MANILA, Philippines - As part of the Maitreya Project Heart Shrine Relic Tour, Macau will have the honor of hosting the collection of more than 1,000 sacred Buddhist relics on March 26-28.
Spearheaded by the project’s spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the tour began in March 2001 and features relics of the historical Buddha and his closest disciples, and some are unique pearl-like crystal relics found among the cremation ashes of famed Buddhist masters from different Buddhist traditions.
To date, many other relics have been added to the collection through the generosity and kindness of visitors, including those from living Buddhist masters from all over the world.
It also includes the Dalai Lama’s eight Shakyamuni Buddha relics from his own personal collection.
The Relic Tour, which aims to encourage people of diverse religions and beliefs to come together and experience its blessings, has been to cities in different countries such as the United States, Italy, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Mexico, Austria, and Hungary.
The relics serve as a reminder of the people’s innate nature of purity and their potential to manifest it. Viewing the relics has numerous benefits, including the development of hearts and minds, a further understanding of spiritual teachings, and development of loving, kindness and compassion.
Their effects are said to be powerful, and the people who have seen the collection tell of stories of overwhelming emotion, inspiration and healing.
The relics will be on display for public viewing, for free, at Macau’s Kam Pek Community Center, 483 Sun Ma Road from March 26 to 28, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For more information on these famous Buddhist relics, log on to http://www.maitreyaproject.org/.