Firstly I would like to respond in regards to Kuan Yin
Temple.
I have, in fact, answered casino_king the same thing in another
topic.
btw, kuan im temple is not really
a Buddhist temple, but a Chinese Folks practise
temple.
He said: That is just your
opinion. They told me themselves that they are Buddhists. There is
also a thread to tell Buddhists to celebrate Kuam Im birthday
tommorrow in this forum.
I replied: I tell what you what
it means to be a Buddhist in the first place.
To be a Buddhist, you have to refuge in the Three Treasures, which
is the Buddha, Dharma, Sangha.
Kuan Im Temple was probably created by some folks practitioners,
and I dont think they took refuge, and the temple doesnt offer
people to take refuge either. I dont see monks and nuns staying in
Kuan Im temple, so there is no Sangha there, and I dont think they
offer dharma there.
Anyone who goes Kuan Im temple can correct me here if im
wrong.
And to answer your other questions now:
Do u guys know of the famous Temple at Toa Payoh called Shuang
Ling Shi?
Haven't really visited.
Temples are usually Buddhist or Taoist right?
Temples usually refer to Chinese folks temples or Taoist
temples.
For Buddhists, we call them Monasteries. Usually where Monks and
Nuns reside too.
eg: Buddhist temple = 4 Horse Road(say this in Hokkien ) Guan
Yin Temple
See above.
Monasteries and dharma centres are usually where monastic community
stay and teach or lay community of dharma practitioners teach and
propagate the Buddhadharma.
Taoist Temple = that famous "Tang kee" temple at Tanjong
Pajar
There are more Taoist Temples or Chinese folks temples than you
know..
But Shuang Ling Shi??
It's a Buddhist monastery.
It has statues of Taoist Deities
You talking about cheng huang miao next door?
Buddhist monasteries also got show deities, but they are not Taoist
deities, the deities are the Dharma Protectors of Buddhism. And
they may have colourful faces. We dont worship them but we do pay
our respects to them.
and a 4 Face Buddha under the same roof!
4 Face Buddha is actually Brahma, but nevertheless it has become
incorporated in Thai Buddhist tradition. Perhaps somehow enter into
shuang ling shi.
And what about Datok Gong Shrine of Kusu Island?
Is he Taoist? If so, why are there Islamic symbols in his
shrine?
If he's Islamic, why are devotees praying to him via joss
sticks?
Because Chinese folks practitioners (usually known as Taoists)
can basically worship anything... they can also worship Jesus,
etc.
Actually Taoism isnt just about this chinese folks tradition... it
has very rich texts from many sages including Lao Tzu. I
particularly like the Tao Te Ching. But after Zhang Tianshi came
into Taoist scene and made it a religion, I think it has already
become quite different. It has even incorporated spirit mediumship,
etc. That is why with all these worshipping and spirit mediumship
it is really different from Buddhism.
Rojak?
(no offence intended towards devotees of the mentioned temples
)
Up to you to decide.
