(News article from Lianhe Zaobao 9.12.2010)

       Mudslide hit the Gangsu province of China on Aug 7, resulting in huge casualties.Singapore Buddhist Lodge donated $100,000 and conducted a Buddhist Chanting for the victims of the disaster.  

       The China to Singapore Ambassador Mr Wei Wei attended the “China Zhouqu Massive Mudslide Disaster Praying Ceremony” and accepted the S$100,000 donation from the Lodge.Neighboring the Jiu Zaigou National Park, Gangsu Quzhou suffered a huge loss of life in the disaster. According to Mr Wei, to the date of Aug 20, a total of 1456 people have lost their lives, 309 missing and those affected reached over hundreds of thousands. The destructiveness and difficulties encountered during rescue was unseen before. The disaster had caused the feeling of sympathy in the heart of Singaporeans. Donations simply poured in. 

       Mr Wei said the Singapore Buddhist Lodge’s sustained efforts in carrying out charity works, and promoting interracial and social harmony has won great respect from the public.  

       Starting from 2002, SBL donated $100,000 to specified areas in Yunan province every year. To date, it has helped to rebuild and restore over 100 school buildings in Hunan, Hubei, Fujian, Anhui and other provinces. It has also collected a huge amount of donations for the 2007 Sichuan earthquake disaster and the drought that occurred in the northwest area this year. 

       Mr Wei said that he was deeply moved by the SBL’s effort in accumulating $100,000 within a short time frame for the victims of Quzhou. He would ensure the amount be transferred to the related departments for the rescue and restoration work in the disaster affected area. 

       Mr Lee said, even though Singapore is an independent country, as descendants from the same ancestor, the links still live on. Many Singaporeans go to China to pay respect to their ancestors, trace their forefather roots, find relatives and they still remember that their roots start from there. Blood is thicker than water and that is the reason why many Singaporeans share the same feeling with the victims.

       From September 14-16, 2010, the president of Singapore Buddhist Lodge Mr Lee Bock Guan, in response to the special invitation from Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo, visited Beijing Sihuang Monastery to make an official call on the China Tibetan Buddhism leader, China politburo member and China Buddhist Association vice chairman the 11^th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu. Later, they visited the China Buddhist Association chairman Ven. Chuanyin, Beijing Buddhist Lodge president Mr Xia Fa Sheng and others.

       In the afternoon of Sep 14, with the companion of Singapore to China ambassador Mr Chen Rong Yun, Mr Lee and embassy officials, Mr Lee visited the 11th Panchen Lama at Xihuang Monastery. Ven Panchen said, Chinese Buddhism has deep relationship with Singapore. He mentioned that their meeting was the further development of friendship carried onwards from the previous 10^th Panchen Lama and that it opened an important frontier on the exchange and cooperation between China and Singapore.

       The Lama expressed his appreciation on the active involvement of Singapore Buddhist community in charity, and the foster of harmonious interracial relationship. He sent his personal regards to all Buddhists in Singapore, and wished them auspicious and happy living.

       Minister George Yeo expressed his pleasure in being able to represent the Singapore delegation in the visit to Ven. Lama Panchen. He offered a boutique of flowers and ceremonial scarf of Khada to the venerable with his greetings and wishes. He congratulated the venerable on his taking of the Bhikkhu precepts. In their talks, the minister mentioned many Singaporeans who had traveled to Tibet felt that the area is improving and its economic development is rapid. The minister and the Singapore Buddhist Federation invited the Lama to visit Singapore. He said that he hopes China and Singapore religious exchange will continue and the friendship between the people of the two countries be further deepened.

       The China Buddhist Association vice chairman and the dean of Beijing High Institute of Buddhism Tibetan Language Department, Tulku blo-bzang-vjig-med-thub-bstan--chos- dyi-nyi-ma
(嘉木祥.洛桑久美.图丹却玛尼活佛), and vice dean Tulku nag tshang (那仓活佛，abbot of the Beijing Guangji Monastery Ven Yan Jue and Ven Yan Xu from the Lodge were among the visitors. They toured the Xihuang Monastery afterward.

       On the same day, the director of the China State Religious Affair Bureau hosted a dinner for the delegation despite his tight schedule. Everyone was joyful. They were also joined by the bureau’s foreign affairs departmental head Ms Guo Wei and a division head Mr Liu Wei in the dinner.

       In the morning of Sep 15, Mr Lee, Ven. Guang Sheng and others visited Ven Chuan Yin in Beijing Guangji Monastery. Mr Lee congratulated the venerable on his being elected the chairman of the association and he expressed his hope for a continued exchange of friendship and support, and development in the future.

