Buddhist relics set for Kenyan tour

Business

By Kiundu Waweru

A collection of the sacred relics by the Maitreya Project, are touring the world with the Kenya trip slotted for next month.

The relics, which resemble beautiful pearl-like crystals, are found among the cremation ashes of Buddhist masters. Buddhists believe they are produced as a result of the masters’ spiritual qualities of compassion and wisdom. Buddhists believe everyone can develop these qualities and thus the relics are a reminder of people’s own essential nature of purity and an inner potential to manifest that.

The tour, which began in 2001, has visited many cities in countries like the United States, Canada, and Malaysia, Taiwan, attracting people of all ages, cultures and religions.

Some of the relics that are being displayed across the world. [PHOTOS: MAITREYA PRESS PACK]

In a video presented to The Standard On Saturday by the tour manager, Victoria Ewart, visitors viewing the relics report experiences of inspiration and healing.

Some are inspired to pray for world peace and to develop their inner wisdom. Others are overcome by emotion as the powerful effects of the relics open their hearts to compassion and loving-kindness.

Before she began the tour, Victoria was a lawyer for five years in what she says was a controlled, logical, intellectual environment. She thought people could not put into context the lesson of the relics. "But when they come and see the relics and experience for themselves, they have a personal direct experience," she says, adding that everyone comes out with something. "Their hearts open, they experience a healing or they have an inspirational teaching or message."

Something powerful

In Eagles East Enlightment Centre, South Central Los Angeles California, locals, on hearing a historical event was happening, flocked the centre.

"The people were non-Buddhists, knew nothing about Lord Buddha Shakyamuni (the enlightened one, the Founder of Buddhism) and the relics. They had either read newspaper clippings, or heard about them on the radio," says Sri Natha Devi Premananda, Spiritual Teacher and the Centre’s Relic Show host, on the documentary DVD.

"They came and they were overwhelmed and taken back, they felt something strange and powerful was happening, and came several times back." Well, you might also have never had about Buddhism, but do not worry. You have a chance to view the relics as the tour is coming to town. The show will be at the SSD Temple, Lower Kabete Road on July 8, with an opening ceremony from six in the evening. The viewing will be open to the public of all spiritual traditions, according to the organiser, Jay Manek, on Saturday and Sunday from 10am until seven.

The collection includes relics of the historical Buddha and Buddha’s closest disciples, and many other well-known Buddhist masters from different Buddhist traditions.

The relics are clearly visible inside display cases that encircle a life size, golden statue of the Maitreya Buddha. In the video, reverential visitors participate in a blessing ceremony where the relics are gently placed on the crown of their heads for personal blessings.

At the Los Angeles Centre, an elderly woman is seen kneeling down as Sri Natha places the relics on her head. The woman says that she had back problems throughout her life and suddenly, she felt ‘this release’, saying, ‘this was a profound healing’. "Maitreya Buddha is the embodiment of loving-kindness. Throughout the entire universe, peace comes from the good heart, from loving-kindness," says Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Spiritual Director of the Maitreya Project.

Spiritual maturity

Maitreya’s name is derived from the Sanskrit ‘maitri’ meaning ‘universal loving-kindness’. Infinitely compassionate and all knowing, Buddha’s teach by their words and example, guiding along the path to own spiritual maturity.

"Everyone can make a connection with Maitreya Buddha, so that even if one does not become enlightened during this life time, when Maitreya Buddha teaches, one is able to become Maitreya Buddha’s disciple and to become enlightened at that time," adds Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

And according to Buddhist Scriptures, Maitreya will be the next Buddha to bring teachings of loving kindness to the world. After the tour, the sacred Buddhist relics will be enshrined in a 500ft/152m bronze statue of Maitreya Buddha that is being built in Kushninagar, northern India.

The Maitreya Project intends to bring benefits – spiritually, in education and healthcare, and economically, through the direct and indirect creation of employment opportunities – in northern India, one of the poorest regions. The projects social services will include extensive education programmes and healthcare.

The project was the compassionate wish of the late Tibetan Buddhist master Lama Yeshe, who devoted his life to making the Buddha’s teachings available to people worldwide. Born in Tibet and educated at Sera Monastic University in Lhasa, Lama Yeshe with his main disciple, Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, established Kopan Monastery near Kathmandu, Nepal.

His wish is being fulfilled by his successor, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Spiritual Director of Maitreya Project.

Project premised on loving-kindness Maitreya Project is based on the premise that loving-kindness is the fundamental cause of peace and that inner and outer peace shares a ‘cause and effect’ relationship.

Actions motivated by loving-kindness will lead to inner peace for the individual and outer peace for the family, community and the world.

By locating the magnificent bronze statue of Maitreya Buddha (it is designed to last 1,000 years) in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, one of the poorest regions in India, the lives of the locals will be positively impacted through the many diverse opportunities. According to the Maitreya Project Press Pack, the Buddhist tradition has a long history of building very large Buddha statues as they believe the more notable a statue is, the more people will hear of it, see it and have the chance to benefit from it.

Buddhists do not worship religious objects.

Rather, they are used as inspirational tools towards the creation and spread of positive human qualities – in this case, loving-kindness, along with associated attitudes such as peace, compassion and wisdom.

The intention is that the size and beauty of the Maitreya statue will bring this sacred symbol of loving kindness to the attention of the majority of people in the world, thereby creating an inflow of pilgrimage, tourism and investment in the region and inspiring an appreciation of kindheartedness leading to inner and outer peace.

Business
Premium Burdened Kenyans walk into Easter weekend broke
By Brian Ngugi 19 mins ago
Business
Premium Looming crisis as top lenders stare at Sh500b in bad loans
Business
Premium Water PS Korir put on the spot over Sh14m dam land
Business
Premium Ruto's food security hopes facing storm amid fake fertiliser scam