Singapore Burmese buddhist temple

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This new grand Burmese Buddhist Temple (BBT) is the replacement of the previous small BBT from 17 Kinta Road, Singapore. From its modest beginning with small temple at Kinta Road, the BBT began to grow gradually as a result of untiring efforts of U Kyaw Gaung, also known as Khoo Teogou a Burmese practitioner of traditional medicine and a native of Burma. U Kyaw Gaung went to Sagyin Hill, 30 miles north of Mandalay, which was famous for its superior quality marble used in making Buddha image.There he bought a large marble weighing more than ten tons at the price of Rs. 1,200.Buddha image was sculptured out of that block of marble in Mandalay and it was completed in 1918.This huge and magnificent marble Buddha image which stands eleven feet high and weighs ten tons was carried over to Singapore in1921. Sayadaw U Pannya Vamsa's earlier effort in 1971 to build a temple 'in Singapore with the help of the Dharma Cakra Society was unfortunately not realised.Again in 1973, U Ba Thein, son of U Kyaw Gaung, approached Sayadaw at the Penang Burmese Buddhist Temple to assist him in the development of his temple in Kinta Road but to no avail. However, after overcoming many obstacles and putting in much efforts by venerable monks, the lay-Buddhists and well-wishers, Ven. U Pannya Vamsa built this temple, Sasanaramsi Burmese Buddhist Temple in 1990.It is the first and only Burmese Buddhist temple built outside Burma (Myanmar) in the traditional style appropriately adapted to the local conditions. Its magnificent marble Buddha image is the biggest enshrined outside Burma. Besides Dhamma classes, religious festivals and Burmese traditional celebrations like New Year Celebration (Thingyan) are regularly held in the temple. This unique and dignified temple becomes a religious landmark in Singapore. 坐车沿中央快速公路经过大巴窑，会被左边一座佛寺所吸引，它是新加坡缅甸玉佛寺。玉佛寺隔着马里士他路，是马里士他和摩绵区一带一个明显的地标。　　玉佛寺在现代建筑的基础上体现了缅甸传统建筑风格之美，是新加坡缅甸社群的骄傲。缅甸境内的佛寺建筑绝大多数是平房，本地这座则有四层楼高；在缅甸境外的佛寺几乎都是由其他建筑物改建而成，本地这座一砖一瓦都从零开始，是缅甸境外最雄伟的缅甸寺庙。　　缅甸传统建筑与艺术之美，体现在玉佛寺层层叠叠的木结构屋檐上，和寺庙内外的木雕上。这些雕刻都出自缅甸工匠之手，用缅甸最高级的柚木雕成，总重量达29吨。玉佛寺的天花板和柱子上的花饰是缅甸艺术的另一种体现。玉佛寺也保留了缅甸古代建筑的特色。寺内二楼的栏杆来头可不小。栏杆样式据说是仿照缅甸文化古城曼德勒（Mandalay）一座皇宫建造的。　　玉佛寺内还有一尊令人赞叹的大理石坐佛。坐佛高11英尺（约3.85米），重10吨，材料来自曼德勒以北48公里的实概山（Sagyin Hill）。在曼德勒完成雕塑后，于1921年运到新加坡来，是缅甸境外佛寺最大的坐佛。　　当年运输工具落后，过程的艰辛可想而知。宗教及社群活动中心　　佛寺是缅甸人的生活重心，缅甸人几乎人人都是佛教徒，宗教已完全融入他们的生活当中。佛寺不仅是他们的精神殿堂，也是社群的核心。缅甸人也在佛寺里举行婚礼、庆祝生日和宴请宾客。新加坡缅甸玉佛寺是本地唯一的缅甸佛寺，很自然的它便成了本地缅甸人的宗教及社群活动中心。　　每年的缅历新年，即泼水节，都有好几千名缅甸人到玉佛寺来。他们在佛寺里以传统方式迎接新年，品尝佛寺为他们准备的家乡菜。　　每年8月的讲经日，玉佛寺也聚集了很多缅甸人。另外，每个星期六晚上，总有一批缅甸人，少时三四十人，多时整百人，参加以缅甸语进行的颂经仪式，有的还穿上缅甸民族服装出席，到寺里膜拜。从他们的装扮推测，当中有好些缅甸人，身在异乡特别想家，玉佛寺便成了这些异乡人心情的停泊站。　　此外，每个周末及佛教节庆日，一批善男信女都会到寺里为住寺僧侣准备午餐。他们每人负责一道菜，有咖喱鱼、咖喱猪肉、咖喱羊肉、蔬菜和汤，还有一大盘虾酱，都是缅甸人的日常菜肴。宾客们用手抓饭菜吃，以缅语闲话家常，使人如有置身缅甸的感觉。　　　　关于玉佛寺的历史可以追溯到1878年。由此推测，那时新加坡应该已有不少缅甸人了。　　玉佛寺一路走来，道路并不平坦。它原本设在离仰光路不远的近打路一间店屋内。1981年因受市区重建计划影响而搬迁。玉佛寺历史虽然悠久，但直到 1985年才注册为社团，因此认识它的人不多，以致从筹建时碰到了许多困难。历经千辛万苦后，玉佛寺终于1991年庄严地屹立在大仁路上。自1991年以来，每年玉佛寺都会拨出数万元充作益款，捐给本地多个慈善组织或福利团体。该寺也曾积极响应我国的捐血和保健运动。玉佛寺的管委会成员除缅甸人也包括新加坡人。信徒和会员也有不少本地人。每年的卫塞节，出席庆典的信徒，不仅仅是缅甸人，本地人也占据了大多数。随着新加坡从移民社会转向本土社会发展，近年来玉佛寺已从着重服务缅甸社群的私人寺庙，发展为也兼顾到新加坡社会需要的社团，在本地社会发挥积极的作用。　　今天的玉佛寺是许多人努力的成果，他们包括；本地人、缅甸人和世界各地的缅甸人。

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