Zhong Sheng Ji 种生基

Image sourced from the internet.
照片源于互联网。

Zhong Sheng Ji is a Chinese ancient ritual which believed to be able to improve a person's health or luck. It is carried out only when a person is suffering from serious illness or serious bad luck. The ritual has to use the hair, blood, tooth, nail and clothes of a person, together with his details such as date and time of birth (in Chinese, we called it Ba Zi), put into an urn and assume the living person is dead. An auspicious date and time to conduct the ritual is usually advised by a FengShui master and carried out by the same master. 
种生基是一个中国古老的仪式,相信能够改善人的健康或运气。 种生基是当一个人患上严重疾病或严重衰运时才进行的。 仪式得用上该人的头发,血液,牙齿,指甲和衣服,八字(出生日期和时间),放在一个瓮里,并假设当事人死了。风水师会为当事者选择吉日和吉间进行仪式。 

First, the party needs to buy a land to place the urn. These are few of the most important key points to note:
1. The location and direction of the land
2. Date and time of purchase of land
3. The date and time of the ceremony
The above points must be matched with the Ba Zi of the party, otherwise disasterous unfortunate or death may happen to him.
首先,当事者需要购买一块土地来放置瓮。 以下是几个最重要的基本重点:
1. 土地的位置和方向
2. 购买土地的日期和时间
3. 进行仪式的日期和时间
以上要点必须与当事人的八字配合,否则将可能发生不幸或死亡。

In Singapore, we do not have land offerred to public to Zhong Sheng Ji but the private graveyard/columbarium/temple may allow this ceremony with the use of niche. Land is  one of the scarce resouces here. 
在新加坡,我们没有种生基的土地,但私人墓园/骨灰/寺庙或许允许利用骨灰位来种生基。 土地是这里稀缺的资源之一。

Zhong Sheng Ji is originally carried out to help a person to get better, instead of the reverse. However, since such activity is commercialized, salespeople who try to persuade customers to "buy" the "product" may deliberately distort the purpose or disregard the needs of customers. Selling without considering the possible negative outcomes which may happen to customer is outrageous. A salesperson should understand the ritual, its purpose and fully aware of the possible results. I believe that any sensible salesrepresentative will not intentionally mislead his clients once he understands the consequences of giving false advice. The misrepresenting marketing pitch and hard selling tactic may also be due to the salesperson is eager to sell off the "product" he has bought, in order to encash his "investment" and reap the profit from his customer. This is conflict of interest. 
种生基原为帮助一个人变得更好,而不是伤害。 然而,由于这种活动被商业化,尝试说服客户“购买产品”的销售人员可能会故意歪曲其目的或无视顾客的真正需要。 在不考虑会发生在顾客身上的负面结果的前提下而强硬式推销是不能被接受的。销售人员应尽可能完整地了解这仪式,目的和可能的结果。 我相信任何一位以客为上的销售代表一旦明白给予虚假建议将带来的后果,就不会故意误导他的客户。 误导性的营销策略和“台词”也可能是由于销售人员急于抛售他所购买的“产品”,以此来兑现他的“投资”,从客户那里获得利润。 这是利益上的冲突。

The cost of Zhong Sheng Ji in private graveyard/columbarium/temple may cost customer SGD6,000 and onwards. However, the real Zhong Sheng Ji involves much higher cost than the general public can afford. The ideal location is also not at the graveyard/columbarium/temple with the use of niche or piece of small land plots as commercially advertized. 
私人墓地/骨灰塔/寺庙的生基费用由6000新元起。 但是,真正的种生基的费用并非一般普罗大众承担得起的。 理想的生基地也不是一小块的墓地/骨灰塔/寺庙内。

Customer needs to exercise his due diligence to avoid being rip off and cause any possible disaster to himself. If there is really a need to Zhong Sheng Ji, consult a trusted independent FengShui master, instead of listening to the FengShui consultant or salesperson engaged by the private memorial garden operator.
客户需要具备基本知识,在做任何决定之前把“功课”做好,以避免被剥夺,并对自己造成任何损伤。 如果真的有需要种生基,请咨询一位值得信赖的风水师,而不是道听销售员或墓园经营者雇用的风水师。

I have came across these 4 articles which cite case study of disasterous outcome and brief introduction about this ritual. I do not know these two FengShui masters personally nor I have received any benefit or interest from them to name the links here. The articles were written in Chinese.
我在网上搜索资料,从中筛选了这四篇文章。文章中引用了易于明白的案例,并简要介绍了什么是种生基。我不认识这两位风水师,也没有从他们那里得到任何利益。我链接他们的文章纯粹是分享而已。文章是由中文编写的。

I consulted FengShui Master A who I know personally. Instead of spending big bucks on this ritual and niche/land plots and risking yourself to unfortunate, practicing Qi Gong or chanting certainly a better alternatives. Simple, low cost and effective!
我咨询了一位我认识的风水师。 他的建议是与其花大钱在这个仪式上和承担风险,还不如练练气功或诵经。我认为这的确是简单,成本低廉有效益的活动!

