It was on the auspicious evening of 19 November 1938 that the English Section of The Singapore Buddhist Association (later to be known as The Buddhist Union) was born. At the time the late Ven Narada Thera, one of the Union’s first patrons, was in Singapore on his way to Cambodia. Acting on the Venerable’s suggestion, a few ardent Buddhists met and formed themselves into a body to propagate the Buddha-Dhamma among the English-speaking section of the Chinese community.
Besides the late Ven Narada thera, the Union’s first patrons were the Ven K Gunaratana Maha Nayaka Thera, late Ven Seck Chuan Toh, Ven M M Mahaweera Thera and the late Luang Vudhisara Netinati (Consul-General for Thailand).
Since the inception of the Buddhist Union large sums of money have been usefully spent on printing Buddhist Books, Sutras, Brochures, Newsletters etc. These are circulated and given free to members and the general public.
The first Vesak Celebration was held on 2 May 1939, at the Ramakrishna Mission Hall, Singapore. It was a symbolical gathering of several races, including monks and nuns. The Chairman was the late Dr Lim Boon Keng, O.B.E. and many speakers spoke in several dialects. The local papers gave good prominence to this gathering. Even during the Japanese Occupation Vesak was celebrated as usual, though not on so grand a scale.
The first Vesak Message ever to be broadcast over Radio Malaya was by the Buddhist Union in 1940.
From 1947 until 1956 the Buddhist Union, with the support of other Buddhist organisations, appealed to the local Government for the grant of a Public Holiday on Vesak Day. This continued effort bore fruit, and since 1956 Vesak Day has been gazetted a Public Holiday.
The Leper Settlements both in Singapore and Johore, York Hill Girls’ Homecraft Centre, Home for the Blind, St Andrew’s Mission Hospital, Ramakrishna Mission Boys’ Home, the British Red Cross Society Children’s Home, Cheshire Home, and other social welfare homes and charitable institutions are yearly visited during Vesak Week and gifts in kind and cash are distributed. This, of course, has been made possible solely by the fine response and support of our members, their families, friends and other donors.
On 4 June 1939 the Union which had until then no fixed premises, formally moved into a two-storey terrace house at 731 Geylang Road. From then onwards the Union did not look back, although its activities were greatly hampered during the Japanese occupation of Singapore.
In May 1941 it took on the official title – The Buddhist Union. Soon after Singapore was attacked by the Japanese and during their regime the Union lost the tenancy of its premises. The Union suffered yet another loss when a number of its staunch members were killed in the bombings of Singapore and so its activities had to be curtailed. The holding of services and chanting has once again to be carried out in the residences of members, Bro Pang Choon Jin had been very kind to allow the Union to occupy his house (41 Scotts Road) during and after the Japanese occupation, and after that the Union moved to 85A Marine Parade. Despite these difficulties the Union carried on undaunted the work that it had pledged to do.
Soon after World War II, great efforts were made to expand its activities. The year 1952 was a memorable one for the Union. On 31 August Sis Wee Beng Kim, a kind and generous lady member, presented to the Union, the piece of land on which the Shrine now stands. And on the same day Bro Tan Kim Teck on behalf of an anonymous donor presented the Union with a cheque of $5,000/- for the building fund. A drive for funds to erect a shrine was immediately launched, and on 15 November 1953, the foundation stone was laid by the Ven Mahaweera Thera in a simple ceremony. Thanks to the ready and generous support of members, friends and well-wishers the Union was able to carry out this project by the end of March 1954, the shrine was completed and was occupied on 29 March 1954. The official opening and blessing ceremony was performed by the Ven Seck Kong Hiap on 10 May 1954. A large congregation of members, friends and relatives witnessed the solemn and historic ceremony.
Consequent upon the sole efforts of the Buddhist Union, the City Council in 1955 granted for the use as a cemetery for all Buddhists, twenty (20) acres of land for burial of ashes after cremation, and thirty (30) acres adjoining this piece of land for the burial of deceased bodies at Chua Choa kang.
On 5 August 1955, the Rt Hon Mr Malcolm MacDonald, then Commissioner-General for South East Asia, at a farewell Party given in his honour by the Inter-Religious Organisation, sowed the idea introducing religious education in schools. And on 6 October 1958, was reaped a meeting between the Education authorities and a delegation from the Singapore Buddhist Federation, Singapore Buddhist Association, Singapore Regional Centre of World Fellowship of Buddhist and the Buddhist Union, to go into the matter of teaching in schools Buddhism, the religion of popular choice. Preparation is already in hand, and draft lessons will be submitted to the Education Ministry for their approval as soon as they are completed and endorsed by the recognised representatives of the abovementioned organisations as a body.
From the small nucleus of members who worked unstintedly, sacrificing much of their time and money, the Union has grown into what it is today. It is not resting on its past laurels, for it is ever conscious of its responsibilities and duties which must be done and will be done.
On such occasions as this, faults, omissions and errors are bound to occur, but even in this hour when we are so much preoccupied with looking back and putting bits and pieces together, and so much occupied with preparations and other things which must be done for the celebration, we do not forget and cannot close without remembering the help, assistance, support, cooperation and kindness of every individual, every group, every organisation, the Government, the City Council, the Press, in fact all those who have contributed in one way or another towards the nursing of The Buddhist Union during the difficult years from babyhood to maturity. We, therefore, take this opportunity to express once again to one and all of them our sincere and most grateful thanks in this humble souvenir of the 21 st Birthday of The Buddhist Union.
May there be Peace and Goodwill among men!
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