Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum

Last Saturday I finally went to Buddha Tooth Temple Relic at Singapore Chinatown . I went there for a Dharma talk. After the Dharma talk, I went to explore Buddha tooth relic which was a hotly debated topic regarding the authenticity of the tooth relic about 12 years ago. Singaporeans and local residents had donated more than 43 million dollars and 273 kg of gold to build the temple and the gold stupa for the tooth relic. Besides the tooth relic, I also went to explore the roof garden and other Buddha's relics at level 3 that look like beautiful crystals. 

Beautiful Buddhist relics also known as Sarira that look like pearl or crystal-like beads are commonly found in the cremated ashes of Buddhist spiritual masters. From Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum website here "Sariras, the Sanskrit name for relics, refers to the remains of a body part usually after cremation. In Buddhist context, sariras refers to the crystallization of solid remains of especially Buddha Sakyamuni after His cremation. Henceforth, relics are also broadly defined to include solid remains of other Buddhist practitioners, regardless of Sangha and secular disciples. The emergence of relics signifies that the spiritual energy of Buddha or the spiritual practitioner during their lifetime is constant and serene, untainted by nature’s forces yet elevated due to persevering religious practices. Hence, this energy is converted to physical forms to what we known as relics. Relics are the essence of wisdom, the fruit of spiritual labour, which are free of lust, greed and wrath."

Recently, my colleague shared with me his Buddhist friend who practised meditation was found to have sariras when his relatives collected his cremated ashes. 

Venerable Chao Khun Keng explained that mind is like a laser beam. Due to the purity of the mind, for some of the monks, their hair can turn to relics. Pure mind that doesn't have greed, hatred and delusion. The monks, when they meditate, they focus on the body. They use the mindfulness to scan the body. Due to the purity of the mind, the body can turn to relics. Due to the pure mind, the mind that does not have greed, hatred and delusion, it has the pure energy to channel into the body and clean up the body, it can also use pure energy to cure the sickness. In a way, meditation can enhance your health.

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum 
Nearest MRT: Chinatown MRT
First posted on 5 June 2019

 Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is located in Chinatown. It is about 10 minutes walk from Chinatown MRT station.

At the main hall, the future Buddha,  Buddha Maitreya is seated between two Bodhisattvas

 Monks and lay Buddhist practitioners chanting at the main hall in the morning.

 At Level 3, you can explore the museum where you can find out more about the Buddha and his other relics in the relic chamber. No photography is allowed in the Relic Chamber and Buddha Tooth Relic museum.

At the roof garden. 

Sariras, relics

Chao Khun Keng explaining about relics 1:29.  The monks, when they meditate, they focus on the body.  The mind is like a laser beam They use the mindfulness to scan the body. Due to the purity of the mind, the body can turn to relics. Due to the pure mind, the mind that does not have greed, hatred and delusion, it has the pure energy to channel into the body and clean up the body, it can also use pure energy to cure the sickness. In a way, meditation can also enhance your health.

Street Arts in Singapore Chinatown

After hiking at Mount Faber yesterday, my buddy and I planned to visit the Buddha's Tooth Museum at Chinatown. Alas it was closed so we decided to explore Chinatown. We were 'lost' in the street but saw many beautiful street arts scattered in Chinatown street, once an enclave for Chinese migrants. We were delighted to explore the beautiful Chinatown which is really vibrant at night as people gather at the myriads pubs in the colourful and traditional shophouses. Maybe we be back again to also look at the mural near the new Shake Shack restaurant in Chinatown. 

This street art is located in Ann Siang Street.

You can find this street art near the Buddha's Tooth museum in Chinatown.

In dedication to my young cousin born in the year of Pig.

Interesting light art outside a fusion restaurant at Ann Siang Street.

Street Art behind Thian Hock Keng temple. This mural depicts the grand procession to welcome the Deity.

Brought a Mike for Singing!

Since the circuit-breaker or partial lockdown in Singapore, I have not been to the karaoke/ktv to sing with my friends and cousins.