What Is Niche and What Is Ancestral Tablet? 骨灰位和神主牌位的区别

I am not surprised when I meet people who do not have any idea what is a niche and what is an ancestral tablet. They tend to confuse these two and have the tendency to assume both of them are the same. Niche and tablet are two different things, serving different purposes.
我常常会遇见不了解什么是骨灰位,什么是神主牌位的人。他们往往会混淆这两者,并认为它们都是一样的。骨灰位和神主牌位是两个不同的东西,用于不同的目的。

Niche is a space where ashes is placed. It stores the remains of a dead person after his body has been cremated. It is one of the ways of burial. It is a popular burial method for countries where land is scarce such as Singapore and Hong Kong. Its purposes of existence very much depending on one's belief. From a non-religious point of view, niche enables a living person to visit his loved ones as and when he wants to. 
骨灰是大体被火化后所遗留下来的灰烬。顾名思义,骨灰位是放置骨灰灰烬的空间。这是埋葬的方式之一。对于新加坡和香港等土地稀缺的国家来说,这是一种受欢迎的埋葬方式。其存在的目的因人而异,因宗教信仰而异。从非宗教的角度来看,骨灰位方便生者追思他们所爱的过世的家人朋友,以达到慎終追远、缅怀先賢的目的。

Ancestral tablet is a tablet usually made from wood with words engraved on it. A tablet will tell the surname of the family and/or the name(s) of the deceased who "owns" the tablet. It may contain profile photo(s) of the deceased too. Tablet in columbarium or temple usually arranged in rows. For more reading about ancestral tablet, please visit the link below.
神主牌通常是由木材制成的,并刻上家族姓氏或个人名字。它也可能包含死者的肖像。神主牌在骨灰殿或庙内通常被排列成行。欲了解更多神主牌的相关资料,请游览以下网址。
https://singaporecolumbarium.blogspot.sg/2017/05/need-or-dont-need.html

Niche in Nirvana Memorial Garden.
富贵山庄生命纪念馆内的骨灰位。

Ancestral tablet in
 Nirvana Memorial Garden.
富贵山庄生命纪念馆内的神主牌位。

Miscarriage/Abortion 流产/堕胎

Image sourced from the internet.
照片源于互联网。

Zhong Yuan Pu Du, also known as the Yu Lan Pen or Enlightenment Festival, falls on 15 July of Lunar Calendar. Commonly it is named as Halloween or 7th Month.
中元普渡,也称为盂兰盆节,是七月十五日的传统节日。俗称鬼节或七月半。

In this day, the traditional Chinese family will worship ancestors, "good brothers" (wandering ghosts) and participating in the activities organized by temples to help the deceased in the crossing. "Crossing" here is referring to cross over to another realm, where souls and spirits belong to. And women who lost their babies due to miscarriage or abortion will participate in this puja as well. They will entrust the temples to do this for them.
在这日子里,传统的华人家庭将会祭祀祖先,“好兄弟”和在庙宇参加超渡活动。而有流产或堕胎经历的妇女也会在这个时候超渡自己失去的宝宝。妇女会委托庙宇为胎儿进行超渡。

I asked Mr L who is very knowledgeable in matters regarding to ritual, prayer, cremains picking and such, that is there any different arrangement if the mother lost her twins? Should the mother subscribe two sets of prayer? His response is: Only one set will do for the twins.
我询问一位资深的捡骨师,失去单胞胎或双胞胎的妇女有需要做不同的安排吗?比如说,双胞胎需要两份超渡。他的回应是:一胎只需一份超渡。因此,双胞胎只需一份。

From the FengShui point of view, I consulted FengShui Master A. He said prayer which can help the soul to cross over to the spiritual realm is good. At least the family can help the deceased to see and follow the light to another realm, instead of hovering in the world. 
从风水的角度,我又询问了甲风水师。他说,超渡是好的,至少可以让往生宝宝跟随着光去属于他的世界,不再徘徊于人间,对宝宝和家人都好。

Destiny, Luck and FengShui 一命二运三风水

Image sourced from the internet.
照片源于互联网。

I have heard people say about a statement in this sequence "Destiny, Luck and FengShui". Thus, I have always believed that our own destiny dominates most of our life, followed by luck and then FengShui.
我听过“一命二运三风水”的说法。一直以来都以为命运主宰人生的大部分,接着是运气,再来才轮到风水。

Until I met Mr A FengShui master, then only I know destiny, luck and FengShui are equally important.
直到我遇见甲风水先生,才知道原来“命”,“运”和“风水”是同等重要的。

For example, if the life destiny of a person is ok but the FengShui of his house he owns is very bad, the bad FengShui can make the owner seriously ill or misfortune will come one after another. The best solution would be to sell the house and move.
举个例子,一个人命还不错,但如果住家风水太差,那风水可让那屋主生重病或诸多不顺。最好的解决方法就是搬家。

What is An Ling? 什么是安灵?

