Poh Ern Shih

I have always felt a great affinity for Poh Ern Shih. Located on a hilltop near NUS, it used to be one of my fave places to visit, especially during my final year in NUS. The tranquilty experienced at the old temple was marvellous.

Unfortunately, the old temple had to give way, but for a good cause - to make room for a bigger facility to cater to the needs for a larger grp of buddhists.
2 weeks ago, i re-visited the temple after 3 long years of absence. Indeed, my graduation from NUS (leaving the campus compound) has given a great impact on my life. I realised I have stopped doing many things which i used to do routinely when i was a student in NUS. Visiting PES is one of them.

The old buildings are now totally gone - not a single trace of the old authentic feel can be felt now from the new commercialised looking modern building. 1/2 of the new temple is up, but the other half is still under major construction. Nevertheless, the tranquility and peacefulness could still be strongly felt, even admist the noisy piling noises pouring out from the constructions.

I have a good chat with Mr Lee, the owner of the temple who hosted our BS MC retreats some 3-4 years ago. He looks much more aged now, probably due to the pressure and stress from managing the re-construction of the temple. But i have no doubt he still has a gold-filled heart, just like his father who used his own money to build this temple up for the public - The Thanksgiving temple, housing the Ksitigarbha bodhisattva, taking care of the lost and wandering souls of our brave WWII soldiers who sacrificed themselves during the fierce battles with the Japs.

The New Looks

Although 1/2 the temple building is up now, the temple is still seriously lacking in funds. If you have ever been touched by this temple, or by the stories written in the website, pls kindly offer your support by making donation/dana to the temple. The Sangha community needs our support. May the Triple Gems be always with you.

Temple Website: www.pohernshih.org