The Maitreya Project Heart Shrine Relic Tour is a collection of more than 1,000 sacred relics of the Buddha and other Buddhist masters, now touring the world. These relics will be permanently enshrined inside the heart of a magnificent Maitreya Buddha statue being built in Kushinagar in northern India, the place where Buddha Shakyamuni passed into parinirvana and where Maitreya, the future Buddha, will be born.
When a spiritual master is cremated, beautiful, pearl or crystal-like objects are found among their ashes. Tibetans call these ringsel.
These ringsel are special because they hold the essence of the qualities of the spiritual masters whose inner purity appears in the form of relics. True spiritual teachers do not generally discuss their own attainments. The relics are physical evidence that the teacher attained qualities of compassion and wisdom before death. |
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The collection includes several relics of the historical Shakyamuni Buddha who was born in 563 BCE. There are relics of the Buddha’s disciples, lineage-founders of different traditions as well as contemporary teachers.
The relics provide a unique opportunity to make a personal spiritual connection with enlightened beings. These masters deliberately chose to leave relics behind so that we can create the causes for our own happiness. Again and again, people have connected directly with the powerful loving energy emanating from the relics. Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike tell us that they feel inspired, healed and at peace simply by being in the presence of the relics. Each visitor touches the divine within them. |
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“FROM LOVING-KINDNESS,
THEN YOU CAN ACHIEVE FREEDOM”
Lama Zopa Rinpoche ~
Spiritual Director, Maitreya Project
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has collected together these rare and precious relics of buddhist masters and saints. All around the world, relics are enshrined in temples, monasteries and cathedrals, but rarely, if ever made available for public viewing.
The Relic Tour allows everyone free access to these remarkable holy objects. It is Rinpoche’s wish that while the relics are on tour, as many people as possible will receive the blessing of seeing them and learn more about Maitreya Project and the message of loving kindness and peace.
During the event visitors can make a short bath offering to the baby Buddha, circumambulate the altar and have the opportunity to receive a personal blessing with relics of the historical Buddha. The greatest blessing one can receive from the relics is by making eye contact - carefully looking at the relics, with a mind of loving kindness. |
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Maitreya Project’s purpose is to bring as much spiritual benefit to as many people as possible, for as long as possible.
Following the wishes of his heart guru, Lama Thubten Yeshe, who passed away in 2004, Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche has committed to completing this great project, the focus of which is the building of a 500 foot/152 metres statue of Maitreya Buddha in northern India. The statue will be a symbol of loving-kindness for the world and will put loving-kindness into practical effect directly by building schools, hospitals and clinics, and indirectly by growing the local economy to benefit the local people.
For more information go to www.maitreyaproject.org |
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