Minnasan, this way to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple plz. Tourists pls follow me closely, the area here in South Bridge Road is quite crowded. =D Because this new landmark in Chinatown just opened its doors to the public on thursday, we can expect thronging crowds.
Beware of the steps to the entrance, they're quite high. This temple is dedicated to the Maitreya Buddha. The temple is 5 storeys high, and has 2 basement floors. The main hall in here is 27 feet high, and the architectural design is inspired by the Tang Dynasty. In the first storey, u can get a glimpse of the various Buddha statues, including the wodden Maitreya Buddha image.
On the 2nd floor, u can see a gallery that exhibits pictures of religious interest. They include footage of the sacred locations where Sakyamuni Buddha, known previously as Siddhartha Gotama sat musing under the Bodhi Tree; of those where he was preaching his disciples; and relics of the old Tooth Relic Temple. Inspiring images i must say. Seriously.
Now we're on the 3rd storey. Lucky for us, this newly built temple is air-conditioned. Here we will take a trip down memory lane, learn about the beginnings of Buddhism. It originated from the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gotama, a prince in ancient India, who was later known as the Sakyamuni Buddha. This gallery, punctuated with captions on the walls and buddha statues, speaks of the journey he took towards his enlightenment, and the various temptations he had to face. Some of his teachings are also visible in the captions.
Labels: Outings