Where angels fear to tread

No 906 of Living Life Series 1

There are those rare few who rather start a new temple than join an existing temple. What makes them like that? 

The reasons are many and one reason is that there is a new saint or deity but why not have a shrine of the new deity in an existing temple? 

Well, this may not meet the needs if there is a new purpose like that of Bo Tien Temple 武天宫- to show that there is oneness of religions. For that, there needs to be a new temple. 

LORD BO TIEN
武天菩萨

It would have been easier to add a new altar of a new deity to an old temple. But to start one anew is like going for what angels fear to tread. 

The pioneers of Bo Tien Temple 武天宫 did exactly that in 1969 and went the way where angels fear to tread. They started a new temple without land and without money in the kitty. 

With only a handful of mostly national service men, they started off - headed by Philip Png as spiritual medium and Inspector Ling Diung Kwong as administrative head. The rest they say is history. 

Then there are of course many names like Pete Kong, Jeffrey Kong, Chee Sin Hee. Michael Wong, Michael Aw, David Tay, Cynthia Goh, William Chew, Yap Ah Hwa, Henry Lee, Ivy Goh and Tay Chong Keng. They too contributed in no small measure. 

Insp Ling in undated photo

Today a concrete temple stands to showcase their efforts. They went the way where angels fear to tread. With a place to call their own, what more can they want to spur them and others to greater heights for the good of the many... 

Hopefully, they will not just fold arms, cross arms and rest on their laurels. The temple has more to be done to co-opt others in the mission of oneness of religions. But alas the old timers are in their twilight. Others must come to the fore and indeed there are these others. It is left to them. God and saints bless them. Surely they will. 

6 Fourth Chin Bee Rd, Singapore 619708 

Do visit this temple if you can.
It will be a pilgrimage of sorts
for readers of the Living Life Series.

Meet the likes of the pioneers like Elder Ling
and catch up with the success story 
that is Bo Tien Temple 武天宫

Who you meet there and 
what he has to tell you depends on affinity.

Just like there is diversity yet oneness of religions,
there too is diversity yet oneness in 
what the temple can mean to you
and what the man you meet there can tell you. 

But do see from the angle of the oneness of views 
just like there is the oneness of religions.

People in temple or society are never meant to be same.
That they are different do not stop them from being one 
in mission of upholding the oneness of religions and sects