Kwang Sheng

Kwang Sheng was educated in Victoria School.^[2] He was ordained as a monk in 1980^[3] and became a disciple of Ven Hong Choon (宏船法师). Kwang Sheng reportedly suffered from tinnitus, for which he sought treatments.^[4]

Kwang Sheng has served as the president of the Singapore Buddhist Federation since 2006,^[5] and became the sixth abbot of Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery^[6] in 2004. He has been the chief administrator of the KMSPKS^[7] since 1995 and established the Buddhist College of Singapore in 2005.^[8] His previous roles include serving as the president of the Inter-Religious Organization in Singapore and as the chairman of the management committees for Maha Bodhi School, Manjursri Secondary School Manjusri Secondary School, and Mee Toh School He also holds honorary positions at organizations such as the Singapore Buddhist Free Clinic ^[9] and Bright Hill Evergreen Home, which is named after Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery.^[10]

Kwang Sheng is also Buddhist musician and has co-produced several albums such as Reverence, Buddha Smiles, Collection of Buddhist Songs and Om Mani Padme Hum.^[3]

In July 2015, Singapore’s 7th President, Tony Tan, appointed Kwang Sheng as a member of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights.^[11] He was subsequently reappointed in July 2021 by the 8th President, Halimah Yacob, to continue his service.^[12] In July 2024, the 9th President, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, reappointed him once again to the council.^[13]

In 2014, Kwang Sheng became the first non-Muslim religious leader in Singapore to make a donation to the Aid to Syrian Refugees in Turkey (Asrit) initiative.^[14]