When I look back on many moments in my life, they still touch my heart deeply. These moments have shaped me, and I feel like they're part of me.
One such moment was when I spent time with 'my friends', the Buddha Relics.
In 2001, spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche released a rare and precious collection of Buddhist relics for a worldwide exhibition called 'Maitreya Loving Kindness Relic Tour.' This tour of sacred relics aimed to promote peace in the world.
The collection was extraordinary. His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, offered his rare collection of relics from Shakyamuni Buddha (also referred to as Siddhartha Gautama), the founder of Buddhism, and also included relics of many other saints and spiritual masters from the Chinese, Indian, and Tibetan traditions.
"The Relic Tour is one way to bring world peace. Outer peace through inner peace. So, the relics
take a very important role in world peace. That's the purpose for the Buddha leaving relics."
– Dalai Lama
What are the relics?
They are pearl-like beads. When the spiritual master died, they were cremated, and in the ashes, they would collect pearl-like beads that were left behind.
The pearls held the wisdom and compassion of the teacher. So, in essence, the body had died, but the teacher and teaching lived on in a different form.
"Relics come from masters who have devoted their entire lifetime to spiritual practices that are dedicated to the welfare of all. Every part of their body and relics carries positive energy to inspire goodness and reduce negativity. We can see how these relics are so precious."
– Lama Zopa Rinpoche
I first saw the relic exhibit in Toronto in 2012 when a group of friends brought them to the Tibetan Cultural Centre. I spent the weekend in this field of consciousness, and it was unlike anything else I had experienced. The love was palpable, and it grew as the weekend progressed.
I arrived on Friday night, and after being there for about two hours, I was aware that what I was looking at was not just things that looked like pearls I might find on a necklace. I was in the presence of over 40 spiritual masters. They held the essence of these spiritual masters.
I was in awe and deeply humbled.
This experience so touched me that in 2013 I arranged for the relics to come to my hometown London, and I co-hosted the event with Brescia University College. Thousands of people of all ages came. It was moving to sit back and watch as others experienced the relics.
Many of them stayed and meditated for hours or sat in silence.
On Sunday, people could bring their animals to be blessed. There were cats, dogs, birds, and hamsters. One child brought her rabbit. It was a delight! Every visitor also had the opportunity to receive a blessing on their crown chakra from the relics of Shakyamuni Buddha.
I watched people as they came and went. It was something to witness the change in their energy and demeanor. It wasn't about believing or not believing; the transmission of power from the teachers was happening all weekend long.
I got a strong sense that there was a huge ripple effect from this event. As each person left, they brought more peace and love to home and into the world.
I received emails about how beautiful the experience was. In many ways, it was beyond words, so two years later, I brought the relics back to London for another exhibit.
My love for the relics didn't stop there!
At the time, I had friends who shared the same reverence for the relics. We traveled to different cities, offering our help and support in different ways. We developed friendships with the custodians of the relics, and they endearingly called us the 'Canadian groupies.'
In 2015 Lama Zopa Rinpoche announced that the tour was ending. It lasted longer than intended, and the relics would return to India. My last viewing and weekend with the relics were in Florida in 2015.
The relics were so dear to my heart. I felt sad when I heard the news, knowing I would never see my friends again. I soon realized they were changing where they lived, but their presence would always be with me.
Interesting how the inspiration to share this with you came out of the blue.
As I write this, I have a soft, warm feeling and a deep appreciation for such a sacred once in a lifetime opportunity. It was pure grace.
Consciousness has no limits. The power of the relics is far-reaching, and the wisdom and love that they contain are there to help and support us, no matter how distant they may physically be. I hope that by reading about them here, and seeing some pictures, you too are able to feel touched by their magnificence.
With loving kindness,
Diane