The Buddhist community has thrived here because Buddhist leaders understand the context of Singapore’s multi-racial society and have a strong sense of service, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said.
Speaking at the official opening of the new Buddhist College of Singapore (BCS) campus at the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery on Saturday morning (Sep 10), Mr Lee paid tribute to the Buddhist community’s contributions in Singapore.
“Through their many devotees and temples in Singapore, they help the poor and needy, providing free meals, funding scholarships and bursaries, operating clinics and kidney dialysis centres,” he said, adding that Buddhists have also provided counselling at penal institutions, drug rehabilitation centres and the SAF Detention Barracks.
As the largest religious group in Singapore, Buddhists have also fostered racial and religious harmony by engaging with all races and religions and participating in the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles, he added.
Mr Lee stressed that with many different religions in Singapore, it is key that Singaporeans accommodate and adjust to one another, and respect each other's beliefs and practices in order to live harmoniously together.
The official opening of the campus coincides with the 10th anniversary of the college. The new multi-purpose campus houses teaching, research, office, sports, hostels and other facilities.
The college took in its first batch of students in August 2006 and has seen 70 students graduate with a Bachelor of Arts and 11 with a Masters of Arts in Buddhist Studies. Some of them are pursuing their doctoral studies, running temples, while others are doing administrative work in the monasteries or teaching in various colleges.
Source: channelnewsasia.com
