Our Story

Mr Tan Hang Long

Vajra Guru Gyurme Thekchog

(妙见金刚上师）

1926 - 2011

Founding Abbot of Dzogpa Sangye Vihara, Singapore

This Heritage Centre is set up in memory of the late Mr Tan Hang Long, a pioneer in the Vajrayana Buddhism scene in Singapore. He was amongst the first few Singaporeans in the 1960s who hosted visits by renowned heads of the different schools from the Vajrayana Tradition, such as His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama from Gelug School, His Holiness the 16th Karmapa from Kagyud School, His Holiness the 3rd Penor Rinpoche from Nyingma School, and His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin Rinpoche from Sakya School, as well as many young tulkus such as Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, Garab Dorje Rinpoche, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, the four regents of the 16th Karmapa and Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, all of whom are now world-renowned teachers. Mr Tan hosted these great teachers at a time when Vajrayana Buddhism was relatively unheard of. It can even be said that most of the Tibetan Buddhist teachers who visited Singapore at that time had been hosted by Mr Tan, in one way or another. Through the seeds sowed and his generous contributions, the community in the Vajrayana Tradition grew, and many buddhist centres sprouted all over Singapore thereafter. Mr Tan was personally actively involved in the establishment of the then Karma Kagyud Centre in the 1980s, having served as its Vice Chairman.

Mr Tan started following the Theravada Tradition in the 1960s, under the tutelage of Chao Khun Po Cheng, the most revered Thai Chinese monk and abbot of Wat Poman in Thailand. It was from Chao Khun Po Cheng that he started his avid collection of rare and high quality buddha statues from the Theravada Tradition.

Mr Tan subsequently followed the Vajrayana Tradition when he met his Vajra Master from Hong Kong in 1972 and became a lineage holder. This lineage has its roots from the Nyingma and Kagyud schools. His collections of precious artefacts from this tradition were primarily gifts from the renowned Rinpoches whom he hosted. Interestingly, this lineage was passed on from Tibetan Buddhist masters to China in the 1930s, followed by Hong Kong and subsequently to Singapore. This followed the similar trail where Buddhism in Asia was propagated spanning North Asia (predominantly Mahayana Tradition), Southeast Asia (predominantly Theravada Tradition) and the Himalayan Region (predominantly Vajrayana Tradition).

This Heritage Centre is set up to preserve the priceless artefacts that Mr Tan had painstakingly collected over the past 50 years. More than just pieces of art, each of the artefacts tells a story, and when collectively put together, form the history of the evolution of Buddhism in this part of the world.

Chao Khun Po Cheng

（华僧普净法师）

1902 - 1986

Abbot of Wat Poman, Bangkok, Thailand

Vajra Guru Lhundrup Gyalpo

（任运王大圆金刚上师）

1897 - 1988

Abbot of Dzogpa Sangye Vihara, Hong Kong

Our Team

Sean Tay （善证）

Founder / Curator

Sean Tay inherited entirely the artefacts and lineage from his teacher, the late Mr Tan Hang Long. Having retired from the corporate world during his mid-forties, he embarked full time on the continual running of the lineage. In the course of preserving his lineage's artefacts, Sean conceptualised the "Mind Place" as an abode to rest the Mind and conducted mind training programmes since 2017. Two years later, he decided to set up the Centre for the Preservation of Buddhist Heritage.

Andy Lim （善毅）

Curator

Andy Lim is a founding member of a Buddhist Society in Singapore, having served three consecutive terms as its President. Through experiencing the ups and downs in his life, Andy became an avid follower of the Truth as expounded by Buddha Sakyamuni. He shares the passion in preserving the works that express the Truth and aspires to propagate these for the benefit of more destined people.

Roll of Honour

We also honour the selfless donation of their precious artefacts by the following patrons:

Ms Kong Lin Hoe

1942 - 2020

Mdm Lee Siew San

1932 - 2022

Mr Tan Wee Ju

1936 - 2023

Mr Ng Guan Qing

1936 - 2024