草稿:新加坡天聖壇

天圣坛供奉包公为主神 本地规模最大，以包公为主神的包公庙—天圣坛，已有超过80年历史。早年间，简陋的庙宇设在后港四英里半村。信徒多是附近的居民，大多來自福建南安，逢年过节村民都会聚齐到庙宇祭拜包公。如遇到无法解决的问题，村民就会向包公请求指示。随着时代的进步，天圣坛除了是善信祭拜的场所，也参与文化，学术和慈善事业的庙宇。发挥主神包公正大光明，铁面无私的精神。 而若干年後，當理事會要為廟宇註冊為正式社團組織時，理事會大致同意，為表示對包公大人的尊敬，不敢直呼其名，便採取了一位學者的建議，因包府大人仁宗天圣五年（公元1027年）考中進士，便以“天聖”二字為廟名，除了避開包公名諱之外，也感激新政府帶來的國泰民安，因為宋仁宗時代是北宋一個和平安定的年代，同時也有隱約讚揚了包公是“天之聖人”的含意。 “天聖壇” 這家廟宇的形成、發展和旺盛，可不僅僅是一家道教廟宇這麼簡單，還經歷了從政治動蕩不安到國家繁榮昌盛的這個歷史過程的同步發展

第一所庙宇设立包公文物展 在新加坡天圣坛是第一所设立包公文物展的庙宇。文物展中展示的物品包括来自中国开封包公祠与安徽合肥的香炉，神主牌，官袍，官帽，尚方宝剑，包公氏谱（24册），书籍，纪念品，包公晚年彩色瓷像，开封府题名碑（仿制品）和复制的三口铡刀等。

一间庙供奉两位主神 当时，在后港四英里半村中就有一座奇特的小庙供奉着两位主神齐天大圣与包府大人，庙门挂着两个匾额“齐天大圣”与“包府大人庙”，一间庙有两个庙名，是一个很奇特的现象。原來，上世紀40年代，村中先有齊天大聖廟，供奉主神齊天大聖。後來，廟裡一名林姓理事，夢見包府大人要在廟為世人救苦救難，要他在廟裡供奉包公神尊。於是林姓理事就將夢中所見告訴廟的其他理事，大家商議後一致同意供奉包公，稱為包府大人廟。

Tien Sen Tua Worshipping His Excellency Bao

Tien Sen Tua Temple worships His Excellency Bao as the main deity, which boasts a history of more than 60 years. In the early days, Tien Sen Tua Temple was located at “four and a half milestones” in Hougang village with devotees mainly from the village itself. As time passes by, Tien Sen Tua Temple grew and participated in numerous cultural and charity events. Such participation was to showcase His Excellency Bao’s spirit and to reach out to the needy. Many years later, members registered Tien Sen Tua Temple as a formal community organization. Out of respect to His Excellency Bao, members did not want to address the temple by his name. They sought out advice from a scholar, who suggested “Tian Sheng” for the temple’s name. This was because His Excellency Bao took his examination and qualify as a scholar in the year AD 1027, which was also known as “Ren Zong Tian Sheng” fifth year. It also signifies the peace and prosperity brought by the new government like how it was during the Northern Song Dynasty, “Song Renzong” era. Similarly, it praises His Excellency Bao as the “Saint of Heaven”. The development and success of Tien Sen Tua Temple was not as simple as how it is setting up a temple today. It has undergone transition from the country when it was in a political turmoil, to how prosperous it is today.

Being the First Temple to set up His Excellency Bao’s exhibition centre

Tien Sen Tua Temple is the first temple in Singapore, to have an exhibition centre dedicated to His Excellency Bao. It showcases artefacts like the urn from “Kaifeng” and “Hefei” tablet, official robe, official hat, imperial sword, documented lineage history (24 books), souvenirs, porcelain figurines, a replica of Kaifeng’s title stone, 3 sets of guillotines and many more.

A temple worshipping two deities

Tien Sen Tua Temple developed from a small temple back then, into today’s four storey high grand temple. A unique piece of history of the temple would be that it used to be a temple with 2 different temple names. It was used to be a temple dedicated to the Great Sage during the 1940s. It was because of a dream from His Excellency Bao to a member of the temple which started the worshipping of His Excellency Bao. To preserve its roots, the temple kept the altar for the Great Sage while worshipping His Excellency Bao. Therefore, the temple carried two title boards for quite a period, one for the Great Sage, while the other was His Excellency Bao.

