Mahayana Zen Temple

Mahayana Zen Temple

The Mahayana Zen Temple, built locally in Singapore in 2001, is a Tibetan Buddhist temple that blends Tibetan and Chinese traditions. Its name means “the practice place of the 14th [0-],” and it houses the largest collection of prayer wheels in Singapore.

The statue of Sakyamuni Buddha enshrined in the main hall of the Mahayana Zen Temple is modeled after the Jowo Rinpoche at the Jokhang Temple in Tibet. It features a jeweled crown and ornate garments, representing the Buddha’s Sambhogakaya (reward body). This statue incorporates elements of Vajrayana, Mahayana, and Theravada Buddhism, reflecting the temple’s emphasis on an inclusive and harmonious approach to spiritual practice. In 2003, [0-] presided over the consecration ceremony of this golden statue, praying for the Buddha’s blessings to dispel illness and ward off disasters. The temple also houses a 2.3-meter-tall gilded bronze statue of the Thousand-Armed Guanyin, the largest Tibetan-style Thousand-Armed Guanyin statue in Singapore. Additionally, the temple features statues of the Bright-Eyed Guanyin and Ji Gong, relics and sacred objects of eminent Buddhist masters, a large thangka of Padmasambhava, and giant prayer wheels.

The Mahayana Zen Temple holds regular chanting and prayer sessions in both English and Chinese every week, open for everyone to attend. As a spiritual sanctuary for healing, the temple also offers free consultations in Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, and medical services.

Thekchen Choling

Must-visit reason: Singapore’s most renowned Zen temple