Dalai Lama Tells Followers to Steer Clear of Relic
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By Adeline Chia, The Straits
Times, December 12, 2006
Singapore -- A mega exhibition of Buddhist relics is proving
popular among believers here but has drawn the ire of the Dalai
Lamas Office.
Touted as the biggest organised here, with more than 100 million
relics pearl-like remains of spiritual masters after cremation
the event opened last weekend at the Singapore Expo.
Over the weekend, some 30,000 people flocked to the exhibition,
which will run until Sunday.
But believers were told they would be worshipping an evil spirit
by the Dalai Lamas Office in Dharamsala, India.
The statement hit out at the organiser, Gelugpa Buddhist
Association Singapore, for staging the event and questioned the
authenticity of the relics.
In its response, the association said it is a legitimate sect but
not aligned with the Dalai Lamas teachings.
The local Buddhist authority, the Singapore Buddhist Federation,
declined to comment even after being contacted several times.
Buddhist Fellowship president Angie Monksfield saw the quarrel as a
self-contained one: There are differences in the groups in the
Tibetan tradition, and its up to them to resolve them.
Both the Dalai Lama and the Gelugpa Buddhist Association belong to
the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. The majority of Buddhists here
belong to the Mahayana tradition, which originated in India and
spread to China.
Ms Monksfield described her 2,000-member Buddhist Fellowship as
mainstream and non-sectarian.
She said believers should decide for themselves if they wanted to
go to the event, adding: Personally, I wouldnt go because just
looking at relics doesnt add any value to my spiritual
development.
A Straits Times check confirmed that a statement was issued by the
Dalai Lamas Office. It expressed deep concern about the
exhibition, and that the Gelugpa Buddhist Association actively
opposes (the Dalai Lamas) advice and teachings.
It said that any person associated with the sect effectively
becomes non-Buddhist.
Fliers of the statement have been distributed in some Waterloo
Street shops and restaurants by anonymous parties. The area is
popular with Buddhists.
The exhibition is free. The association will hold a 500-table
charity vegetarian banquet on its last day. The most expensive
table costs $3,800 for 10 people, and tables are nearly sold
out.
Ms Jenny Chow, secretary-general of the Gelugpa Buddhist
Association, said money raised from the dinner and alms will go to
building a Buddhist relic museum in Singapore.
