Pu Ji Si Buddhist Research Centre, Singapore

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Pu Ji Si Buddhist Research Centre, Singapore Overview

The Pu Ji Si Buddhist Research Centre is a divine combination of an educational facility and house of worship, a serene 5-storeyed structure lying on Lorong 12 in the Geylang area of Singapore. This spiritual sanctuary serves as the new location for the Poh Jay Temple, where one can also find a library, classrooms, a multi-purpose hall and a tranquil rooftop garden in addition to the main shrine and meditation halls.

Various Buddhist idols and sculptures can be found throughout the Pu Ji Si Buddhist Research Centre, with a grand Maitreya Buddha sculpture greeting visitors on the first floor. The main shrine houses a bright, white jade statue of Lord Buddha, with the holy Buddhist Trinity of Amitabha, Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta represented above in grand golden idols. The Thousand Sakyamuni Buddha images on the second floor resonate the values of Buddhism, an integral part of its culture. The garden on the rooftop, designed in accordance with the principles of Zen meditation, complements the overall vibe of this place, allowing for visitors to find a sense of peace and tranquillity up here.

History

The Poh Jay Temple was founded by the late Venerable Seet Zhuan Jie, the Abbot of the Xue Fong Monastery in China, who arrived in Singapore in 1924. After toiling away for many years, he was able to save enough money to acquire some vacant land at Kampong Bahru in Tanah Merah, where he founded the Poh Jay Temple in 1949. His goal was to institute a traditional Chinese Buddhist temple for the benefit of Chinese immigrants living here, promoting the values and teachings of Buddhism. In 1984, the land of the temple was chosen to be a part of the Port of Singapore Authority’s Logistic Distri-Park development project, causing the temple to have to relocate. Thus, the new location of 66 Telok Kurau Lorong G was decided upon, previously the site of the Singapore Bhikhunis Buddhist Institute.

With the growing needs of the Buddhist community, which had been steadily expanding, the Pu Ji Si Buddhist Research Centre was conceptualised, officially established at this site in 2003. 10,000 square feet of land at 39 Lorong 12 Geylang was allocated for this centre, which was finally completed in 2006.

Attractions at Pu Ji Si Buddhist Research Centre

Maitreya Buddha: A large sculpted statue of the Maitreya Buddha greets visitors at the entrance to the facility on the first floor. The Maitreya Buddha is highly revered in Buddhist tradition, believed to have come back to Earth to achieve complete enlightenment and teach pure Dharma.
Main Shrine: Found on the second floor, the main shrine is the site of the white jade statue of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. To his left sits a golden idol of Samantabhadra, and Manjushri sits on his right. On the wall above are grand golden idols of the Buddhist Trinity of Amitabha, Avalokiteshvara and Mahasthamaprapta. On the surrounding walls lie the Thousand Sakyamuni Buddha images. This chamber is topped off with a circular class ceiling, the inner walls of which bear images of the eight auspicious objects of Buddhism.
Inner Dipa Hall: This is the site where the Medicine Buddha Longevity Lamps are offered, believed to grant long and healthy lives to devotees.
Rooftop Garden: The rooftop garden on the fifth floor is designed to follow the concepts of Zen meditation, with a wishing fountain in the centre, surrounded by statues of the Eight great Boddhisattvas. Walking through the garden can lead you to find the eighteen Arahats and the impressive Cundhi Bodhisattva. The holy vibe of the garden is topped off by the magnificent Pagoda, an inherent structure of Buddhist temples, that is lit up every day.

How To Reach Pu Ji Si Buddhist Research Centre

Travellers wishing to reach the Pu Ji Si Buddhist Research Centre by MRT may alight at the Aljunied MRT station through the East-West Line or the Mountbatten MRT station through the Circle Line, both at a 1 km distance from the research centre. Buses 7, 70, 70M and 197 arrive at both the Assn Bldg Bus Stop and the Aft Chen Li Presby Ch Bus Stop, a 2-minute walk from the centre.