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Posts Tagged ‘buddha’s tooth’

Coming to Singapore is like visiting multiple worlds at once. There is a splendid sense of the past, where old temples and old traditions still survive, and co-exist with some very contemporary art forms. There is also an amazing sense of style and design, where the creative energies of the populations here contribute to make a city-state that has an enormous visual appeal, and there are also plenty of other senses that are woken up here. It’s difficult to spend any time here without realizing that the incredible smells in the streets are capable of evoking a ravenous hunger. With a generous offering of excellent places to eat, it’s quite easy to find a great vegetarian restaurant here.

There is a long tradition of vegetarianism here, because of the great mix of cultures that each have their own vegetarian customs, and their own ways of spicing and styling the cuisines. A meatless meal is a wonderful way to begin an adventure that might find a lot to admire in the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple . Visiting here can easily turn into an all-day affair, as there are so many different rooms and floors to explore, each offering a glimpse into Buddhist tradition and history.

The temple was started in 1980, when monks gathered and decided to find a way to enshrine the Buddha’s tooth that was discovered here over 200 years ago. This is the main attraction here, and it’s said that seeing this relic is the same as seeing the Buddha himself, and it’s an experience that can be enormously overwhelming for devotees. You don’t have to be a practicing Buddhist to visit however, but appropriate dress with respect is required. Common sense would dictate that shoulders should be covered, as well as a little attention to refrain from clothes that might be considered too casual. There is also a museum of Buddhist art and artifacts, a wonderful tea shop, and multiple use spaces for cultural performances and lectures. A splendid way to spend a day, and re-connect with the ethereal in an ethereal place.