AN EXHIBITION OF ANCIENT AND SACRED BUDDHIST RELICS
The Relics are extraordinary pearl-like deposits which are often found in the cremation ashes of Buddhist spiritual masters.
Viewing these sacred Relics can inspire us to develop the attitude of loving-kindness within our hearts and minds and doing we can naturally contribute to peace in the world.
A MESSAGE OF PEACE
Loving-kindness is the cause, peace is the result, internally and externally; peace for individuals, families, communities, and for the whole world.
This is the way to bring peace and happiness, not only in the present world, but in the future as well.
We are living in the very uncertain times. Peace is constantly under threat and there is an urgent need to create the causes for harmony throughout the world. However, world peace cannot be imposed, enforced, or legislated because the root cause of peace is the attitude of loving-kindness.
With the attitude of loving-kindness peace exists internally and then manifests externally. All of the world’s major religions and humanitarian traditions teach the ethical values of loving-kindness and compassion. Only when these universal values are embraced and take root in the minds and hearts of more and more people, will world peace become attainable.
These collection of extraordinary Relics of Buddhist masters and saints. This collection is rare and consequently, precious. All around the world, relics are enshrined in temples, cathedrals and monasteries, but are rarely, if ever, made available for public viewing.
THE BENEFITS OF SEEING THE RELICS
Viewing these sacred relics can inspire us to develop the attitude of loving-kindness within our hearts and mind and by doing so we can naturally contribute to peace in the world.
WHY THE RELICS ARE VENERATED
These relics are the essence of spiritual realizations. The foundation of these realizations is pure morality, which is the totally pure mind entirely detached from samsaric happiness. What is ‘ samsara’? Generally, we mean the beginning less, recurring cycle of death and rebirth that are under the control of delusions and karma. What do we mean by ‘ samsaric happiness’ ? We mean all the feelings that we normally call happiness, for example, the sense pleasures. On the other hand, there are the peace and happiness that are derived from meditation.
A person who produces relics is completely detached, completely renounced from samsara. Why? Because he realizes that samsara is in the nature of suffering. Then boddhicitta arises in that person’s mind because they see how others are suffering and they generate great compassion. This altruistic mind to achieve enlightenment for sentient beings arises.
It is a great purification for our mind to see these relics. The teachings say that by circumambulating, prostrating and making offerings, you gain far more merit than by simply viewing a holy object.
After Buddha completed the whole path of method and wisdom and became enlightened. Buddha then manifested relics to bring us from happiness to happiness and then finally to enlightenment. Why? Because of the Buddha’s unbelievable compassion for us living beings. The relics are the result of a good heart. We all have this Buddha nature. We all have the potential to generate holy relics.
If you check carefully, you will see that no matter how many things you have or how hard you try to achieve them, if there is no compassion in your heart, you never feel quite right. There is no peace in your heart, and deep within, you always feel that there is something missing.
The best way to give meaning to your life is to make it beneficial for others by having compassion for them. That is also the best way to find peace, happiness, fulfillment and satisfaction in your own life.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche
AN EXHIBITION OF ANCIENT AND SACRED BUDDHIST RELICS
The Relics are extraordinary pearl-like deposits which are often found in the cremation ashes of Buddhist spiritual masters.
Viewing these sacred Relics can inspire us to develop the attitude of loving-kindness within our hearts and minds and doing we can naturally contribute to peace in the world.
A MESSAGE OF PEACE
Loving-kindness is the cause, peace is the result, internally and externally; peace for individuals, families, communities, and for the whole world.
This is the way to bring peace and happiness, not only in the present world, but in the future as well.
We are living in the very uncertain times. Peace is constantly under threat and there is an urgent need to create the causes for harmony throughout the world. However, world peace cannot be imposed, enforced, or legislated because the root cause of peace is the attitude of loving-kindness.
With the attitude of loving-kindness peace exists internally and then manifests externally. All of the world’s major religions and humanitarian traditions teach the ethical values of loving-kindness and compassion. Only when these universal values are embraced and take root in the minds and hearts of more and more people, will world peace become attainable.
These collection of extraordinary Relics of Buddhist masters and saints. This collection is rare and consequently, precious. All around the world, relics are enshrined in temples, cathedrals and monasteries, but are rarely, if ever, made available for public viewing.
THE BENEFITS OF SEEING THE RELICS
Viewing these sacred relics can inspire us to develop the attitude of loving-kindness within our hearts and mind and by doing so we can naturally contribute to peace in the world.
WHY THE RELICS ARE VENERATED
These relics are the essence of spiritual realizations. The foundation of these realizations is pure morality, which is the totally pure mind entirely detached from samsaric happiness. What is ‘ samsara’? Generally, we mean the beginning less, recurring cycle of death and rebirth that are under the control of delusions and karma. What do we mean by ‘ samsaric happiness’ ? We mean all the feelings that we normally call happiness, for example, the sense pleasures. On the other hand, there are the peace and happiness that are derived from meditation.
A person who produces relics is completely detached, completely renounced from samsara. Why? Because he realizes that samsara is in the nature of suffering. Then boddhicitta arises in that person’s mind because they see how others are suffering and they generate great compassion. This altruistic mind to achieve enlightenment for sentient beings arises.
It is a great purification for our mind to see these relics. The teachings say that by circumambulating, prostrating and making offerings, you gain far more merit than by simply viewing a holy object.
After Buddha completed the whole path of method and wisdom and became enlightened. Buddha then manifested relics to bring us from happiness to happiness and then finally to enlightenment. Why? Because of the Buddha’s unbelievable compassion for us living beings. The relics are the result of a good heart. We all have this Buddha nature. We all have the potential to generate holy relics.
If you check carefully, you will see that no matter how many things you have or how hard you try to achieve them, if there is no compassion in your heart, you never feel quite right. There is no peace in your heart, and deep within, you always feel that there is something missing.
The best way to give meaning to your life is to make it beneficial for others by having compassion for them. That is also the best way to find peace, happiness, fulfillment and satisfaction in your own life.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche