When our society, the BDMS, was burned out
last year, Venerable Dhammaratana contacted me within an hour of the fire
offering me a place to stay until repairs allowed me to move back in again. Nearly
twelve months later I am still at the Buddhist Library in Geylang, but the good
news is that workmen have finally
starting the repairs and hopefully within five weeks they will be finished. Geylang
is one of the older districts of Singapore, full of old Peranakan shop-houses
and pre-war buildings. It is also the “entertainment district” by which I mean excellent food, seedy bars, short-time hotels
and prostitution. Fortunately, some sort
of invisible barrier stops the ladies of
the night (and here morning, noon and afternoon too) at Lorong 24 while the
Buddhist Library is at Lorong 24A. But
there is more to Geylang than this. There
are also numerous religious establishments reflecting the spiritual diversity
of Singapore. There are Buddhist temples of every sect – Tibetan, Theravada, Thai,
Chan and freelance, there are Taoist house shrines and mosques. Supreme Master
Ching Hai has a presence here too. There are numerous shops selling things used
in traditional Chinese folk religion – so-called hell money (burned during
funerals so that the departed can receive it and pay the required fee to get
into heaven), incense, statues, musical instruments, and candles. Off
the bustle of Geylang Rd, the main thoroughfare, are surprisingly quiet and
pleasant streets and lanes. I am looking forward to returning to my old place
but I will miss Geylang.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
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