 

I decided to buy a microphone to sing at home instead of waiting for the karaoke to open.

I saw some affordable microphone at Tampines1 mall at level 2. After trying various mikes on display, I decided to buy one mike which costs about $39.00. I'm quite happy with the purchase after trying it at home today. Maybe I can try to sing and post online when I'm free.

By the way, my buddy can sing really really well. You can click here to listen. 

This mike is not bad. Its quite fun singing at home.

Vegetarian Choices at Cedele

I just signed up for one-year membership at Cedele. I paid $25.00 for the membership and I received $30.00 e-vouchers and a cup of coffee or tea. I think its a pretty good deal! Since I love their lemon lust cake, I can also enjoy 5% rebate for future purchase. I really like Cedele as they use fresh and quality ingredients. I recently tried their super green pasta with kale, zucchini, shaved Gana Padano cheese, pine nuts, poached egg with coriander pesto. This super green pasta which is suitable for vegetarian is now one of my favourite pasta! Frankly speaking, I don't like coriander but I kinda like the coriander pesto here. 

As usual, their cakes are awesome especially the orh nee and lemon lust.

The female staff ( I think its the manager) who served us last Saturday provided good service. She took the trouble by settling my payment in two transactions so that I could use the e-vouchers and also enjoy 15% discount for four slices of cakes. Thanks for the trouble!

The service staff especially the female are more flexible. If you don't want meat for your salad, you could request them to change to other alternative. I think if you are strict vegetarian, it may not be suitable for you as most of their dishes include meat and the vegetarian pasta might be mixed with meat if they use the same pan for cooking. 

Cedele at Raffles City Shopping Mall
Nearest MRTs: Cityhall MRT /Esplanade MRT 

The super green pasta is really awesome but not cheap at $18.00.My favourite dish here.

The popular burnt cheesecake. We ordered it to try this trending cake in Singapore.

Love the orh nee cake! Think its only available for limited period for their 23rd anniversary celebration.

Sharing cakes with my cousins to celebrate one of my cousins belated birthday.

The carrot cake here is delicious with walnuts! I love walnuts!

Raspberry cheesecake

Time to Buy a New Laptop?

My current MacBook Air has battery issue now. When the power is about 80%, it will just turn off by itself. Now I need to charge it whenever I use the laptop. I brought this MacBook Air in 2017 and it has been working well until recently. 

I'm now wondering if I should switch to Asus Zen laptop as MacBook Air is not compatible with my Android phone. I can't transfer my photos to MacBook Air from my Samsung Note 10plus phone. It also can't download Autodesk Inventor software which I like to use. There are disadvantages in using windows operating system as its quite susceptible to computer virus. Maybe I need to buy good anti-virus software. 

I'm hoping there is computer fair soon so I can purchase a new laptop. 

Just for Laugh

If you want to have a good laugh, do watch the funny stand-up comedy by Kumar, a popular Singaporean comedian. This video is hilarious!😆

Local-licious Vegetarian at Elemen Restaurant

Next month, 9 August, Singapore will be celebrating  55 years of independence. Elemen, a vegetarian restaurant has just launched Singapore local dishes- Local-licious set meal for a limited time till 31 August this year. 

Yesterday after work, I went to Elemen for late lunch and ordered Local-licious 8-course set meal at Millenia Walk. I love most of the dishes especially the chicken rice sushi with fried crispy beancurd skin and golden fritter with porcini mushroom and spicy special sauce. Kaya creme brûlée is great too but it's in small portion. I hope the golden fritter and kaya creme brûlée can be added to the main menu. Really love the fried fritter. 

To me its not so filling as the three sushi are in small portion like three tablespoons. So I ordered another main dish, the wild mushroom with white truffle pizza and I had 3 slices of pizza.

To find out more, visit Elemen website here.

Elemen Singapore Appetiser- From left is yam cube, lion mane in curry sauce and lastly potato.

Local dish rojak salad with crispy you siao with fruits and vegetables in peanut sauce. 

