Other Distinguished Sangha
Mahayana Sangha
Venerable Sek Hong Choon (1907 - 1990)
Venerable Hong Choon (1907-1990), was born in Jinjiang, Fujian Province in China. He was ordained at age 13 by Venerable Hui Quan at Cheng Tian Temple, China in 1922 and given the Dharma name of "Hong Choon". During the Sino-Japanese war, in 1938 Venerable Hong Choon fled South with his master to seek refuge in Singapore.
In 1943, Venerable Hong Choon took up the abbotship of Phor Kark See Temple at Bright Hill for 46 years. With great perseverance, he progressively developed and expanded the monastery with his followers into the largest Buddhist place of practice in Singapore. Venerable Hong Choon also actively undertook the roles of propagating Dharma and benefiting all sentient beings. The outstanding meritorious deeds of Venerable Hong Choon had generated immense merits for sentient beings and provide them with peace of mind.
Besides being the President of Singapore Buddhist Federation since its establishment in 1948, Venerable Hong Choon was also nominated as the honorary president of several Buddhist temples in Singapore, and in South East Asia region. Since modernism in China, he fostered bilateral religious relationship between China and Singapore. His services to Buddhism were highly recognised not only in Singapore but also in South East Asia. A testimony to this was the conferment of the title of Highest Monk, Phra Ajancin Bodhi Sangvara Sinhanakorn Kanachan by the Thai King, Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1987.
Venerable Hong Choon passed away peacefully on 25th December 1990 at the age of 84. His virtuous deeds and contribution to society welfare, charities, religious harmony and in Buddhism were greatly recognised and appreciated.
Extract from Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery website:
"In 1947, Venerable Hong Choon became the monastery's abbot. With great perseverance, he progressively developed and expanded the monastery with his followers into the largest and most majestic place of practice in Singapore. Venerable Hong Choon also initiated the monthly Great Compassion Prayer and taught the Dharma to benefit many.
In 1980, the temple began to build Evergreen Bright Hill Home with the donation of S$5.3 million from Venerable Hong Choon's followers, He Hui Zhong's Fattmily's company. In 1994, the then President of Singapore, Ong Teng Cheong visited the Home and praised its cleanliness, good service and well-equipped Fattcilities."
The Venerable Hong Choon Memorial Hall of the temple, the centrepiece and the latest addition the temple, built in 2004.