       The next morning, Mr Lee and Ven Yan Xu, accompanied by Ven Pu Zhen, visited the Beijing Buddhist Lodge. The Lodge’s president Mr Xia Fa Sheng, director Mr Wu Yan, Pureland Association secretary general Mr Chen Yuan cordially welcomed the delegation.  The two leaders exchanged their in-dept views on the building extension of Beijing Buddhist Lodge, future direction of layman Buddhism, possible cooperation between the Lodges. Mr Lee and Ven Yan Xu flew back to Singapore in the afternoon.

       Mr Wu was the famous artist of Singapore, and the international renowned artist in finger paintings. He has devoted his whole life on the creation and dissemination of the art. Hence, he was hailed as “the master of finger painting in the past three thousand years”.                        

       The exhibition was launched by the President of Singapore Art Society Ho Kah Leong. Hundreds of people from the public attended the opening ceremony. The main guests were dignitaries from the world of arts and other areas and included the head of Liaoning Cultural Affairs Mr Guo Wenxing, director of the same department and the party secretary of Liaoning Museum Mr Shi Dewu and others.

       The exhibition opened to the public daily from 10.00 am – 7.00 pm with no admission fee. The public response was great and everyone enjoyed the grand cultural feast. 

SBL plan to set up Art Scholarships
       The 6-day exhibition drew a large number of visitors and many paintings were purchased. An amount of $380,000 was raised for the Lodge’s Education Foundation. In view of insufficient funding dedicated to nurturing and development local art, the Lodge’s president Mr Lee Bock Guan suggested using the revenue to set up an art scholarship. He said that the Lodge welcomes artists who would like to contribute through holding exhibitions, charity sales, concerts or any forms to raise funds for the scholarship.

       The Art Scholarship shall be open for applications to all needy students and those disadvantaged people who have the talents and are interested in arts. It enables the applicants to pursue their studies in areas such as painting, music, dance and other kind of arts performance overseas. The president expressed that he hopes these artists will be able to perform concerts or teach arts in schools, and help to carry the local arts to the next level after they have graduated.

Donation to Children Cancer Foundation & ST School Pocket Money

       In July 2010, the Lodge donated $20,000 to the Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund, $20,000 to Singapore Children Cancer Foundation, making it a total contribution of $40,000. The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund assists the daily living of primary and secondary school students by providing them pocket money every month. Singapore Children Cancer Foundation is a non-governmental organisation with an aim to help children with cancer and their families by providing emotional and social support, medical welfare and improvement on their quality of life through casework and counseling, game therapy and parent assistance scheme, and so on.   

       On 16 July 2010, students from Min Hua Primary School and three other schools in Yishun participated in an orchid flower paper folding event. The final work was displayed in SMU origami art exhibition to raise funds for the above mentioned children charity schemes. SBL president, Mr Lee Bock Guan was invited to unveil the huge orchid origami work. After the ceremony, Mr Lee suggested to place the art work in Min Hua Primary School as a kind of commendation on the loving kindness spirit of the students and the virtue of good deeds. 

International Lantern Riddle Competition

       The opening ceremony of the International Lantern Riddle Competition was held in Jurong Junior College on Jul 22, 2010. Mr Lee was invited to be guest of honour for the launching ceremony. 

       The lantern riddle appreciation event was co-organised by the Singapore Education Ministry, Singapore Lantern Riddle Association and Jurong Junior College. Over 40 representative groups from Singapore, China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Hong Kong took part in the event. 

       The topics of the riddles are comprehensive, ranging from politics, economic, history, geography, literature and arts, natural science to anything from the current affairs. The riddles are meant to enhance knowledge and promote learning. 

Visits to the Lodge

       Kuching Buddhist Lodge President Mr Cai Ming Tian paid a visit to the Lodge on 23 May 2010.  

       On Jun 30, the Yunnan Religious Affair Bureau director, Mr Xiong Sheng Xiang and his delegation of 5 people visited the Lodge. Guided by Mr Lee, they paid tribute to the statue of Lord Buddha and visited the Chinese medicine free clinic, the library and the big kitchen that is capable of churning out meals for a thousand people daily. They were treated to the delicacies in the Lodge’s conference room. 

       A group of 200 people from Buona Vista Community Centre visited the Lodge and enjoyed a sumptuous vegetarian lunch on 18 July 2010.  

       On the 24 August afternoon, 400 senior citizens visited the Lodge accompanied by the GRC MP, Mr Yeo Guat Kwang. They viewed the video clips on the history and the activities of the lodge followed by a site tour. They were hosted to a vegetarian dinner afterwards. The lodge gave each of them a box of moon cakes and wished them a very happy mid autumn festival.