Remembrance of one’s roots, blessing for the success for the future
Remembrance of one’s roots, blessing for the success for the future
–Ancestral worship at the Ulmbana( Zhong Yuan Jie) Festival
by Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia communities
On 10th September, Mr. Kwek Hian Chuan, MP for Nee Soon GRC, Dr Simon Keak PBM, President of Singapore Fen Yang Guo Clan Association, Mr Toh Soon Huat BBM , PVPA, Chairman of Sian Chay Medical Institution, and Directors of Sian Chay, attended the ancestral worship prayer session co-organized by Hwa Dzan Society of Taipei, Singapore Fen Yang Guo Clan Association, Singapore Happy Enterprises, Singapore Amitabha Buddhist Society and IMC Organization (Singapore). About 4200 people attended the event.
On the prayer session the attendees recite the sutras to ancestors and send off ancestors, performing the ancestral worship . Through the mass prayer, they pay our respect to their ancestors, we promote the harmony of Chinese with other major ethnic groups of the world; and to display the unique charm of Chinese civilization.
Mr. Henry Kwek Hian Chuan, MP for Nee Soon GRC said, “Chinese ancestral culture has a long history. Through such ancestral worship prayer ceremony, we can promote filial piety, reflect on roots and our future endevours. Through constant reflection, we can have the ancestral culture passed down, so that the future generation will pay attention to filial piety, and know how to appreciate the pioneer generation.”
“This is the first time that Singapore has been hosting the grand ancestral worship prayer ceremony organized by associations. Hope that it will play a role in attracting more associations to organize such events to sustain ancestral culture,” said Dr. Keak Lai Heng, PBM, President of Singapore Fen Yang Guo Clan Association.
“If the ancestral culture cannot be passed down, I am afraid the next generation of young people do not understand the meaning of ancestral worship prayer ceremony.” He also believes that everyone needs to acknowledge one’s ancestors through the worship prayer ceremony. Everyone can take part in the ancestral worship prayer ceremony, even with different religions.
It is reported that the event raised a total of $78,000 fund from the participants, which were donated equally to Sian Chay Medical Institution and Thong Chai Medical Institution. The Chinese culture derived from kindness, and the belief of “ nature of humanity is kindness”. It’s the kindness that makes the world more beautiful, and makes all Chinese descendants to always remember the impressions from the bottom of our heart.
Sian Chay Medical Institution served its mission over a century without forgetting its original commitment on kindness which forms the basis of its foundation. It’s because of the “kindness” that makes it actively participate in various charity activities throughout the century. In the new era and century, Sian Chay strongly promotes its core values of “Forgiveness, Universal Love, Compassion, Gratitude and Blessing”. Based on its basis of “To support nation building and foster social harmony ”, Sian Chay actively promote its beliefs that “Nation Progresses, Family Prospers; Family Harmony, Successful Endeavors”, and that “Forward with the Nation, Bonding with the People”. At the meantime, Sian Chay strongly supports charity causes by actively participating in activities organized by communities, group and community centres to make return to the society.