Relic Tour touches hearts in Gangtok exposition

ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK, 28 Nov: It has been five days since the Maitreya Heart Shrine Relic Tour has opened for public audience here at Tshuklakhang and already some 10,000 people have taken a darshan, the organizers inform. As can be expected for an exposition as religious as this, many devout have been deeply touched, the blessings proving such a powerful experience that apart from the mental calm and peace it has brought them, some are even reporting physical relief. On display as part of the exposition are around 63 relics, including a relic belonging to the Sakyamuni Buddha. The experience is rare and potent, billed aptly by the organizers as: “The tour spreads peace throughout the world by inspiring each person to develop kindness within the heart. Being in the presence of the relics brings visitors into their own hearts. That is why it is called the Maitreya Heart Shrine Relic Tour.”
The exposition which opened to public on 24 November, has been attracting people not only from all over Sikkim, but also neighbouring Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Bhutan and Nepal. The relic tour arrived here after stopovers at 66 countries, its last halt being Bhutan. The line of devotees at Tshuklakhang stretches from the palace gates itself and with only two days of the exposition left, the numbers are expected to swell over the weekend.
“The great meditators spent their lives cultivating a loving heart and great wisdom. These relics embody that spiritual enlightenment,” explains Sonam Ongmu Denzongpa, coordinator of the relics exposition committee.
“Some people look at them in wonder. I personally experience miracles every day. People feel a shift, a transformation, a release of pain or fear and sometimes physical healing,” she shares, while adding that the exposition in the past few days has deeply affected several people who state that they have been relieved of body ailments and other forms of illnesses that allopathic medicines have still not managed to cure.
It may be informed that the purpose of the Relic Tour is to inspire people of all spiritual traditions and paths to come together to experience the blessings of the relics.
The sacred relics that come from among the cremation ashes of Buddhist spiritual masters, including the Buddha have been found and preserved by several generations of monks who describe the relics as small pearl-like crystals called ringsels that devotees believe embody the knowledge and compassion of the enlightened.
The free public exhibit that will close on 01 December showcases many 2,500-year-old relics of the Sakyamuni Buddha as well as ringsels from many masters from India, Tibet and China, organizers say.
It may also be informed that some relics of the Buddha are from the collection of the Dalai Lama, rescued from Tibet in 1959 after the invasion of China, but the tour is the creation of another master, Lama Zopen Rinpoche.
“By meditating on loving-kindness, peace naturally arises in our hearts and in our surrounding world. According to Buddhist scriptures, Maitreya will be the next Buddha to bring teachings of loving-kindness to the world. I also want to add that the donations and offerings will be used for the construction of the 150 feet tall Maitreya Buddha statue at Bodhgaya where the relics will be enshrined after the Maiterya Heart Shrine World Tour,” stated Sonam Ongmu.
It may also be informed that purification prayers to energize the relics are being conducted at the venue every morning by lamas that include Phey Rinpoche from Rumtek Monastery, Tulkus from Tsuklakhang, Ven Tshering Dorjee and Ven Lodey Sangpo. Yangthang Rinpoche will conduct prayers at the venue on 30 November, organizers inform.