We can handle the Tooth (Truth)

Another whammy, the authenticity of the Buddha tooth relic housed in a temple at South Bridge Road is called into question.

Dental experts are claiming that the Buddha tooth may not be the Buddha’s tooth after all. Some are claiming it looks more like a tooth of a cow or water buffalo.

Besides the puzzling authencity of the Buddha tooth, I am also wondering why the temple need to use as much as 420 kilograms of gold for the stupa.

I am a simple Buddhist. I actually still think that observing and upholding the Five Precepts and practicing Lord Buddha’s Teachings was good enough to reap good karma and gain merits. Frankly, would donating tones of gold reap good karma and merits too? It then become a rich man’s game. Sigh.

It seems, thousands of years ago, the Man gave up on all wordly possessions to find the Truth. Observing His Teachings is the greatest homage any follower can show to Buddha. Maybe not by showering gold, not for me.