Shedding light on decline in Buddhism in Singapore

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=57,9832,0,0,1

Article on the changes in religion demographics in SG. Most of the religion class and non believers had increased slightly except for buddhist who is on the decline.

I would attribute the drop in actual fact a result of more "lean" buddhists. Gone were the days when there are more people "born" into a religion or simply following a family religion. People are more educated, well-informed and thus has more autonomy to live with a faith that suits their needs.

Buddhism to me is a rather empirical studies of how things happen around us. It does not rely on faith alone and alot of emphasis on cultivation of wisdom. Buddha also mentioned how a faith to a teaching is to be established upon in the Kalama Sutta:

. Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing,
. nor upon tradition,
. nor upon rumor,
. nor upon what is in a scripture,
. nor upon surmise,
. nor upon an axiom,
. nor upon specious reasoning,
. nor upon a bias towards a notion that has been pondered over,
. nor upon another's seeming ability,
. nor upon the consideration, "The monk is our teacher."
Kalamas, when you yourselves know: "These things are good; these things are not blamable; these things are praised by the wise; undertaken and observed, these things lead to benefit and happiness," enter on and abide in them.'

My personal take is not to let numbers creates disturbance to our mind. Rather, focus on our personal practise and conduct. When our actions are well praised for, people will seek out to learn more about the religion.

Numbers are just forms and overly-obesses with forms lead to mentally unwholesome thoughts. But to stress that we buddhist should not just hide away like a hermit. Esp for a Buddhist that vow to take on the Bodhisattva path, we should share the teaching widely to help free people from their suffering state.

The number do know shake your faith but your thoughts and conduct will.