In the island-city of Singapore, the yearning for peace and harmony is a quiet, pervasive force. It is seen and sensed in our everyday lives, and in many of our ‘resorts’ – Leisure Land, Pasir Ris Park, Condo – named after ‘peace’. It is felt, read, done, worn, written, spoken, lived, and imagined within the city-state, and in its denizens. And it finds its most eloquent expression in the concrete and cremains of its population – the living and the dead – and their quest for a safe and serene abode, or at least a less cluttered, half-decent one, in which to lay their remains. For many in this crowded island-city, they live in high-rise dwellings, soaring towards the heavens in buildings, and must therefore ‘reside’ in high-rise abodes in the world of the bone.
Overview of Singapore Columbariums
In Singapore, the emergence of an ageing demographic has given rise to an increase in the demand for columbarium niches. Apart from government columbariums, there are several other private columbariums scattered throughout the island. Several religious organizations have vast and expensive plans to address this shortage. For example, since July 2012, a Buddhist institution called the Singapore Buddhist Lodge has been constructing one of the largest religious edifices on the island: the 12-storey Ling San Si Temple on the ridges of 1775 square meters ground. Ling San Si boasts 35,000 columbarium niches located in 12 consecrated stories carried by 999 pillars. Present and future generations can not only commemorate their ancestors at Ling San Si, but they can viably and humanely inurn the deceased while being enveloped in a tranquil and spiritual ambiance. To date, 23,000 niches have been allocated. By 2035, it is estimated that the 35,000 freehold niches will be completely utilized, unless other linguistic groups besides the Chinese ethnic hamlet Singapore. Since ancient eras, the Chinese diaspora revered 3 religions: Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.
The Singapore Columbarium is a vast and rapidly growing necropolis where ashes of the deceased are stored. The sanctified portions of the building comprise niches that house the urns, which are typically inscribed with the names of the deceased, date of birth, and date of death, as well as a photograph of the deceased. A columbarium serves both pragmatic and religious purposes. For instance, it is a cost-effective way to allocate prime usable space in Singapore and a practical manner to house the departed when there is a shortage of alternative cremation solutions. On a spiritual level, a columbarium maintains the continuum of life after death by enabling people to spiritually recall and pay respects to the spirit of the deceased. It is auspicious for the bereaved living kin to regularly visit the columbarium to recollect and harmonize their lives with the departed loved one. The philosophical, theological, and religious significances differ across national and cultural frontiers, but all funerary practices have one common focus: to bring peace to the bereaved.
Exploring Ling San Si Columbarium
I could see a lady praying fervently to the main deity of the temple, a Chinese Buddha – she sat inside, close to the stone door. The guardian did not seem to mind my presence. I was appreciative for the opportunity to experience another religious ceremony and felt privileged to be, once again, in a place of worship. This pavilion also features the figures of the arhath, representing journeys to lands of enlightenment. These stone statues were reputedly brought over from Fujian as a gift from the Kwee Siew Tee clan. The gentleman kindly pointed to a figure we could see standing near the entrance. It was wearing a kasa and held a fruiting peach branch. While silently saluting Ksitigarbha to heaven be the sanctuaries of the three religions, the elderly man then gestured to me with his right hand to proceed. I turned from the pavilion and walked towards the columbarium.
Ling San Si is a Chinese Buddhist temple dating back to the 19th century. At first sight, it is an imposing and beautiful historic place of worship. I had heard about a Columbarium within this temple and decided to explore this site. Arriving by bus, I took the little path leading to the Chinese temple compound and thought I might take a photo of this ceremonial arch, a classic Chinese architectural design. The fact this monument gave importance to the religion represented, tracing it out of the shadows – in this case, the shrouds of a giant banyan tree – may indicate it was the place to visit if one were looking for religious significance and belief. Did I spot someone praying inside? I knocked at the door and gestured to the elderly man that I would like to have a look. He kindly let me in. This is the Manjusri Pavilion. Apart from faith, it also welcomes good causes. The act of lighting a lamp also denotes illumination for the living.
Benefits of Choosing Ling San Si Columbarium
The cemetery’s vast, clean, peaceful, and well-kept, and so’s the well-wooded and bustling-to-the-outside far too untidy public park across the street. It’s quiet enough here despite that the park comes quite alive, and things here would still seem quite peaceful. The land’s immense tranquility that allows quiet conversations between visitors, except if desire-talking merchandise vendors come along. That’s an interesting influence from the surrounding flora and general atmosphere. Meeting newcomers without Chinese-language skills to comfort has me feel that talking about the harmony around must be part of the mindset here. It’s a balance with well-cared-for private and guardian-only space that those include. It might well comfort the visitors and bring some life back to the tombstones after periods that could go too long. If the dances worry you, you could merely whisper a greeting or a few muted words about the bright colors, the music, or the good use of the cymbals that’ll take flight.
In my search for peace this time around after living in a more crowded part of Singapore, I’ve found Ling San Si, a quiet Buddhist and Taoist temple and columbarium. I’m considering many options here for buying a columbarium niche, if I can afford it. I did need tranquility to decide what to do. Anger and daily frustrations could make me decide on feeling falsely impulsive, and there would be at least many leaps of faith, few enough fear-free losses added onto it, and much hesitation for me. If not the planned loss of property and life vehicles, should I decide to restore calmness to car-free pedestrian streets, in the symbol that I still feel I can? Before I do that more and make more fixed decisions again, I think of exploring this and health first.
