| FAQs for Ancestral Tablets |
1. What are the basic services offered? |
• |
Maintenance of the ancestral tablets during the opening hours of the temple. |
• |
Offering of fruits and vegetarian food. |
• |
Chanting by Sanghas. |
|
2. What are the opening hours of the ancestral tablet hall? |
• |
Tuesday to Friday from 1pm – 7.30pm. |
• |
Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon – 5pm. |
• |
Closed on Monday and on certain public holidays |
* |
Please note that the opening hours of the ancestral hall are subject to change and will be confirmed one month in advance. |
|
3. Who are eligible for the ancestral tablets? |
• |
For those who are still alive |
• |
For the deceased |
|
4. Who can apply for the ancestral tablets? |
• |
There is no restriction on the persons applying for the ancestral tablets. |
|
5. How many ancestral tablet spaces can I purchase? |
• |
There is currently no limit on the number of ancestral tablets that a person can purchase. However, please note that once the ancestral tablet space is bought, it cannot be sold privately to another person. |
|
6. How do I go about selecting the tablet space that I want? |
• |
Please approach our counter staff / volunteers to look at the artists’ impression and the location map of the ancestral tablet positions based on the price category. A tablet number based on the preferred location of the tablet position will be issued to you upon registration. Please note that once the tablet space is allocated to you, it cannot be changed subsequently. The exact location of the tablet space will be subject to change upon the completion of the new temple and ancestral hall. |
|
7. How can I place a booking for the tablet space that I preferred? |
• |
Please put up an application using the prescribed form. You will be required to complete the application form and submit the hard copy form to the counter with the requisite payment. If you are paying by instalments through GIRO, you will be required to submit the completed GIRO form as well |
|
8. How long does it take for the ancestral tablet to be placed up after the purchase? |
• |
The ancestral tablets will be put up within 3 months from the completion of the new temple and within 1 month upon full payment of the ancestral tablets whichever is earlier. |
|
9. What are my payment options? |
• |
Minimum deposit of 20% of the tablets should be made in full upon selection of the tablet space. We accept cash, cheque, NETs and money order (in Singapore dollar). For persons who are not residing in Singapore, full payment is required. |
|
10. Can I make monthly payments or other installments? |
• |
Maximum of 80% of the cost of the tablet can be paid via GIRO over a period of not more than 24 months from the date of deposit paid. The GIRO form will have to be submitted upon registration. Monthly payment by cash or cheque will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Persons who are not residing in Singapore will not be eligible for payment by instalment. |
|
11. What other costs will I need to consider? |
• |
There will be no maintenance cost or levy of inscription fees apart from the amount required to be paid for the tablet space. You may choose to participate in special offering of food and fruits and chanting by sanghas for a fee during certain festive ceremonies. |
|
12. Can I request for refund after registration? |
• |
No. Any payment made to the temple for the ancestral tablet cannot be refunded.
|
|
13. Can I upgrade the category of the tablet after I have made the deposit? |
• |
Yes you may. However, please note that the change is subject to the availability of the tablet space for the category you wish to upgrade and new arrangement on the payment matters. Please note that downgrading of the category of the tablet will not be allowed. |
|
14. How many names can I place on the ancestral tablet? |
• |
Maximum of 2 names can be placed on the tablet for the deceased. |
• |
Only 1 name can be placed on the tablet for the living/earth deity. |
|
15. Can I register the whole family under a single ancestral tablet? |
• |
No, registration for the whole family under a single tablet is not allowed. Likewise, we do not accept registration which represents all spirits and deities etc. |
|
16. Can I choose the material and design of the tablet and how the names should be inscribed on the tablet? |
• |
No, the design and material of the tablet as well as the font type and size of the names to be inscribed onto the tablet will be decided solely by the Management Committee. |
|
17. Can the names on the tablet be changed? |
• |
Names on the tablet cannot be changed once the application is submitted to the temple for processing. However, you are allowed to add in another name on the tablet for the deceased at any one time, provided that the tablet originally contains only a name. |
|
18. What happens when the person whose name is on the tablet for the living has passed away? |
• |
Once the person has passed away, his or her name cannot be reflected on the tablet for the living. The next of kin should inform the temple as soon as possible to remove the name. Under such circumstance, the Management Committee will not be replacing the tablet for the living in exchange for the tablet for the deceased. The original tablet space will be returned to the temple and the Management Committee reserves all rights to find a new owner. |
|
19. Can I purchase the tablet space for the deceased for myself or family members even though they have not passed away? |
• |
Yes you can. The names of the living will be covered with a piece of red paper and will only be revealed upon confirmation of his or her passing. |
|
20. What do we ‘own’ when we purchase an ancestral tablet? |
• |
The cost of the ancestral tablet includes only the rights to use the assigned ancestral tablet space within the ancestral hall to place the ancestral tablet. The ancestral tablet remains as the sole property of the temple.
|
|
21. How long do I own the use of space within the ancestral hall to place the ancestral tablet? |
• |
You will own the right to use the designated space for the tablet of deceased for as long as True Buddha Shi Cheng Temple remains. However, if there is a relocation of the temple, please note that the ancestral tablet space will be subject to change in design and size. Under such circumstances, the Management Committee reserves the right to allocate the new location of the tablet at the new temple premise. As for the tablet space meant for the living, you will own the right to use the designated space for as long as the person (whose name is on the tablet) lives. |
|
| |
| |
