Buddha's relics

[Nindo]

Hi Troy,
when the relics came through here, I went to the opening ceremony and then to see the relics the next day. What struck me both days was the number of people attending, way way way more than I would have expected. To have a Buddhist altar in the center of the city, right in the foyer of City Hall, was just nice. The speaker at the opening said that the whole city will be blessed. That was a nice thought. I did my prostrations to the altar, but the relics itself were just weird, honestly. I also didn't bother to queue up to receive a personal blessing from a Tibetan nun. Some of my Unitarian friends came and did go to the blessing. Anyway, may it speak to people's hearts and contribute to peace and wellbeing in our communities!

Gassho,
Nindo

[Jundo]

I can scoff at these relics, but when I went to the SciFi Museum and saw Captain Kirk’s chair, I found a tear welling in my eye! I think we all have relics. A treasured love letter, a family heirloom, your good-luck Tshirt that is older than your kids. We carry relics inside us as well, memories that sustain us.

Never before has anything I have said been so thoroughly and lovingly shot down in one short sentence!

Yes, of course.

From the Next Generation Episode "Relics". Scotty comes back from the past (he was caught in the Transporter for all those years).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2Rv2wZrj-0#t=20

Still, it is also important not to fall into the trap of Relics.

Gassho, J

[Ishin]

For me it comes down to this. If relics can help inspire people to seek the Buddha within themselves, ( and everyone else too), then this could a good motivational tool. If on the other hand, people see the relics as sacred special things that places Buddha nature only on the outside, only as some larger than life idolatry then this misses the mark certainly. The practice is the real gem. Perhaps, however, people looking from outside seeing all this as nonsense might drive sincere seekers away. Jundo, surely all your dharma props will be worth something.

Gassho
C

[Jundo]

For me it comes down to this. If relics can help inspire people to seek the Buddha within themselves, ( and everyone else too), then this could a good motivational tool. If on the other hand, people see the relics as sacred special things that places Buddha nature only on the outside, only as some larger than life idolatry then this misses the mark certainly. The practice is the real gem. Perhaps, however, people looking from outside seeing all this as nonsense might drive sincere seekers away. Jundo, surely all your dharma props will be worth something.

Gassho
C

My bathwater is for sale.

Gassho, J

[pinoybuddhist]

Don't forget your beard and head trimmings - gotta save those every time you shave. There's a store somewhere in Harujuku that sold Beatles' locks. Even within just a year of saving, I bet we'll have acquired enough merchandise for an online Treeleaf store!


Raf

[Troy]

Buddha's relics

Hi Troy,
when the relics came through here, I went to the opening ceremony and then to see the relics the next day. What struck me both days was the number of people attending, way way way more than I would have expected. To have a Buddhist altar in the center of the city, right in the foyer of City Hall, was just nice. The speaker at the opening said that the whole city will be blessed. That was a nice thought. I did my prostrations to the altar, but the relics itself were just weird, honestly. I also didn't bother to queue up to receive a personal blessing from a Tibetan nun. Some of my Unitarian friends came and did go to the blessing. Anyway, may it speak to people's hearts and contribute to peace and wellbeing in our communities!

Gassho,
Nindo

Hi Nindo,

Thank you for sharing I did my daily Zazen at the temple and bathed the baby Buddha. The line was moving super slow and my wife was steadily texting me about some minor disaster so I did not make it all the way around the table. I had never bathed the baby Buddha before, but I enjoyed the ritual. The Unity Temple where the relics were displayed is an interesting place. They have both Christian and Buddhist services there. Each with their own sancuary.