The Bhutan Relic Tour 2013 Buddha Comes Home
A PDF version of Bhutan Relic Tour 2013 with images is available.
A unique and precious collection of sacred Buddhist relics will be displayed in the Buddhist Royal Kingdom of Bhutan – The Land of The Thunder Dragon – from the 18th October to the 15th of November 2013. The relics will be displayed in four locations throughout Bhutan. This event will be a beautiful and rare opportunity to see the splendor of Buddhism in Bhutan.
The visit of the Heart Shrine Relic Tour to The Royal Kingdom of Bhutan will be extraordinary because of the way the relics will be received there. Bhutan is the last independent, Buddhist country in the Vajrayana tradition remaining in the Himalayas. Bhutan has kept its rich culture and sacred traditions alive for many centuries. The Relics will therefore be received in an unimaginably respectful and beautiful way by the Monarchy, the Monastics and the inhabitants of the Royal Kingdom of Bhutan.
All important government meetings in Bhutan are opened with prayer by monks and ceremony, so-called Marchang ceremonies. The receiving of the Relics in Bhutan will be a unique moment in history.
Bhutan hosted recently three Buddhist Relics during the Royal wedding in October 2011. Thousands upon thousands of devoted Buddhists visited the event. When the Relics visit in October more than 1000 sacred Buddhist Relics will be on display. Many thousands of visitors are expected to attend. The deep devotion the Bhutanese is unique and moving.
The purpose of of the Relic Tour is to bring the blessings of the Relics and the experience of loving kindness to as many people around the world as possible by creating interfaith events, encouraging respect and genuine openness resulting in widespread happiness and the conditions for world peace.
The message of the Tour is that loving kindness rests in every person’s heart and is the basis for respect, peace and happiness both individually and globally. The Tour brings a personal experience of that pure quality of loving kindness resulting in happiness and peace. Please see www.maitreyarelictour.com for more information and images.I sincerely hope this beautiful Buddhist event will be shared with as many as possible through the right collaboration with those who would like to participate in sharing the blessings. Now Buddha finally comes home!
The Relic Collection
Most of the relics resemble beautiful pearl-like crystals, which were found among the cremation ashes of Buddhist masters. The collection includes relics of the historical Buddha and his closest disciples, Maudgalyayana, Sariputra and Ananda as well as relics of many other Buddhist spiritual masters from many traditions.
All of his life, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been collecting sacred relics offered by Buddhist masters around the world. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has offered eight relics of Shakyamuni Buddha to the collection. Eventually the entire collection will be enshrined at the heart of the Maitreya Buddha statue being built in India.
From time to time, visitors at Relic Tour events offer to the collection, relics with which they themselves have been entrusted. Their intention is that many others may benefit.
This incredible generosity and kindness means that the collection is becoming larger and more varied, and now includes masters from many different Buddhist traditions. This reflects the Relic Tour’s non-sectarian approach and universal message.
Thus, as the Tour travels around the globe, the Maitreya Project Heart Shrine Relic Tour collection is constantly evolving and growing.