Thekchen Choling
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Thekchen Choling is Tibetan and means Mahayana Temple. It is the name of the personal temple of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama located at McLeodganj,Dharamsala.
Thekchen Choling (Singapore) is the name of a Tibetan Buddhist temple located at 2 Beatty Lane in Singapore. The temple in Singapore was registered in 2001 by Lama Thubten Namdrol Dorje as instructed by his late teacher H.E. Geshe Lama Konchog and given the same name as His Holiness' temple.
Thekchen Choling (Singapore) follows the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism founded by Lama Tsongkhapa, the 14th Century Tibetan Buddhist Saint. However, the Spiritual Director of the temple emphasises non-sectarianism, evident by large statues of Buddha in the temple hall sculpted in the Thai tradition and statues of Guru Rinpoche, another Tibetan Buddhist saint, more strongly linked to the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. The devotees also chant sutras in Mandarin wearing the traditional Chinese Hai-Ching and chant prayers in English and Tibetan while wearing the layman robes of white and maroon. This temple is unusual for its young group of devotees, most are below the age of thirty five with numerous professionals.
The temple has weekly teachings in English and Mandarin, chanting and prayers sessions. It is the first Tibetan Buddhist temple in Singapore to be open twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. The main hall is available to all who seek a place of quiet, for prayers, for meditation at any time of the day.
The temple is focused on being known for healing and provides free traditional Chinese Medicine consulting service, acupuncture service and medicine two times a week in the temple. The temples social outreach program includes free medicine distribution, free meals and finance support, with emphasis for the poor and elderly.
The temple has been granted permission by the Office of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to publish thirteen of his books in simplified Mandarin for free distribution.
