Amitabha Buddhist Centre

Amitabha Buddhist Centre

Amitabha Buddhist Centre

Amitabha Buddhist Centre
Monastery information
Location Geylang, Singapore
Founded by Lama Yeshe, Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Type Tibetan Buddhist
Dedicated to Dalai Lama
Head Lama Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi

Amitabha Buddhist Centre is a Buddhist institution in Geylang, Singapore. It is affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), an international non-profit organisation, founded by Lama Thubten Yeshe.

Origins

Current home of The Amitabha Buddhist Centre at Lorong 25A

Amitabha Buddhist Centre was founded by Lama Thubten Yeshe when he first visited Singapore with his disciple Thubten Zopa Rinpoche in 1984. After Lama Yeshe died in 1984, Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche became its Spiritual Director. The Singapore centre was finally realised in 1985, but had no permanent base. Its followers met in various venues such as Dharma Cakra Society and Cheng Beng Buddhist Society.[1]

In 1987, Lama Zopa sent Venerable Thubten Chodron, an American Buddhist nun to Singapore as its Resident Teacher.[2] Before coming to Singapore, she taught Buddhism and meditation in countries like United States, Europe and Hong Kong. She taught in Singapore for over a year, teaching in schools as well as at different Buddhist societies. She also published several books such as Working with Anger, Open Heart, Clear Mind, Buddhism for Beginners et cetera.[3]

In 1988, the group decided to organise as a Buddhist society under the name "Amitabha Buddhist Centre", and leased a small house at Butterfly Avenue for its activities. Amitabha Buddhist Centre was officially registered in January 1989. In 2000, ABC began to raise funds for the purchase a permanent home at Lorong 15 Geylang. In 2004, they began to build a new seven-storey Tibetan-style structure at nearby Lorong 25A. It was completed in mid-2006.[4]

Visits from Tulkus

A tulku is a Tibetan Buddhist lama who has consciously decided to be reborn, often many times, in order to continue his or her religious pursuits. The most famous example is the lineage of the Dalai Lamas.

On 26 May 1991, Tulku Tenzin Ösel Rinpoche, a 6-year old Spanish boy, visited Singapore to join members of Amitabha Buddhist Centre for Vesak celebrations. When he was seven months old, this boy had appeared in a dream of a close disciple of Lama Yeshe. The disciple sought him out, and the boy was later officially confirmed as the reincarnation of Lama Yeshe by the Dalai Lama.[1] The boy's story is the subject of Reincarnation: The Boy Lama by Vicki Mackenzie.[5]

On 16 April 2007, 4-year old Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche, dubbed the "Little Lama" by devotees, visited Singapore and Amitabha Buddhist Centre. More than 10,000 people from all walks of life, including some Christians and Hindus, sought blessings from Phuntsok Rinpoche. He is the reincarnation of Geshe Lama Konchog, confirmed by the Dalai Lama in December 2005.[6]

Present Day

The current Resident Teacher at Amitabha Buddhist Centre is Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi,[7] and the centre bears an affilitation with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT).

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Ong, Y.D. (2005). Buddhism in Singapore—A Short Narrative History. Singapore: Skylark Publications. ISBN 981-05-2740-3.
  2. ↑ Ong, "Amitabha Buddhist Centre", p. 176.
  3. ↑ "Publications". Venerable Thubten Chodron. Archived from the original on 11 August 2007. Retrieved 2 Dec 2013.
  4. ↑ "About ABC". Amitabha Buddhist Centre. Archived from the original on 11 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-10.
  5. ↑ Mackenzie, Vicki (1996-04-25). Reincarnation: The Boy Lama. Boston, Massachusetts: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-0-86171-108-6.
  6. ↑ Newsletter of Amitabha Buddhist Centre, May/June 2007.
  7. ↑ "First Long Life Puja for Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi at Amitabha Buddhist Centre". Retrieved 2 Dec 2013.

Bibliography

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