Cream of mushroom Kut Teh. I like this fusion mushroom and herbal peppery flavours. Surprisingly the pepper is not overwhelming. I actually don't like pepper but this combination is good maybe because of mushroom cream flavour too. 

From left to right, there is Malay nasi lemak, Indian nasi briyani and Chinese Chicken rice inspired sushi. My favourite is the Chinese chicken rice sushi. I find the portion quite small. Its like three tablespoon of rice. 

I love this chicken rice sushi with the crispy beancurd skin. It will be best if they are served hot. 

I had the crispy thin wild mushroom and white truffle cheesy pizza too! 

Golden fritter with porcini was served piping hot. I love the tangy spicy special sauce.

Sng Muay sorbet is traditional sour plum.

Kaya creme brûlée is really good.

Fresh sugarcane juice with lemon and coconut jelly chunk with sea salt. You can find sugarcane in many hawker centre drink stall.

Free gift for Local-licious set

 Inside is old school biscuits that I used to eat when I was in primary school.

Singapore General Election Cooling Off Day

How time flies! Tomorrow is finally the Election Day！Do you know who to vote for? Meanwhile, just enjoy the funny video by Singapore famous blogger aka Mr Brown.

My Thoughts on Singapore General Election 2020

In this general election, all 93 seats will be contested. Frankly speaking, many Tampines residents are in favour of current MPs as they have delivered their promise in developing Tampines Hub. The current deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat who led Tampines GRC team has done a great job and he made the effort to converse in both Mandarin and Teochew.

 

I still remember many years ago, when we were given a survey on what we would like to have in the new Tampines infrastructure (I have lived in Tampines for almost 4 decades),  I remember writing that I hope that there will be a big beautiful library where I can read all day and a badminton court.

The Tampines Hub has fulfilled all my wishes. There are many restaurants, a big beautiful library with indoor playground, supermarket, various sports facilities, outdoor and indoor movie theatre, hawker centre, and even Karaoke where I can sing late with my cousin or friend. Its a really convenient one-stop centre for Tampines residents. 

Frankly speaking, the opposition members only appear now during the general election and if they could suggest solutions on unemployment which is also happening around the world, solve the CECA agreement, then I will consider voting for them. 

Yesterday I was surprised that Workers' Party, the only credible experienced opposition party did not accept the media invitation to debate in Mandarin. To many Mandarin speaking residents like my father, they are very upset. Even though I'm educated in cosmopolitan westernised Singapore, I value our Chinese culture and language. We must not forget our roots, history and culture.  It is really disappointing that the Workers' Party did not make the effort to develop bilingual speakers in their party. Hello, most of us are educated in both Mother tongue and English language in schools and should be able to converse in both languages. It's a really terrible decision made by the Workers' party leader. 

For the current party, they should stop raising prices like bus fares, electricity and increase 10% GST after election, increase CPF minimum sum and retirement age. If they make it hard for Singaporeans to receive their CPF saving, many Singaporeans will be frustrated and perhaps migrate or just vote for the opposition out of anger. 

People Action Party (PAP) posters can be seen around Singapore streets.

PAP candidates for Tampines GRC. Till now, I haven't seen the opposition posters around. 

Have You Collected Your Mask?

I just collected reusable antimicrobial masks from a vending machine located near my home. This is the third reusable mask distributed by Singapore government to Singapore Residents. 

This time, there are two reusable masks in a package and there is a thoughtful design where you can tick off when you used it so you know how many times you have used the mask. It is washable up to 30 times. 

You can either use your identification card (IC) to scan or key in your IC number to collect your reusable masks. 

Visit this website to find out more. 

Really thoughtful design to keep track how many times you have used the mask and instruction for usage.

Singapore General Election 2020- Where is Your Polling Station?

My young cousin shared with me where your polling station is located via this website here

https://app.eservice.eld.gov.sg/Voter/pollingstationenquiry.aspx.

For the first time, you vote based on the assigned time. There was no allocation of time in the past, I could choose to vote in the morning or evening. This time, I'm given the time slot from 5pm to 7pm to vote. I rather vote in the morning and get it done.