An Ling, also known as Shu Ling or Ji Ling, is the worship to the dead. The worship is carried out after the funeral without the use of ancestral tablet.
安灵,也被称之为竖灵和寄灵,是合炉前,对亡者神主的祭祀。

After the funeral, family will place the portrait of the deceased, temporary tablet (which usually consists of a wooden stand and paper) and incense burner which were used in the funeral, at home, temple or columbarium. Worship will be carried out then.
出殡后,亲人会把在灵堂用的往生者遗照,牌位和香炉供奉在家,庙或骨灰殿内,然后进行祭祀。

Period of An Ling can range from forty nine days, one year or up to three years. During this period, family have to offer food to the deceased everyday, once in the day time and once in the evening time. In a particular day, family may engage the service of monk or priest to chant for the dead. After the end of An Ling, family may proceed to conduct ritual for the deceased, so in the future, prayer and offering can be done with the use of ancestral tablet.
安灵可以为期四十九天("做七"),一年或长达三年。在这期间,家属须朝夕准备祭品祭拜亡者。在特定的日子里,有些家属也会请和尚/道士为亡者做功德。安灵结束后(撤灵/除灵),家属就可以为亡者进行合炉仪式了。

In today's society, many people choose to An Ling at the temple or columbarium. Thus, prayer and offering in the day time and evening time is now done by the staff. An Ling service fees range from S$200 to several thousands, depending on the period term and environmental factors.
现今社会,很多人都选择在庙或骨灰殿安灵,而朝夕的祭奠都由工作人员代劳了。安灵的收费介于新币几百至几千不等,视环境与期限的长短而论。

An Ling room of a columbarium.
寺庙的安灵室。

An Ling room of a columbarium.
寺庙的安灵室。

An Ling altar set up at home. Photo from http://ahkew.blogkaki.net/viewblog-104631/.
安奉在家的灵位。图片取自http://ahkew.blogkaki.net/viewblog-104631/。

Bereavement 丧亲

Image sourced from the internet.
照片源于互联网。

"My aunt forced me to cry at my father's funeral. But he had been suffering diabates and I had been looking after him for so long since he lost his limbs. I really had no tear to cry. I feel he has relieved from the torment of diabates now. I do love him."
“我的阿姨逼我在父亲的丧礼上哭泣。但,我爸在世时饱受糖尿病的折磨。自从他被截肢(双腿)后,我辞掉工作,一直在他身边照顾他。爸的脾气也变得古怪。我真的没泪。爸的离开,对他和我来说是个解脱。我依然是爱他的。”

"I didn't cry at my father's funeral. He was suffering from diabates. Filial care on long ill parent could not be found."
“爸的丧礼期间,我没哭。他饱受糖尿病的折磨。久病床前无孝子啊。”

"I didn't cry at my mom's funeral. I didn't know how to respond to my lost. And I was so busy with the funeral matters. I only felt great pain after a week she passed on."
“我妈过世时,我没反应过来。丧礼期间,我也太忙了,没哭过。我过了整整一个礼拜才感受到剧烈的伤痛。”

I thank my friends and loved ones for sharing their experience with me. How is every individual reacting to bereavement is not something an outsider can understand easily. 
我感谢朋友和亲人跟我分享他们丧亲的经历。每个人对丧亲的反应都不一样,不是外人可以轻易理解的。

Inappropriate condolence may cause harm more than good. The worst condolence I have heard is:
"You are a man and a man should not cry easily. You need to be strong, your family needs you."

"I am sorry to hear about your lost, please turn your sorrow into strength."
不恰当的慰问只能弄巧反拙。以下是我听过最烂的慰问:
“男人有泪不轻弹。坚强一点,你家人需要你。”
“节哀顺变,化悲愤为力量。”

I truely hope that the two mourners can quietly finish their own chrysanthemum tea packets and then leave the funeral. Perhaps they don't know they can choose to remain silent since finding the right word to say seems so hard for them.
我倒希望这两位吊丧者可以静静的把自己的菊花茶包装水喝完,然后离开。我想他们应该不懂如果没有更好的话要说,他们可以选择保持沉默。

Offering condolence is harder than sending congratulation. A meaningful condolence should not interfere the bereaved person. Friends and relatives should let the bereaved person to have his own time to accept the fact of death of his loved ones and freedom to express his emotions.
给予慰问比送上祝贺语难。有意义的慰问不应该对丧亲者造成干扰。亲友应该让丧亲者按照自己的速度接受丧亲的事实,并拥有表达自己情绪的自由。

Need or Don't Need? 我需要它吗?

