Singapore: Buddhist Pluralism in the Celebration of a Monastery’s 100th Anniversary

Abstract

This article aims to study Buddhism in Singapore and its pluralism, multi-sectarianism, and different ways of life. The study method uses documents, and related research works and presents it in the form of an academic article. The results of the study conclude that Singapore is a country with physical characteristics that are a modern and advanced city. However, at the same time, it is also a country with ethnic pluralism and relatively high religious beliefs. In particular, the celebration of the 100^th anniversary of Nan Hai Fei Lai Guan Yin Temple shows that religious pluralism, which has similarities in religious characteristics and differences, is connected by Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Buddhism in Singapore. They participated in activities with the aim of paying homage to Buddhism, preserving the life of Buddhism, and learning about the unique characteristics of each other's religions. They also passed on shared memories of working together for Buddhism, which took place in Singapore from January 17-20, 2024. The body of knowledge gained from the article is the role of women in religious spaces in Singapore, as administrators, priests, and connectors of Singaporean Buddhists who are not limited by gender, age or sect.