No. 51 January-February 1998

II. Current status of Mandarin stream Mahayana in Singapore

In the area of culture, we have only one major monthly publication. Besides this, there is another newsletter which is basically to provide information on activities organized by various temples and organizations which also includes some Buddhist literature as well. Some temples and organizations also have there own libraries.

Education:

We have a primary school and a secondary school, sponsored by the Singapore Buddhist Federation, the umbrella body of the Mahayana temples in Singapore. There is also another primary school sponsored by a Buddhist temple. These are all schools for normal education. There is no Buddhist College in Singapore at the present moment.

In the 1960s, there was a Buddhist Institute for girls with Buddhism as the core of the curriculum. Many nuns who are now very active in the propagating the Dharma graduated from that institute. Regrettably the institute was closed due to a change in the government's education policy.

Dharma Sessions:

There are Dharma classes and talks organized by different temples and organizations. Often, overseas speakers are invited to conduct talks on specific topics. The following Buddhist courses are available:

1. Buddhist classes for adults
2. Buddhist classes for the aged
3. Sunday classes for the young.

In addition, students in all tertiary institutions also have their own Buddhist societies to propagate Dharma in their respective campus.

In our small island, Buddhist books printed for free distribution are in abundance. Also available are the various AV media which are used to allow Buddhism to reach out to the people. These media include cassettes and videotapes, CDs and so on; some of these are for free distribution. The costs are sponsored either by Buddhist organizations or individual devotees. Our radio broadcasting is controlled by the government authority so that only once a year on the Vesak day, the Singapore Buddhist Federation is invited to give a short broadcasting as a celebrating activity.

Welfare and charitable activities:

To participate in social work, the Buddhist sector has:-

Child-care centers

Day-care centers for the elderly

Old folks' homes

Hospitals for the chronically ill

Dialysis Centers

Ambulance service and medical equipment for the aged and sick

Counseling Centers which provide psychological guidance, pre-marital counseling, conducting counseling course, and a schemes to give volunteer services of the old and the needy

Drug Rehabilitation Center

Religious counseling for prisoners

Hospice for the terminally ill (in planning stage)