Shuang Lin Temple


The Shuang Lin Buddhist Temple is one of the oldest monasteries in Singapore, visited annually by thousands of tourists. After the restoration in 1991-2002, the original architecture of the building, built at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, was preserved. According to the canons of Buddhism, the temple is a closed rectangular courtyard with internal buildings, where the attention of visitors is attracted by the original seven-story pagoda with gilt top - an exact copy of the Chinese pagoda from the Shangfen monastery, which is 800 years old.

Where is the temple located?

Shuang Lin Temple, as the locals call it in English, is located in one of the "sleeping" areas of Singapore - Dabaiao, but it will not be difficult for even an inexperienced tourist to get there thanks to a well-developed transport infrastructure . The temple is located between the two metro stations - Potong Pasir purple branches and Toa Payoh red branches. In addition, buses stop nearby. To get from the center of Singapore to the Shuang Lin temple, you need to take buses number 56 or 232. From the Toa Payoh metro station, there are buses 124 or 139. You need to get off at the eighth stop and walk for about 3 minutes. To find out that you have reached your destination, you can by richly decorated gates, leading through a beautiful bridge to the courtyard. There you will find a statue of a carved Buddha embodying tranquility and harmony.

The entrance to the monastery is still free, but the visit time is limited: you can get inside only from 7.30 to 17.00. To see this Buddhist monastery is only because it is truly unique in its kind. Since several dozens of masters from South China participated in its restoration, the most diverse styles are represented in its architectural ensemble. Visitors also simply can not pass by the luxurious lotuses that grow right in the courtyard in special flower pots with water. The latter represent a kind of aquarium, in which fish also swim. It is for this reason that the monastery complex received its name, which translates as "the temple of contemplation of the Double Grove of the Lotus Mountain."

Some tourists do not like that the Shuang Lin Temple is surrounded by modern administrative buildings, which in their appearance contrast sharply with the ancient monastery, but Singapore is a modern city, so such contrasts can not be avoided. If you go a little deeper, the noise of hi-wei will cease to be heard, and you will be able to delve into the contemplation of the beauty of the monastery.

At the entrance to the temple is a fountain with a bowl. It is believed that if you throw a coin into it and fall, happiness awaits you. Throughout the pagoda are hung traditional Chinese bells, which ring melodiously in the wind, and this music is worth listening to. Also, you will be amazed by the magnificent numerous carved and painted decor elements on the roof, the doors and inside the buildings.

Rules of conduct inside the temple

In order not to offend the religious beliefs of monks (because Shuang Lin is a functioning monastery), you should observe the following rules of behavior after you get inside:

  1. Do not wear clothes that are too open. It will be enough to cover the arms below the elbow and the legs to the middle of the calf.
  2. Before entering the temple, always remove your shoes. This rule applies to everyone, including women and children. However, marble floor slabs are covered with a special, very pleasant to the touch carving.
  3. Photographing inside the monastery is impossible, as well as visiting the premises, where only priests are allowed access. So, keep a close eye on where other lay people go.
  4. It is customary to walk around the temple only clockwise. Do not touch the statue of Buddha and do not sit back or turn to the sculpture socks or soles of the feet.
  5. Donations are purely voluntary. If you want to transfer it, do not start a conversation with a clearly engaged monk and in no case touch the clergyman, but just show him the desire to transfer some amount to the monastery.