Heart Shrine Relic Tour Update, February 2010

'Love Everyone!'

As we move forward into the New Year, 2010, I'd like to share with you more highlights from the Maitreya Project Heart Shrine Relic Tour's activities in 2009.

During July and August, Ven Nyingje (Paula Chichester), Ven Sumden (Roger Munro) very kindly assisted with the Relic Tour's first visit to Africa. When I struggled with a number of obstacles that arose during the Tour, Ven Nyingje, Ven Sumden and I would discuss the difficulties, try to apply the teachings of the Buddha and think of Maitreya Project's Spiritual Director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche. At the end of each discussion, Ven Sumden would break into a big, sunny smile and say, 'Love everyone!'

I still think of that each day.

Africa Relic Tour

In La Reunion Island more than 2,300 visitors queued for up to 3 hours to see the holy relics and viewing hours were extended to accommodate the islanders' curiosity. The venue was called 'Centre Samsara' but staff and volunteers were all charming and helpful!

In Cape Town, Samye Dzong Center hosted the Tour event in their beautiful center. After the event we did prayer ceremonies on Lion's Head and at Cape Point. In the spirit of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, we planted a prayer wheel at each location so unsuspecting tourists and hikers could accidentally create merit as they walked around these holy objects.

In Johannesburg, the relics appeared on a breakfast TV program broadcast throughout countries in continental Africa. The initially skeptical TV presenter was inspired to come with her husband and three children to the event for blessings. Ven Nyingje sang a capella at the opening ceremony alongside traditional dance performed by local children. The Sutra of Golden Light was handed out to visitors and each one read a page. This happened on seven different occasions during the Africa Tour.

On the final day, Ven Nyingje spoke of the positive karma that had been generated in Africa from the relic events, and how our teachers would be pleased. At that moment, the relic of Geshe Lama Konchog appeared to glow. We were amazed and it seemed to be a strong confirmation of the blessings of the relics and masters. Nyingje later commented, 'I had some faith in the power of holy objects, but it was mainly based on my faith in Lama Zopa Rinpoche and his word that they have power. After being on the Relic Tour, my scientific inquiring mind now understands this power based on empirical evidence. I have seen thousands of people transformed by the presence of these relics and I have felt them transform my own mind.

I used to think that the Maitreya Project statue was a good idea because it would be a good thing to have a big symbol for peace in the world, but now I understand that the statue itself will create peace in the world because the relics are going to be inside the heart of the statue and they will broadcast that blessing round the world, like a radio broadcasts radio waves. Peace power!'

USA & Canada Relic Tour

From July to December, Cristian Cowan and Dekyi-Lee Oldershaw (USA & Canada Relic Tour Managers) brought the relics to cities across North America. Skip Parsons, a volunteer at the Minneapolis, Minnesota Relic Tour event, shared the following story with us.

'On the first day of the event, a visitor entered the building and was gently approached by a male volunteer. Instantly, he fell to the floor and screamed, because, as we were told a few minutes later, he hated and feared men. He then entered the exhibit and Dekyi-Lee immediately went up to him and offered to walk with him personally as he viewed the relics, explaining to him all of the different displays as they went. He calmed during this process and left the exhibit about an hour later, after standing in the back of the monastery and observing people.

He came back the following day, entered the temple and was immediately greeted by the host who proceeded to walk with him through the exhibit, gently explaining the displays again.

On Day 3, he came back to the exhibit and circumambulated the relics for the 3rd time with assistance from a woman. He then stood in the back watching for about 30 minutes, as the event came to a close. During this time I had been guiding people to the Baby Buddha Bath and explaining this practice of purification. As I turned around he approached me and said, 'I feel I can trust you...I have been watching you helping people... I think you are blessed.' I took his hand in mine, gently pulled him close, and as our foreheads met, I said, 'These blessings are for you my friend.' He hugged me and as he did so, he began to soften and cry.

I felt I had been a first-hand witness to the healing power that accompanies these relics and I wish for anyone who can, to visit the Relic Tour.'

In Washington State, the relics were displayed in a local prison. The Chaplain said that prison inmates and staff were all moved by 'the peaceful atmosphere that prevailed in the chapel and the Relic Custodians handle this with great reverence.' He was inspired by the experience to write a letter urging all prisons to invite the relics to be displayed for the benefit of prisoners across the USA.

During September, the relics visited the Six Nations community at Grand River, Ontario, Canada. Spiritual Elder, Paula Laing gave blessings with the relics. She said, 'I felt an overwhelming sense of service to my community. I felt a link to those who came to participate in seeing the relics on tour. In the presence of this great peace I felt peoples' fears, pain, and desire to be free and happy. The Relic Tour continues to have far-reaching effects on my life within my community. I am driven to lead by compassion.'

In October, the relics were displayed at FPMT's Kurukulla Center in Massachusetts. Event organizer, Sean Gonzalez said, 'We are deeply grateful and honored to have participated in the Relic Tour. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for having thought of us to host the relics. And with folded hands we ask that you please, please, please consider Kurukulla Center for future Tour visits! The Tour's benefits manifested in many different ways. I was especially moved by the effects of the Tour on our Precious Geshe Tsulga. He glowed all through the weekend. People remarked how well and strong he looked.'

European Relic Tour

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, the relics were displayed at a monastery built on top of a hill overlooking the city of Ulan-Ude, the capital of the Republic of Buryatia. During the opening ceremony, several hundred people circumambulated the monastery led by Yelo Rinpoche and Telo Rinpoche (from Kalmykia) who guided a horse pulling a carriage on which sat a statue of Maitreya Buddha. Many people journeyed hundreds of kilometres for the event, and in all, a total of 11,000 visitors came.

In Tuva, 60,000 locals from Kyzyl in the Republic of Tuva came to experience the blessings of the holy relics at the National Museum.

Andy Melnic and Venerable Siliana Bosa (Europe Relic Tour Managers) said that visitors waited for over three hours. Crowd control was handled by local police, many of whom also came to view the relics. At the closing ceremony, attended by the President of Tuva alongside all the lamas and sangha from the local monasteries, visitors were entranced by a traditional Tuvan band and dancers led by Tuvan singer Sainkho Namtchylak.

The team then traveled for three hours out into the countryside to visit the ruins of an ancient monastery that had been destroyed during the time of the Communist revolution. Local people were building a new temple nearby. As news of the relics' presence spread, 4,000 locals appeared, seemingly from nowhere, to welcome the relics and receive blessings. Andy and Ven Siliana were astonished!

The relics visited seven hospitals throughout the Tuva Valley giving blessings to all the patients. Later the team brought the relics to bless children in an orphanage. Ven Siliana later said, 'Now that I am at home I feel even more strongly the experiences I had while traveling with the relics. I think again about those who had nice feelings in the presence of the relics and I'm happy to have been a channel for all the people I have met who have felt happiness and joy, and I want to try and make this happen in the heart of everyone... With love and prayers, and a heartfelt 'thank you' to all the friends who helped in the organization of the events of the Heart Shrine Relic Tour in all those countries we visited.'

To see more images from the 2009 Africa, USA & Canada, and Europe Tours, please visit our website www.maitreyaproject.org. For information about Relic Tour events in 2010, please visit the Relic Tour Calendar, which is also on the website.

Victoria Ewart
Maitreya Project Relic Tour Director
January 2010