. At last, they realize that nothing is better than Buddha’s supramundane teachings of four noble truths, nirvana etc. as everything in this world arise and pass away once the conditions supporting are no longer in existence. With this understanding, they approached their parents for permission to join the monkhood. Unbelievingly, their parents did not only agree but also wished to follow their footsteps. After financing the building of monastery QīngYīn and nunnery QīngDé, the male and female lived respectively to fulfill their noble practice.
Dharma pronunciation by Weimiao
One day, when Master Wei Miao, the abbot of Yi Shan Xi Chan monastery in Fuzhou was passing through Hui’an county, he visited QīngYīn monastery and shockingly saw how the Xiao family conscientiously carried out the Buddha’s practices. Moved by their genuine devotion, Master Wei Miao delivered a sermon that filled the whole family with happiness in the bliss of dharma. Out of respect for Master Wei Miao, the Xiao family held an ordination ceremony which Venerable Xian Hui and Xing Hui participated and became his disciples. Later, when Master Xian Hui established Shuang Lin Monastery, he modeled it after Yí Shān Xī Chán Monastery rebuilt by Master Wei Miao and became an affiliate of this one of the five largest Conglin monasteries in Southern China.
Leaving the country for their Pilgrimage
After many years of observing pure practices, Master Xian Hui decided to go on a pilgrimage to Buddha’s homeland. In 1892, 12 members of the Xiao family of male and female departed from Xiamen by boat, travelling first to India and then to Sri Lanka. The pilgrimage enabled them to recall significant events involving the Buddha, brought clarity into Buddha’s teachings, practices and liberation. Pilgrimage is a meditation in motion that designed to connect us with the ideal of awakening for the benefit of others. So, while awakening to one’s nature, we must work to help others realize these elements are two sides of the same coin in the principles of Chan. Only then, we can appreciate the Buddha’s wisdom such as the four noble truths, eightfold path and Bodhisattva way along the way, ensuring a lifetime of happiness.
Six years stay in the Mountain
The Mount Laṅkā in Ceylon was no doubt a place ideal for noble practices. Everyone was happy once they saw the peaceful environment around the mountain. Rapidly they built some cottages near the caves with the monks occupying one and the nuns another. For six years, they strived on untiringly in the path of cultivation. In 1897 Winter, Mr. Gao Wang Bang of Myanmar came and invited Master Xian Hui over to Myanmar for dharma talks after learning about his virtues and achievements. The Master agreed. In 1898, he brought his accompanying members along with him to Myanmar. Upon finishing the dharma talks there, they decided to return to China, but ended up arriving at Singapore and had an unusual encounter with Low Kim Pong.
Dream of a golden figure
Low Kim Pong, the chief donor of Shuang Lin Monastery was born in a farmer’s family in Nanjing county, Zhangzhou city, Fujian province of China. When he was twenty years old, he left his home to make a living in Singapore. After becoming successful in small business, he opened a Chinese medicine store Chop Ban San, and later Chop Hock Nam that help provide low-interest loan to small businesses. In 1898, while Master Xian Hui and his group were sailing southward from Penang, Malaysia, Low Kim Pong and his son coincidentally saw a golden light shining from the west in their dream. The manifestation was so glorious and dignified that Low Kim Pong strongly believed it must be a revelation.
The offer of land and construction of the monastery
Early the next morning, Low hurried off to the port to wait for the appearance of this special visit. After a whole day of waiting, a ship finally approached from the west with Master Xian Hui and his family on board. Low was so thrilled that he invited Master over to his house for a vegetarian meal. Afterwards, he offered to donate fifty acres of land for the construction of Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery, hoping they can stay in Singapore with Master Xian Hui as the founding abbot of the new monastery. Master agreed and started to construct the buildings based on the Conglin architectural layout from Yí Shān Xī Chán monastery in China.
The construction of Shuang Lin Monastery
Mr. Low was a leader of the Chinese Society for the wealthy in Singapore, whose call to action resulted in an active fundraiser which received tremendous response from the Chinese in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. The Chinese immigrants hoped to see a Chinese temple erected in Nanyang (the name of Singapore in those days) that will become a spiritual pillar for the Chinese community. The materials used in the construction were transported from China to Nanyang, one ship at a time. Craftsmen specialized in wood and stone engraving as well as masonry were called upon from the province of Fujian, China. For once, Chinese construction techniques were utilized beyond the borders of their origin.
Passing of the Abbot
In 1901, Master Xian Hui passed away. The abbot of Shuang Lin Monastery was deeply respected by the followers in Singapore and the news of his passing was a heavy blow for them, especially when construction had just begun. Faced with uncertainties of the future, it was emotionally difficult for everyone to accept the passing of the abbot. Yet the desire to create a Monastery with a Cong Lin layout outside of China remained as firm as ever. Monks and followers were united in their hope that the magnificent halls would eventually be able to rise above this ground and become a temple to spread forth the teachings of Buddha.
A monument erected, A Journey back home
However, the realization of this vision was met with another setback, as the second abbot Master Xing Hui passed away the following year (in 1902). Overwhelmed with grief of losing her son, Master Ci Miao (the mother of Master Xian Hui and Master Xing Hui) returned home with other nuns living with her. Before leaving for China, she ordered the erection of a monument where the origin of Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery, events concerning the first abbot and reason for the construction of Zhū Lín Temple were recorded. After Master Xing Hui’s passing, he was succeeded by his disciple Master Ming Guang who executed his teacher’s vision with diligence, thereby ensuring the completion of the Dharma hall and subsequently the Mahavira hall.
Restoration of Shuang Lin
These buildings are massive art pieces that are highly rich in Chinese traditional architecture character. With a building style based on Chinese traditional construction techniques, Shuang Lin Moanstery has received countless number of visitors and admirers throughout the years. However, the magnificent halls have suffered damages during the World War II and under adverse weather conditions. Even with multiple rounds of restoration, the longevity of Shuang Lin Monastery was hardly guaranteed. In 1991, the Shuang Lin Restoration and Preservation Committee was then formed with the responsibility of protecting the heriatage, and with the goal of restoring the grace of Shuang Lin. Restoration of a national historic site was a task of great significance. As such, the committee decided to channel all available resources of the monastery towards this highly difficult project and hire the experts on historical architecture from southern China as restoration consultants. The Chinese craftsmen would be responsible for the reconstruction process using traditional restoration techniques, while modern technologies were introduced to revamp the architectural complex. After 3 years of careful planning, the Mahavira Hall and the Hall of the Celestial Kings started restoration works in 1994. The rebuilding of the halls on the east and the west followed, and later on the mountain gate, the half-moon pond, the screen wall etc. The result of this project is the preservation of a Cong Lin Buddhist architecture that exists beyond China, and by extension, the preservation of Chinese cultural heritage in Singapore.