I have a meet up with a business contact today. We talked about each other's work, life and subject of death.
今天,我约了一位朋友互谈彼此的工作,生活和对死亡课题的看法。

As a Chinese, we have the tradition of worshiping our ancestors. One of the practice is to worship the ancestral tablet. Her question is: Is it a must to have a tablet for oneself?
身为华人,很多(华人)都有祭拜祖先的习惯。其中之一的做法,就是拜祖先神主(牌)。朋友的疑问是:神祖牌是不是一个必需品?

Why would she have such a question? It is because some of her married friends have no children. This question confuses them: If I have passed on without a children, who will come to worship me through my ancestral tablet?
为何她会有如此的疑问呢?那是因为她身边的一些朋友们并没有孩子。这问题很困惑他们:当自己离开人世以后,谁会来拜祭我?那,到底我是需要或不需要(神主牌)呢?

Besides set up a ancrestral tablet at home, nowaday Singaporeans are more incline to own tablets or offering worhip in the temple or columbarium. Instead of confusing, why not we understand the purpose of its existence first? I believe after watching the below video, you will naturally have an answer.
神主牌不止可以供奉在家,现代新加坡人也比较倾向于供奉在庙与骨灰殿。与其困惑,不如我们来听听看净空法师解释神主牌存在的意义。我相信在观赏之后,你很自然的就会得到一个答案。

This video is an useful reference, please watch from 27:47 to 29:05 minute.
敬请收看以下从27:47至29:05的视频。

Some examples of ancestral tablet from different temples/columbariums, in both traditional and contemporary designs.
这是供奉在寺庙/骨灰殿里的神主牌。设计有很传统的,也有很新式的。
Zi Du An
自度庵

Nirvana Memorial Garden
富贵山庄

San Qing Gong
三清宫

 Bi Shan Ting
碧山亭

Ancestral tablet altar at home.
供奉在家里的神主牌。

Ancestral tablets on sale at shops selling ritual products.
神料用品商店内所售卖的神主牌。

Wat Ananda Metyarama Thai Buddhist Temple 泰国佛教寺庙

I was invited by a friend of mine to attend a discussion about Faith and Peace, organized by Explorations into Faith.
一位朋友邀请我参与一个名为“探索信仰”的非盈利组织举办的活动。该活动主题为“信仰与和平”。

This is my first visit to Wat Ananda and it surprised me with the modern look and design of the new building. The environment is peaceful.
活动在Wat Ananda泰国佛教寺庙举行。这是我第一次到访该寺庙。新建筑设计新颖,寺庙环境清幽。

Images here shown the Temple and board notices about its columbarium. Due to I have not decided to blog when I attended the discussion, I did not take a photo from the cozy room which specially built for event, which has no Buddha statue. This is to respect the different religion and faith of people attending events at the venue.
以下是寺庙和骨灰殿公告栏的照片。由于当时还没决定要设立个人部落格,因此没有保存当时活动举办时所用到的会场照片。那是一个让人舒服,可以看见蓝天白云和花草的室内空间。为了尊重来自不同宗教的出席者,场地并没有摆放佛像。

Related link 相关网站链接: http://watananda.org.sg/services/columbarium/

The modern-look building which is cozy enough for the participants including myself to have discussion.
There is meditation room for people to practice meditation too.
活动就在这设计新颖时髦的新建筑物内进行。
除此,它也设有冥想室让公众静坐冥想。

The main entrance of the Temple, very green with beautiful orchid flowers.
寺庙的主要入口处,以漂亮的兰花和各种不同的植物点缀着。


The columbarium.
骨灰塔。

Notice board about their niches and urns.
For urn wrapped in a red cloth, it means customer purchased in advance for future use when he has passed on.
骨灰塔的布告栏。
包着红布的骨灰瓮意味着骨灰位是预购的,购买者还在世。


The floor plan of the columbarium.
It shows occupied and available niches for purchase.
The niche lots of the most inner blocks facing to the Buddha statue were sold out. Does this indicate people hope to stay closer to Buddha or in a peaceful after-life world by having their cremains near to the statue?
骨灰殿平面图。
它展示了售出和未出售的骨灰位。
最靠近与面向佛像的位子已全部售出。这是否意味着人们普遍上认为自身骨灰与佛像的距离,是其中一个决定了将来能否往生极乐世界的方便?