Visiting of Taoist Elders and Seniors from Overseas (道教長老及同道之訪新)

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Other

Two weeks ago, after attending the Sending Off Ceremony for the 64th Generation Heavenly Master Zhang Yuan Xian (六十四代張源先天師登座儀式), some of our Taoist Elders and Seniors made their trip to Malaysia and Singapore to visit some of the local Taoist Organisations and Groups.

With the introducing and recommendation, Long Shan Men was being appointed to meet up with the Elders and Seniors from Taiwan, China and Hong Kong.

Upon getting the news, 2 of the Official Students of Long Shan Men’s 36th Generation Disciples were being asked to accompany me to attend the Meeting-up (Gathering).

For the first 3 Days of their arrival, due to some personal issues, I was not able to meet up with them and so, one of my Taoist Seniors asked for some addresses from me, so that they can visit some of the Groups and Celebrations that taken place during that period and so, I gave them some.

With the addresses and the information on the Groups and Celebrations, the Elders and Seniors made their trips to the various venue to make their observations on the way such Groups and Celebrations took place.

First, they made their trip to one of the Local Folks Group’s Celebration conducted at Paya Lebar Area. Upon reaching the Venue, they took a quick round of observing and discussion and sad to say, they were a bit disappointed with the setting-up and the Rituals/Ceremonies that being conducted during the Celebrations.

Secondly, they made a trip to one of the Local claimed Taoist Temple. Upon stepping into the Temple, within minutes, they made their leave, reasons that they gave were: Is this a Taoist Temple?

Thirdly, they made a trip to a Hundred-over-Years Temple located in our CBD Area. With the ushering and the explanation gave by the Temple-keepers, the Elders and Seniors were much more happier to see that at least, there were still a very little Group of Chinese preserving and following the Traditional Practice of our Upright Taoist Culture.

After the 3 visitings, the Elders and Seniors decided to cancel the rest of the visitings, as they found out that, some of the places were really not up to “standard”.

On the last night (28 Nov 2008) before they depart Singapore, a Dinner Gathering was being arranged and the 2 Official Disciples of Long Shan Men accompanied me to attend.

During the Dinner, a lot of questioning was being “shooted” to me and of cos, with me, I were sure to reply them with a satisfaction reply, just that One reply that I always used to tell the others was that – A lot of the Local Practices that you seen are not the Actual Practices of our Upright Taoist Culture, they are just Local Folks Practices and so, do not mistaken that what you see are what our Taoist Practices are in Singapore.