Wednesday
April 25, 2007
FROM humble beginnings where earth was dug up with bare hands, the
Chin Swee Temple stands tall today with intricate carvings
decorating its walls and statues of the various Buddhist
deities.
Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong found the temple site in 1966 after he got an
inspiration from the Chin Swee Deity to press ahead with the
development of Genting Highlands Resort.
Serene sight: A large statue of Buddha at one corner of the
Sky Terrace.
The story goes that Lim, who was building the road leading to the
hill resort then, chanced upon the serene rocky slope covered with
green tropical vegetation dotted with flowing streams, which was
very similar to the holy Chin Swee Crag back in his home Penglai
Village (now a township) in Fujian, China.
Since his youth, Lim had watched his parents and relatives pay
their respects to the Rev Chin Swee and have their prayers answered
and Lim would continue the tradition.
Awe-inspiring: The main altar at the Chin Swee
Temple.
The temple was not easy to construct due to the steep and rocky
terrain, making it difficult to bring in modern machinery to do
fundamental work such as piling.
Having built his resort in 1975, Lim turned his efforts and
tenacity towards the construction of the temple, with Lim and his
men manually digging holes of 80 to 100 feet in depth to lay the
foundation.
Guardian figures: Celestial generals keep watch over the
entrance to the temple.
It would be 18 years later before the first part of the temple,
which houses the main altar, would be complete and opened
officially on March 29, 1994, by Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik.
The temples original structure stands till today with its tall red
columns and supporting ornamental roof, built at an estimated cost
of RM12 mil.
Animal shelter: Even tortoises have a home at the
temple.
The exterior wall carries many inscriptions that depict the life of
the Rev Chin Swee and his major charitable and supernatural works,
while the entrance is guarded by four stern-looking celestial
general statues.
Inscribed upon the walls along the old pathways leading to the
temple are 24 lessons of being filial to ones parents.
The view of the grand old temple is mostly hidden from view, having
become an inner sanctum surrounded by other structures that have
been artistically and beautifully designed around the original
structure.
The new structures were part of an expansion project that started
on Oct 13, 2005, and were completed on Jan 18 this year at the cost
of RM38 mil.
Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong and his son Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay each donated
RM10 mil while Resorts World Bhd donated another RM10mil towards
the construction of the new facilities.
Greeting visitors now is a nine-storey Pagoda decorated with many
figurines of the Buddha where 10,000 blessing lamps were installed
for devotees to offer their blessings. There are only 2,000 lamps
left for those who would like to dedicate their blessings.
From the Pagoda, visitors are directed to the large square aptly
named Sky Terrace, where a breathtaking view can be seen when the
skies are clear and a serene surreal image when misty clouds
blanket the mountainside.
It is also at the Sky Terrace where some of the new attractions are
in place, like the large white statues of Buddha and
Kuan-yin.
Of interest to visitors is the pathway that depicts the 10 chambers
of Hell. This is one walk that is not for the fainthearted, as the
statues depicting the punishment from each chamber are rather
graphic.
The reason for the graphic display, however, is to teach devotees
the kind of punishment that awaits them should they commit sinful
acts in this life.
At the end of this frightful journey is the depiction of heavenly
spirits that mankind ascends to if their deeds were just and good
in this life. The pathway is designed to be without stairs to
enable the disabled to admire the display.
Welcome sight: The Pagoda is the first thing visitors
notice when entering
The senior Lim is recognised with a statue at the square for his
philanthropic contributions towards the founding of the
temple.
Part of the refurbishment exercise was also to turn the temple into
a place of retreat and prayers for more devotees, hence the
construction of the 110-room Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong Hall.
A
sense of calm: The temple grounds are the perfect setting for a
peaceful stroll.
The hall is designed much like a hotel complete with a vegetarian
restaurant, but details of managing the place are still being
negotiated.
Other details that are being ironed out before the temple is fully
opened include the cable car service that will stop over at the
temple when it is realigned.