林澤連和天聖壇： Mr Lim Teck Lian and Tien Sen Tua Temple 林泽連與天聖壇

       天聖壇是本地歷史悠久的廟宇之一，70年多前，從後港鄉村的一間簡陋小廟，發展成今天四層樓高的壯觀廟宇，躋身本地知名廟宇之一，天聖壇前主席林澤連（已故），可說功不可抹。可以說，如果沒有林澤連，就沒有今天的天聖壇。

在林泽連的領導下，天聖壇經歷數大變遷： 1990年，後港4英里半的舊廟址被征用，遷移到楊厝港8英里。 1994年，購置巴耶利峇路地段現址，與賜福宮聯合興建新廟。 1995年，林澤連帶領天聖壇訪問團，前往中國安徽省合肥市，及河南省開封市兩地，參觀包公的史跡與包公祠、包公墓園，與包公研究會的負責人交流，收集文物資料。 1996年4月，新廟落成，林澤連與理事會籌辦晋宮典禮、也主辦系列包公文物展和座談會，參與的嘉賓包括海內外的學者與學術團體。 1999年，包公1000週年誕辰紀念，林澤連率團到中國開封和合肥，出席盛典及參加包公學術研討會。 2004年，天聖壇進行擴建4層樓工程。 2005年，擴建的4層樓廟宇落成，在林澤連的倡導下，3樓辟為包公文物展，是本地首間設立包公歷史文物展的廟宇。曾擔任社會慈善公益，作出巨大的貢獻。過後，因年老健康理由，卸下天聖壇主席職務，改任永久榮譽主席。 2012年5月間，林澤連病逝，享年75歲，他獻身天聖壇半個世紀，策劃天聖壇的發展，貢獻巨大 林澤連是位殷實商人，熱心道教事業，加上交遊廣闊，重信諾，在道教界享有聲譽。林澤連的次子，現任天聖壇主持林東龍說，父親病情惡化時，仍對天聖壇耿耿於懷，要大家同心協力，把廟管理好。據他所知，父親生前曾多次帶領訪問團，到中國安徽省合肥市，及河南省開封市，參觀包公的史跡、墓園、收集文物資料及參與包公學術研討會，對推動包公歷史文化傳承，可說不予餘力。

Mr Lim Teck Lian and Tien Sen Tua Temple

Tien Sen Tua Temple is one of the local temple with a long history. Dating back more than 70 years, it was at first a simple, little temple situated at “four and a half milestones” Hougang village. Today, the temple develops to a majestic four storey building, much to the credit of the late Mr Lim Teck Lian, its former chairman. Without Mr Lim Teck Lian, Tien Sen Tua Temple would not have come this far. In the beginning, it was just a temple with a zinc roof, situated in a village at “four and a half milestones” in Hougang village. In the 1960s the late Mr Lim Teck Lian discussed with members of the temple and formally rename the whole temple to dedicate it to Temple of His Excellency Bao. They had successfully sought the approval of the Great Sage in divinations before changing the title, and subsequently formally registered it as Tien Sen Tua of His Excellency Bao. Such was its origin.

Previous Chairman of Taoist Federation (Singapore)

Mr Lim Teck Lian had assumed important appointments of many societies, including the chairman of Taoist Federation (Singapore), the chairman of Tien Sen Tua Temple, the Change of “Chee Yew Huey”, hence contributed greatly to the promotion of Taoism and other social charity activities. Due to the state of his health in the later age, he relinquished the appointment of the chairman of Tien Sen Tua Temple, and assumed the appointment of Honorary Chairman. In May 2012, Mr Lim Teck Lian passed on at the age of 75. He delegated his life to the growth of Tien Sen Tua Temple for half a century, contributing greatly to its development.

A Pragmatic Entrepreneur with Integrity

Mr Lim Teck Lian was a pragmatic entrepreneur who was devoted to the development of Taoism affairs. Coupling with the fact that he was a man of integrity, and has also enjoyed a vast circle of social network, he made a good name in the Taoist fraternity. Mr Tony Lim, the second son of the late Mr Lim Teck Lian, said that in those days when the health condition of the senior Mr Lim deteriorated, he remained concerned with the daily operations of the temple, wishing that it will be properly managed by the management team. Mr Tony Lim said that his late father had led delegations to Hefei City and Kaifeng City of Henan Province several times to pay visits to the historical sites and park cemetery of His Excellency Bao. He also collected cultural relics and participated in seminars, contributing relentlessly to the continuation of cultural heritage of His Excellency Bao.

