Singapore Buddhist Lodge

The Singapore Buddhist Lodge (SBL), known in Chinese as 新加坡佛教居士林, is a significant lay Buddhist and charitable organization based in Singapore. Established on June 17, 1934, it holds the distinction of being one of the oldest charitable institutions in the country.

Founding and Early Development

The genesis of the SBL can be traced to July 16, 1933, when it was founded by the Singapore Buddhist Sutra Circulation Center. The initiative was generously supported by approximately 100 philanthropists, with Lee Choon Seng making a notable donation of around $1,000. The lodge's original location was at 26 Blair Road. By 1946, the membership had expanded to 2,000 individuals, necessitating a move to larger rented premises at 17 Kim Yam Road. This building was subsequently purchased in 1950 through a donation from Zhang Jiamei and Zhong Tianshui, along with funds raised from a community drive.

Expansion of Services and Charitable Endeavors

Beyond its core mission of promoting Buddhism and distributing religious texts, the Singapore Buddhist Lodge has diversified its activities to encompass a wide range of charitable work and educational programs. Since 1998, it has operated the “SBL Vision Family Service Centre,” offering professional counseling and advisory services. In 1999, the lodge introduced a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinic and a mobile medical service. Furthermore, since 2002, in line with the vision of its first President, Lee Bock Guan, the SBL has consistently made long-term donations for poverty alleviation efforts in Jinping County and Malipo County in Yunnan, China, channeling these through the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Singapore.

The lodge also plays a role in Buddhist education, offering a weekly Dharma class for children aged 6 to 14, which has seen its enrollment grow significantly. In 2020, marking its 85th anniversary, the SBL celebrated the opening of a new worship hall and the consecration of a new golden Buddha statue, with the total construction costs for these enhancements and refurbishment works exceeding $63 million. More recently, on September 14, 2024, the President of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, officiated the opening ceremony of the Buddhist Lodge’s "Heritage Gallery" and the commissioning of bronze statues of Venerable Zhuan Dao and lay leader Lee Choon Seng.

Leadership and Governance

The lodge's leadership has seen several transitions. Lee Bock Guan served as president from 1993 to 2015, followed by Simon Kuah from 2015 to 2016. Tan Lee Huak has served as acting president since late 2016. The period around 2016 was marked by internal questioning of management practices and financial irregularities, leading to a special general meeting and the subsequent resignation of Simon Kuah, with Tan Lee Huak taking over as acting president. The lodge's chief executive also departed in January 2017.