1000-Armed Kuan Yin-Foo Hai Ch’an Monastery
Around 8 years ago in Singapore (Geylang), I happened across this Monastery by chance…I stopped the taxi and went inside to look…it was under massive renovations…but it had this huge Kuan Yin and I was so attracted…I wanted to visit the place again when it was done but for years forget where this Monastery was. I had for the last 8 years asked students/friends to do a search for this place unsuccessful. Well last week, while I was in Singapore, Sp found the place online!!!! We went to visit and it was correct. When we got there, I told Sp it’s the wrong place and they should go look inside while I wait in the car…on second look it was the right place…I didn’t recognize it immediately because of the massive renovations….I do not know anyone in this temple or who is in charge, but the Kuan Yin is stunning…..I haven’t any connections to this place, but I appreciate the aesthetics of the image very much.
Wow!! Look at this massive Kuan Yin and done so beautifully. So inspiring. One thousand armed Kuan Yin is the exact same Buddha as the one thousand armed Avalokitesvara in Tibetan Buddhism. In China, Quan Yin is female and in Tibet male. What gender does not matter at all. A Buddha is a Buddha.
I went inside to make offerings and Quan Yin is breathtaking. I thought I’d share this with everyone.
Tsem Rinpoche
Beautiful hall of Quan Yin Bodhisattva…
The outside of this Monastery there is a Bodhi Tree..reminding us of Buddha’s enlightenment..
Thanks Rinpoche for the sharing.
Hi Rinpoche,
Hope Rinpoche are Well.
I got attracted to 1000 arms Gua Yin since i was very young, i can’t remember where and when is the first time i met “her”, but i just so into “her”.
And i came about with one of her story and how “she” got her 1000 arms which come with an eye on each arm, and i would like to share with Rinpoche.
Long ago, that’s this lady who was born and raised in a small and poor village. This lady is a very kind in nature, but the family is not doing well. One day, the father of caught with a kind of weird disease, and this young lady is seeking help from all the famous doctors in the village, but none of them able to help her father in anyway.
She is very upset and she went to the only temple in the village and ask Buddha for guidance. When she on the way back to home after prayers, she met this very old man who sitting down a tree, with the banner writing “Ingenious Bring The Dying Back to Life”, she came in front of the old for help on her father sickness, and the old man agreed.
After the diagnose, the old man told the lady, that’s a very special prescription which can heal her father, but there’s 2 very rare ingredients are needed for the herb soup in order to heal her father illness, which is an arm and an eye taken from a living human.
The lady knows that no one is going to have that kind of material for sale, even there is she won’t take any arm and eye from someone.
Out of no choice, she decided to gave up one eye and one arm for her dying dad with no regret .
Right after she remove her eye and arm from her youthful body, Lord Buddha appear in front of her, and Lord Buddha told her that the old doctor who gave her the prescription actually is Lord Buddha himself, and Lord Buddha is very happy and touch by her filial moves, she can actually gave up everything she have for someone else, and she gain her enlightenment.
Lord Buddha brings back her lost eye and arm. On top of that, Lord Buddha gave her another 1000 arms and eyes and instructed her to take care all the sentient being just like how she care for her own dad.
The lesson i learn from here is not we should gave up our own eye or arm to get the enlightenment or another 1000 arms. But always think of others selflessness caring and love for others. And i’m so lucky to meet the living 1000 Arms Guan Yin in our time, which is Rinpoche yourself, i really thankful to have Rinpoche with us all the time, and i’m have the merit to learn Dharma from Rinpoche.
May you live long with us, and may we have the merits to change our mind as one with you and all Buddha.
The Foo HaiChan Monastry in spore which was officially opened in 2004 has a beautiful hall of Quan Yin Bodhisattva. It even have a Bodhi tree inside the Monastry garden to remind us of Budhha’s enlightenment. Rinpoche went there for a 2nd visit after 8years, the place of which happened to be under massive renovation at that time. Rinpoche was very inspired by the huge statue of the one thousand armed Kuan Yin, which had been so beautifully done up. Avaloiteshvara or Chenresig in Tibetan, the name itself evokes boundless compassion of all Buddhas. In Tibet, the name Chenresig is revered and renown among Buddhist masters, like H.H.The Dalai Lama, and H.H. Karmapa, who are regarded emanators of Chenrezig. It is said that with proper practices, one can achieve a calmer mind, particularly in times of crises to react in a compassionate way. One will also be kinder to those who are around or closest to you or who taunt you or hurt you – This is compassion, the essense of all Buddhas! OM MANI PADME HUM.
This monastery is very beautiful
Hi Rinpoche,
The Guan Yin is so beautiful! And needless to say, HUGE!! Guan Yin always gives the me the peaceful feeling. Having her around bring a lot of peace.
I grow up hearing a lot of stories about Guan Yin, how she is compassionate and benefit everyone regardless of who they are and what they have done.
I will definitely make this place to visit when I next go to Singapore!
p/s: The website is: http://foohai.org and the address this monastery is: 87, Geylang East Avenue 2, 389753