Rochester has the good fortune to host a stop in October of the world tour of the Maitreya Heart Shrine Relics, a collection of sacred relics of the Buddha and many Buddhist masters. Buddhism, currently practiced by more than 376 million people worldwide, is a major religion and philosophy founded on the experiences of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, in India around the 5th century before the common era. Buddhism emphasizes meditation and moral practices to help humans reach nirvana, the state of ending the cycle of rebirth and suffering (https://ezproxy.monroecc.edu/login?url=https://www.credoreference.com/entry/ebconcise/buddhism). According to Buddhist scriptures, Maitreya Buddha will be the next Buddha to bring teachings of loving-kindness to the world.
“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,” according to the Maitreya Project website. Buddhists believe the pearl-like relics, found among the cremation ashes of Buddhist masters, embody the masters’ compassion and wisdom and can inspire and heal those who view them. After the tour, the relics will be enshrined in a 150-foot bronze statue of Maitreya Buddha that is being built in Bodhgaya, India, the city where the Buddha became enlightened and an important Buddhist spiritual center.
The relics will be displayed with a life-sized, golden statue of the Maitreya Buddha at the Assisi Institute (1400 N. Winton Road, Rochester, NY 14609) from October 12-14. Entrance is free and those interested can attend the opening ceremony on Friday, October 12, from 6 to 8 PM, or view the relics on Saturday, October 13, from 10 AM to 7 PM, and Sunday, October 14, from 10 AM to 5 PM. Visitors may also participate in a blessing ceremony in which a container of the relics is placed on the crown of each participant’s head.
For more information and images, see the Maitreya Project website at https://www.maitreyaproject.org/en/relic/index.html or watch one of the videos on the Maitreya Project YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/maitreyaproject. Mark your calendar to remind yourself about this rare spiritual and cultural experience.
This is part of a monthly series of articles from the Diversity Council about topics related to diversity and multiculturalism.
Debbie Mohr
MCC Diversity Council (ETS: Libraries)
09/11/2012 |