Long Shan Men 180th Anniversary Celebration Event 05 – Taoist Cultural Tour & Gathering Nite (龍山門紮根南洋180年週慶項目五)

Last Saturday (04 Oct 2008), the 6th Day of Lunar 9 Month, Singapore Long Shan Men (about 8 people), UK Taoist Taiji Group (about 15 people) and a few of our Local Taoist Scholars (about 8 people) had gathered around to visit a few local Old & Traditional Religious Places and the very night, we had also a Gathering cum Taoist Cultural Sharing Seminar at a Function Hall located at Race-course Road.

On that Afternoon at around 1.00Pm, our UK Taoist Taiji Group led by my Taoist Brother Mr Matt arrived in Singapore and after their Check-in into the Hotel, our Taoist Cultural Tour officially started at 2.30Pm.

First Temple that we visited was located at Geylang Lor 27A, which was known as Ling Yun Dian aka Leng Hoon Dian (凌雲殿). This was an Old Temple that our Taoist Scholar Mr Victor Yue’s Mother served and stationed in.

At about 3.00Pm, we arrived at the Temple and after meeting up with the owners and the members of the Temple, we started to scatter off to visit the various different areas in the Temple and of cos, the most attractive area that we always like to advise and encourage people to visit was the 2nd Level Hall that dedicated to Jade Emperor of Heaven (玉皇大天尊).

After the disciples of Bro Matt entered into the 2nd Level Hall, they went to pay respect to Jade Emperor of Heaven and the other Deities that accompanied Jade Emperor of Heaven.

Upon completion of the paying of respect, we mingled around in the Hall and of cos, a few quick and brief introduction were being done in the Hall to do some clarification and explanation of the different Deities that could be seen in the Hall.

At about 4.00Pm, we left Ling Yun Dian to visit the next Temple, which was my Old Temple, Wan Shou Shan Tee Kong Temple (萬壽山天公廟) located at Telok Blangah Height (the Owner of the Temple, Mr Lee, was also invited to join in this Joyous Occasion).

On our Way to the Tee Kong Temple, another Religious Brother known as Chan called up and informed us that he and a special Guest were be waiting at the Temple. And upon arriving at the Temple, Bro Matt and I were more that delighted to know that the Special Guest was Dr Leon Comber – a Popular and Famous Author and Senior Researcher on Chinese Culture.

After a quick introduce and recalling of who I am, Dr Leon Comber finally remember who was I, what a Close-relieve….

Again, paying of respect to the Deities were more important then other issues, so all our UK Taoists and Long Shan Men students went around in the Temple to make their respect and after the paying of respect, it was time for me to led my students to make an Unformal-Official Respect to Jade Emperor of Heaven and other Deities in the Temple.

After the respect-making, it was my Uncle’s task to perform the necessary Blessing for the UK Taoists.

Due to time restriction, the Individual Blessing had to change to Group Blessing and so my Uncle had to compromise with our request. Within 10 minutes, the Blessing was done and we proceed to visit another Local Folks Culture Group located in Chinatown Area.

Upon arriving at the Folks Culture Group’s Premises, we were being welcomed by the Leader and the members of the Group and special local food items were being prepared for our UK Taoists.

After the enjoying of the local food items, we needed to proceed to the next station, which was an Indian Restaurant located at Race-course Road. Once immediately after we arrived at the Restaurant, our Taoist Brother Mr Victor Yue ordered a Good Feast of Indian Food for our UK Taoists and after trying, all of them loved the food and was quite satisfied with the food.

And soon after the Dinner, our Sharing seminar started in the Function Hall that located just above the Restaurant.

The seminar started at about 8.30Pm and the whole session last for about 2 hour 30 minutes.

During the seminar, I was invited by Bro Matt to do a quick and brief introduction on various Taoist Culture, Deities and the latest hottest topic – The Big Bang Theory.

Soon after my sharing, it was Bro Matt’s turn to do introduction and experiments on the Taiji Skills. And again, another round of highlight of the Night started with all the physical & actions stuffs.

Time flies and it was getting late and so, we had to call for the day. After the seminar at Race-course Road, our Bro Matt brought his disciples to Bao Chi Gong (保赤宮) situated at Magazine Road to pay their respect to Lord Kai Zhang (開漳聖王) and to meet up with the Uncle that mend the Temple. Due to having Ritual on the next Morning, I had to apart with them and leave with my students.

As discussed and promised made with the UK Taoists, we hoped to have another round of Seminar next year and hope that more people will be able to join in.

Last of all, thanks to those who had made their effort to join in the Tour and Seminar and also, to thank those who had made the necessary arrangement for this Tour and Seminar to take place.

PS: More pictures will be posted soon.