Maitreya Project Update, June 2009

A Million Blessings!!

At a time when we are swamped by news of economic gloom, wars and general global instability, the Maitreya Project Heart Shrine Relic Tour has welcomed the one millionth visitor to be blessed by the holy relics.

Can you imagine? In addition to the millions of people who have heard about the relics through media coverage, now one million people from around the world have been in the physical presence of the relics and felt Maitreya's message of loving-kindness. They have prayed, meditated and contemplated world peace, fulfilling the intention of the masters who left behind these amazing relics to inspire us to act with loving-kindness and create the causes of world enlightenment.

Maitreya Project would like to thank the many hosts and volunteers around the globe who have worked tirelessly to make it possible for one million people to receive the blessings of the relics.

Highlights of the Relic Tour so far in 2009:

In February, the relics were displayed in Tokyo during the Relic Tour's first visit to Japan. More than 4,000 visitors came to be blessed.
Also in February, during an eight day event at a national museum in Mexico City, more than 36,000 visitors received blessings. Andy Melnic, Relic Manager commented, "Many, many Catholic visitors were crying at the Mexico City event and prostrating and crossing themselves at the same time. This event concentrated on the juxtaposition of the peace message of the relics with the really heavy violence happening at present in Mexico. This seems to have been one of the main factors drawing so many people to this event." [See a slideshow about the Relic Tour's visit to Mexico]
In March 2009, the relics went on public display in Vietnam for the very first time. More than 40,000 visitors poured through the hosting Temple during just 4 days. The Vietnam tour has been planned for many years. Many people worked very hard with us to make this historic event happen and visitors flew into Vietnam to attend the event from overseas.
In May, the relics visited Sri Lanka for the first time, another country which is currently suffering from great violence and unrest, and where more than 50,000 visitors have been inspired and blessed by the relics.

The Relic Tour will soon visit the continent of Africa for the very first time. Details of these events will soon be added to the Relic Tour Calendar which shows the latest information about Relic Tour events all over the world. As events in new locations are confirmed those details will be added to the Calendar.

Recently, Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche offered a relic of his late grandfather HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche to Lama Zopa Rinpoche saying it was offered "with the deep aspiration that this project continues to benefit sentient benefit beings."

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has said that many of the relics will continue to tour the world even after the Maitreya statue is completed in Kushinagar. Rinpoche explained, "I think this is Buddha's action, working through the relics to benefit sentient beings; Buddha giving blessings to people through the relics."

The Tour is touching lives, bringing light and fulfilling Rinpoche's wishes to benefit all beings.

Victoria Ewart
Maitreya Project Relic Tour Director
May 2009