Chapter 28 - Double Lotus

The Double Lotus Shrine, or 双莲寺, was founded in the year 1875, during the colonial era of Singapore. Its name was derived from a miraculous discovery.

In a hot summer of 1874, a visiting monk, who carried the monk title Yuan Ci (圆慈)from mainland Fujian, was wandering in the rural area of what is central west Singapore when he came upon a pond.

In the scenic environment, he meditated for one full day. When he woke the next morning, Yuan Ci was greeted with a miracle and witnessed the blossoming of lotus flowers in the pond. He was in awe and noticed that the largest of them, which resided in the middle of the pond, was actually taller than the rest. It caught his attention because the main stalk has two lotus flowers.

Yuan Ci believed it was a manifestation of Buddha's powers and an omen. He made a vow to salvage the masses with his prayers and powers and went on to found a Buddhist monastery which he named after the miracle of nature - Double Lotus