三壇玄门:林东龙：The Grand Master Tony Lim Of San Tan Xuan Men

道教世家 严父名师

现任天圣坛主持林东龙师父，来自道教世家，令尊是已故前新加坡道教总会会长林泽连，林老先生在道教界可说是无人不知；无人不晓，他一生为人正直无私，不仅自律严格，更是努力教育子女，希望他们不单能为社会做出积极贡献，并且也能在道教中展露头角，为发扬华人传统道教文化尽一份力。林东龙师父上有大哥，下有三位弟弟，全都是商人，只有他继承先父弘愿，直接协助推动道教文化。林东龙师父在继承父训的基础上，出外在拜师学艺，渊博的家学加名师指导“三坛”秘法，几十载春秋的不懈努力，在功力修为都取得成果的底蕴下，2010年开创了“三坛玄门”（道教发事则以“三坛玄龙法坛”名义进行），至今活跃的弟子门生近百人，遍布全国，一些徒弟也开始有了专业进展和个人成就，人数不断增加，但是林东龙师父择徒非常严格，只挑选有根基的人选，加上能不能持之以恒，能不能吃苦耐劳等考虑因素，因此希望拜师者虽多，但成功如愿者甚少，总之是贵精不贵多。即使如此，由于“三坛玄门”多年不遗余力培育，天圣坛是本地拥有最多基本乩童的道庙。

灵根美玉 大道持生 林东龙师父箓禁符咒师承三坛名师谢福照，扶乩道仪则由天圣坛前任主持已故的易培仁师父启蒙，各名师循循善诱下，加上本身是一块灵根美玉（易师父曾当众如此夸奖），今天的林东龙师父，已是一位“大道持生”的高功法师（也有善信这样称赞他为“高人”），理论浸濡，实战兼备，况且为人正派，诚实待人，深受本庙理事和信徒爱戴和信赖，在海外也广孚人望。

海外交流 学无止境

为了促进天圣坛的庙务和进展，他多年来造访各国如中国大陆、台湾地区、菲律宾、马来西亚、韩国等地，与其他国家道教团体或者秘法组织联系，互相交流，促进关系和互相学习，来往关系比较和谐的位数不少。

海外号“包公龙”

由于天圣坛供奉主神包府千岁远近闻名，林东龙师傅又是主神乩童，因此他有个外号叫“包公龙”，据悉是近年来本地被冠以“包公”这个外号的第一人。虽然有时外号这回事会含有调侃之意，但是对“包公”却不敢有丝毫的诙谐意思，包大人为世人所重，基于包公的崇高地位，全世界华人至今还没有人敢随便拿包公来开玩笑。因此能与包公大人挂钩的人物，本身的道德品质肯定具有相当高水准。

Grand Master Tony Lim Of San Tan Xuan Men

A Family of Taoist History, a Strict Father and a Reputed Master

Master Tony Lim, who is the current Chief Master of Tien Sen Tua Temple comes from a Taoist family. Build on the foundation he has learn from his late father, he went under the wing of a famous “San Tan” teacher, and successfully mastered the mystical skills of the “San Tan”. With the foundation and knowledge from his late father and teacher, through decades of hard work and perseverance, Master Lim have established “San Tan Xuan Men” in 2010, practicing Taoist rituals officially as “San Tan Xuan Long Fa Tan”.

Up to today, Master Tony Lim have about a hundred students and disciples in Singapore, and the numbers are increasing by the day. He selects his students with stringent requirements, looking at their innate quality, perseverance, and diligence. With his incessant effort in providing training to the disciples, Tien Sen Tua Temple is also known as the Taoist temple in Singapore to have the most number of mediums.

A Superior Innate Quality with High Spiritual Roots, the Grand Knowledge Shall Perpetuate

Master Tony Lim inherits the knowledge in talisman and incantation from his “San Tan” teacher, and ritual knowledge from the previous Chief Master of Tien Sen Tua Temple.

With fine guidance from great teachers, he is a well learn and experience Taoist practitioner with a noble character. He is also sincere, righteous, well-loved and trusted by the devotees, both locally and overseas.

Exchanging Experience with Overseas Counterparts, Learning is Boundless

To promote Taoism and the temple, Master Tony Lim have visited Mainland China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Korea, to keep in contact with other Taoist organizations exchange knowledge with each other, to foster the relationship with them. Even up till today, he still maintains contact with them.

Nicknamed the Dragon of His Excellency Bao

As the main deity worship in Tien Sen Tua Temple is His Excellency Bao, and being the chief medium, Master Tony Lim was nicknamed the “Dragon of His Excellency Bao”, the first to enjoy such an alias connected with His Excellency Bao in the local Taoist fraternity.

Even though a nickname is meant to sneer, it is used with utmost respect in this case, as His Excellency is one of the most revered figure in Chinese history. Therefore, a nickname connected with His Excellency Baois in reflection the high integrity of the person being so named.