Singapore Buddhist Lodge
The Singapore Buddhist Lodge (SBL; 新加坡佛教居士林) is a lay Buddhist and charitable organization in Singapore. Founded in 1934, it is one of the oldest charities in Singapore.[1]
History
[edit]On 16 July 1933, the SBL was founded by the Singapore Buddhist Sutra Circulation Center. The creation of lodge was funded by around 100 philanthropists, including Lee Choon Seng with a donation of around $1,000, to promote Buddhism and the distribution of Buddhist texts.[2] It was officially established on 17 June 1934.[3] The center was originally located at 26 Blair Road.[4]
By 1946, membership of the center increased to 2,000. The center began renting premises at 17 Kim Yam Road to cope with the increase in membership. In 1950, the building was purchased by the center with a donation of $10,000 from Zhang Jiamei and Zhong Tianshui and money obtained in a fundraising drive.[5]
In 2014, the lodge planned to add a new worship hall.[4]
In 2015, the president of the lodge, Lee Bock Guan, died and Simon Kuah took over presidency.[6] Since May 2016, members of the lodge questioned management practices and financial irregularities by the management.[6] In October, the Commissioner of Charities held a meeting with the board and senior managers.[6] In late November, Kuah resigned all his posts with the lodge. Tan Lee Huak took over as acting president of the lodge.[6] The lodge's chief executive, Neo Bee Noi, left in January 2017.[6]
In 2020, during its 85th anniversary celebration, the new worship hall was opened and a new golden Buddha statue was consecrated.[4] Total construction costs of the hall, statue and refurbishment works exceeded $63 million.[4]
Presidents
[edit]- Lee Bock Guan, 1993–2015
- Simon Kuah, 2015–2016
- Tan Lee Huak (acting), 2016–present
See also
[edit]- Buddhism in Singapore
- List of Buddhist temples in Singapore
- List of voluntary welfare organisations in Singapore
- Zhuan Dao
- Religion in Singapore
References
[edit]- ^ "Singapore Buddhist Lodge". Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
- ^ Ong, "Chinese Mahayana Lay organisations", pp. 49—50.
- ^ "Organisational Profile". Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ^ a b c d Tee, Zhuo (3 January 2020). "Singapore Buddhist Lodge marks 85th year". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ Ong, "Growth of lay organisations", p. 77.
- ^ a b c d e f Writer, Leong Weng KamSenior (31 January 2017). "New acting president at Singapore Buddhist Lodge". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 12 August 2024.