An inspiring member with 48 years of experiences

A tremendous actual proof of the power of Gohonzon in overcoming great odds, changing poisons into medicines

Kok Thai, related his amazing 48 years of experiences at the Geylang West Chapter, in the MD meeting, how he with strong determination, overcame tremendous difficulties in his life, borned suffering from polio, with little education worked in the Chinese wayang and numerous other jobs, married the second time, altogether he have 3 children.

In the 50s polios were common at that time.

In 1969, at the age of 14 he was introduced to Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism by his neighbor. Which was his greatest good fortune.


When he started he was not serious in his practice.

He related his experiences in sincerely volunteering as a security for kaikan and  teach playing the chinese wayang drums, which contributed to his good fortune of today

It tough to bring up 3 kids, from his 2 marriages, it is tougher for him as a polio victim, with walking difficulties.

Not long ago he overcame a serious heart trouble.

Presently, he run a successful fruits juice stall.

He got 2 wishes, to be featured in Singapore Soka Magazine and the media, which were fulfilled.

HIs story was featured in Mediacorp Channel 8, Tuesday Special Edition and the testimonial book by SSA - Breakthroughs. A compilation of SSA Men Division Experiences.  Page 147

Featured in SSA Times

My family story was featured in SSA Times. Singapore Soka Association. Issue  no 492, 15 Aug 14, page 11

The story related how I was introduced to this buddhism, my family was plagued by heavy karmic illnesses, poverty and disharmony. Presently my 3 sisters illnesses stabilized

 Later how my family took up faith and overcome poverty, disharmony and karmic illnesses.

I enshrined the gohonzon first in 1990, then  I prayed for my mom and my brother to  receive the gohonzon later.https://chantforabetterlife.wordpress.com/2012/03/11/practise-faith-to-overcome-lifes-ups-and-downs/

                                 Photo featured my sister in law and my mom.

This photo featured my niece wedding dinner.

As the publication couldn't covered everything about my family, I and my mom were actually introduced to this buddhism way back in the 60s, my first discussion meeting was at Blk 14, Merpati Road. A YMD came to my house at Mattar Road to teach my mom gongyo. Subsequently my family lost touch with the buddhism

I was reintroduced to this practice in 1986 by Eric Yeo.

My sister in law started practicing after 16 years when I practice in 1986. She and my brother received the gohonzon soon after they practice. She and my niece Fiona are leaders in the organisation.

Presently most of my siblings are active except my second sister family, which practice on and off

Now each of our siblings own their own properties and harmony, A far cry from the earlier days, before we started the practice, where 10 persons squeezed in a room.

At SSCC, SSA HQ

Our amazing Chingay parade electronic dogs and bones 2007 inventions and designs

In the 2006/07 Chingay Parade, our Prop group was assigned to make 40 electronic dogs (green & orange colour) and 4 bones props.

After numerous difficulties trying to find a solution, to stitch the uneven bone props foams together, because this time we didn't use any frames to support it. It's very difficult to hold the odd- shaped foam together to glue it with the hot glue gun and wait until it set. After gluing it together, we try to put some plastic frames inside to support it.

After many unsuccessful experimental attempts to hold it together the odd shaped materials and glue it with the hot glue gun, trying various methods. We finally discovered a way using some U-link wires to attached it to both sides and temporary hold it together, then apply the hot glue on it. After it were glued together, then removed the U-link wires.

To make forty electronic dogs for the students performers is no joke, all the different pieces ran into thousands. We didn't have machines to mass produce it. First I got use a blower to blow hot air onto the synthetic foams into various parts to shapes of different parts of the body and use my hands to hold it until it set into shapes. This process is too slow.

Later I developed a way to speed up  doing it. By making wire moulds. Put a few foams into the wire moulds. This methods greatly enhanced the speed of making the props. This way more foams set into shapes much faster.

