life with Lillian WORLD’S LARGEST & ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND
JADE BUDDHA visits SINGAPORE
Amitabha Buddhist Centre or ABC was very privileged to be able to exhibit the world’s largest one and only Jade Buddha for Universal Peace to all Singaporeans and tourists from 13th to 26th January 2012 at Ngee City Civic Plaza in Orchard Road. President of ABC, Captain Tan Hup Cheng overcame a mountain of obstacles to successfully bring this unique Jade Buddha to Singapore. Here in his own words, he shares his great joy in doing so with our readers...
this magnificent holy object to Singapore.
W Rinpoche had originally wanted
the Jade Buddha to be in Singapore in 2008 but at that time, major obstacles manifested and the exhibition had to be cancelled. T is time around however, ABC decided to make very certain that whatever obstacles manifested would be overcome, and thus the Buddha was successful brought not just to Singapore but to sit in beautiful Ngee Ann City in busy Orchard Road so that as many people as possible could view the Buddha.
Rinpoche had revealed that
there would be far-reaching positive benefi ts for the Jade Buddha to visit Singapore and that many people would make it a point to visit the Buddha. Rinpoche was absolutely spot on, as during the two week event, no less than 200,000 people came to receive blessings from the Jade Buddha. It was a major opportunity for all to make off erings of rice, fl owers, lights and prayers to create skies of merit.
Amongst the 200,000 people who came were dignitaries like the Minister for Education Mr Heng
46 FENGSHUIWORLD | MARCH / APRIL 2012
e are extremely fortunate to be able to realize our holy Guru’s vision to bring
Swee Kiat , who was our Guest Of Honour, Mr S R Nathan – former President of Singapore , Mrs Goh Chok Tong, 8 members of the Inter Religious Organization and the Buddhist Community - Phor Kark See Monastery, Burmese Buddhist Temple, Sri Lankaramaya and even the Sri Mariamam Hindu Temple. T ose that came were also blessed by the holy relics of Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup, and the Chenrezig Sand Mandala. About 82,000 kgs of rice was off ered by the general public, all of which has been donated to eight charitable homes in Singapore. Singapore was truly blessed that week with the presence of the Jade Buddha.
rainbow appeared in the sky!
showers of blessings fell on Singapore and even a double
Compassionate T e logistics of moving in the Jade
Buddha was astronomical. A special 10 m long, 1 beam , 2 tonne metal structure had to be constructed to support the Jade Buddha, its throne with a total weight of 6 tonnes per sq metre. T e Civic Square Plaza ground loading strength was only designed for 3 tonnes per sq metre, without which the fl oor would have
collapsed. A special heavy lift crane of 250 mega tons capacity was used to hoist the Jade Buddha from Orchard Road onto its seat in the courtyard stage area.
A total of seven permits had to be obtained from the Authorities (Police, Fire Safety, Media Development Authority, Land Transport Authority, Parks & Recreation Department) before this event could be staged. Truly, unless one has the determination to create skies of merit to plan this event, the logistics (and cost) would have scared off a less determined person.
Lillian and Hup Cheng at the Jade Buddha Show in Singapore.