BMSM WELFARE SECTION: Fa Yu Chan Si ( 法雨禪寺)

Land is a scarce commodity in Singapore. Other than the existing temples, there isn't much land to build new temples in the city-state. As a result, many Buddhist devotees and monks build their temples or contribute towards the expansion of the existing temples in Johor.

Thanks to the contribution of a Singaporean collector who is also a devout Buddhist, thousands of ancient Buddha statues as well as time-honoured stone, wooden and copper statues have been placed at the Fa Yu Chan Si monastery (法雨禪寺) in Ulu Tiram. Being built in the woods on a 3-acre site at about 2km from the town of Ulu Tiram, the monastery offers an excellent haven for religious retreat.

Even though the monastery is still undergoing beautification, renovation and further development at this moment, once you step inside the temple, you will be able to find countless of stone statues of Buddha.

Other than the nost notable Big Buddha's Head and half-body Buddha statues, the most eye-catching relics are the Buddhist columns and pagoda. These masterfully crafted carvings have created an atmosphere of a thousand-year-old ancient monastery. Besides, rows of intricately carved Buddha statues have been neatly placed on both sides of the pagoda and Buddhist Columns.

The Cultural Relics Hall, meanwhile, looks like a relic site full of inscribed texts, stone statues of Buddha, etc, the most outstanding being the 500 Luo Han statues in different postures, costumes, and names.

You can also find thousand-year-old stone tortoise statue, statues of Bodhidharma and the God of Mercy, among others. There are also relics from the Tang, Yuan and Han dynasties.

Other than the Sakyamuni Valuable Palace, the God of Prosperity Temple, Di Zhan Dian Cinerarium Pavilion and the Hall of Spirit Tablets which have been completed within the compound of the Fa Yu Chan Si monastery, the remaining buildings such as Buddhist Relics Hall, Cultural Relics Hall and the Bodhidharma Pavilion are under construction.

The abbot of the monastery, Master Shi Zhen Guan said many devout Buddhists gave up their faith when they got old. Hence, the main focus of development in future for this manastery is to provide a quiet retreat for these people.

He aspired to develop the monastery to something similar to the renowned Kek Lok Si temple in Penang. While encouraging Buddhist devotees to study the Doctrine and retreat, he also hoped opening the monastery for public viewing would enable more people to appreciate the relics of great artistic values.