The idea of cutting a heart-shaped hole on the front cover chest foam and put heart shape translucent covers on it and put an electronic blinking lighting device on it and with the wire inside linking to the hand to control its various  modes of the lighting effects, initially ran into difficulties.

Later I invented a way of cutting two pieces of thin synthetic foams made it into a heart shape glued it together put the electronic lighting device inside it, which able to fit into the foam (front cover of the performer) so to be able to take it out and replace it or change the batteries.

And cut a hole on it, so can switch on/off and the light, cut a hole in front so that the three little blinking light bulbs (red, yellow & blue) were able to put nearest to the translucent plastic cover, so to bring out the best possible lighting effects.

The synthetic foams were later sprayed with paint, scotch tape were use to stick on the surface to make it look glossy and prevent rain from damaging it. To tighten the tape so that, no trace of outline of the tape to be seen, a blower were use to blow hot air on it until it tightened and look glossy.

Various lightning reflective accessories were later sticked on it.    

Series of small light bulbs which blinking, were then installed on it and linked it to the batteries pack on the belt. The sewing group were to make the uniforms for the performers. The foams were then attached to the uniforms. Electric motor were attached at the back to make the tail spin. So it look like robot dogs.

Many graduates are now joining the props group maybe due to the satisfactions of seeing their creations been appreciated, that attracted them to join. Some of them stayed overnight, rushing to  compete the props for the grand finale

Dogs Props

At the Geylang Kaikan

Photos were from SGI members

Chingay 2008

My most difficult project for the Chingay Festivals for the Soka Prop group, with so many parts and 20 sets. With thousands of parts without machinery, I developed a method to mass produced it. I didn't go down to the show, so with the permission of Arbal of Flickr, I upload the photo, which showcased the person put the prop on. After I do the finishing touch of it, which I spread painted it, my whole body ached for a few days.

The amazing 1997 innovative Chingay prop making story

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/chingay-through-the-years-from-streetside-procession-to-massive-extravaganza

These musical props are not the final products of the Grand Finale, at night with the embedded lights effects nicer. Photo - Straits Times

One of the toughest feats it to repair the 97 Chingay props, first time the foreigners were invited to participate. One day before the grand finale, the props came back all deflated from their performance. I got to muster all my skills as a welder and printer, which I used to set the printing rollers for Singapore Press Holdings from morning until night repair the prop for the next day grand finale. You need to pull the foam tight, used the hot glue gun to weld it on to the stick, and to hold the hot form until it is stick to the surface of the stick, too loose or too tight cannot, later they put the clothes on it and inside with lights bulbs.
After that the props were displayed at Soka Kaikan at st 92 for months

thttp://henryleongblog.blogspot.sg/2010/01/chingay-parade-2010.html#.WQ_ERFN96Rt

Chingay Parade 2010

http://chingayparade.blogspot.com/2010/01/chingay-parade-2010.html Look at these awesome pictures of Chingay Parade:Click link to see more exciting photos;

The spectacular Singapore National Day Parade

                                         2006 NDP

Some photos of NDP06 memorable moments, together we struggled to made NDP a success. Some captivating photos through the years. I participated 18 NDP from 1986, to 2006. many of the photos were given by members

                                                          As a trainer

Our toughest challenge was 1995, our tower 8 kept falling even at the rehearsal to the finale.

I finally called my senior leader I told my senior that the trainer is putting the wrong person on the top, he should put the lightest person instead of the heavier one. We went to kaikan chanted one week and made the changes.

Finally in the grand finale we are able to put up all the towers up

Some of the NDPs, I used to hold up the hips or the thigh of the participants to prevent them from shaking to much and fell down, due to my experiences which I used to train gymnastics in my primary school days and was a member of the school gym team in my secondary school days. So I am able to apply my skills to contribute to the NDPs.

2002 NDP, running around the stadium, with temperature of 28 degrees, no rain, no winds so that the helium balloons didn't entangled