Relics Of Lord Buddha To Go On Display To Mark Founding Of Buddhism And HM's 84th Birthday

[webfact]

Relics of Lord Buddha to go on display to mark founding of Buddhism and HM's 84th birthday

By The Nation

To celebrate the 2,600th anniversary of the founding of Buddhism and the 84th birthday of His Majesty the King, a famous Bangkok temple will display relics of the Lord Buddha in a transparent receptacle.

"People will be able to see the relics clearly," Phra Wijit Thammaporn, assistant abbot of Srakesa Rajavaramahavihara Temple, said yesterday.

The container will go on view inside the pagoda at the top of the Golden Mount.

Some relics of the Lord Buddha have been kept inside the pagoda for 112 years but not exhibited to the public.

In 2008, the temple acquired more relics when a descendant of Chao Phraya Yommarat donated them to the abbot.

Chao Phraya Yommarat brought Lord Buddha's relics from India to Thailand during the reign of King Rama V, who then gave some of the relics to him. The sacred relics had been passed on from generation to generation before the descendant decided to contact the temple.

Phra Wijit Thammaporn said a grand procession and ceremony would be held on Vesak (Visakha Puja) Day tomorrow to deliver the Lord Buddha's relics to the pagoda on top of the Golden Mount.

"The rituals will be conducted just like the ones made to bring the relics to the pagoda more than a century ago," the monk said.

-- The Nation 2011-05-09

[camerata]

See this article for the origin of the relics. I wonder how long they will be on display for? The top of the chedi on the Golden Mount is tiny. It's not like the hall shown in the photo.

[junkofdavid2]

I once asked about Buddha's relics on display in one temple from a witty (and very intelligent/scholarly) Buddhist monk I know (U.S. educated Thai guy, but serving at a Temple in Thailand) and he frankly said:

"There're so many of his supposed relics 'floating around' that I'm not even sure anymore how large the guy was."

I'm not here to debate whether it's "proper" for a monk to say it like that, but he definitely has a good logical point, even if he didn't say it the traditional "Thai way".

Any advise from the forum as to how to verify authenticity of "relics" on display?

(Not necessarily pertaining to this one now, but even to other temples).

[fabianfred]

Even if you had a relic of the Buddha and wore it around your neck as an amulet it couldn't get you one step closer to Nibanna.....only practicing what the Buddha taught can do that.

[orang37]

... snip .. Any advise from the forum as to how to verify authenticity of "relics" on display? ... snip ...

Sawasdee Khrup, Khun JunkOfDavid2,

Well, given we really probably don't have an accurate source of the either the life of the human-being, or the "teachings," let alone the relics ...

Consider the alleged tooth of the Buddha in the great temple at Kandy, in Ceylon. It was seized by the Portuguese, and taken to Goa: the King of Pegu offered a "ransom" for it equivalent to a year's income of the Portuguese East India Company. While debating the issue, the Archbishop of Goa, considering it "pagan," is said to have smashed it to bits.

But, lo and behold: it re-surfaces later, and now is back in Kandy.

As Topsius said, in "The Relic," by Eca de Queiroz: "The value of Relics, Dom Raposo, lies not in their authenticity but in the faith that they inspire."

best, ~o:37;

[bankei]

The cult of the relics in Buddhism is very early and is widespread, but I wonder what the Buddha would think about it now? He would probably role over in his stupa (or his stupas).

[khaowong1]

The cult of the relics in Buddhism is very early and is widespread, but I wonder what the Buddha would think about it now? He would probably role over in his stupa (or his stupas).

Actually, from what I've read, the Buddha had some say in where his relics, or remains would be distributed. I may be wrong. Discussing Buddhist relics with a lot of Buddhist lay people and Buddhist monks can get a little touchy. Some believe in them whole heartedly, some don't. It's similar to talking about the shroud of Turin or pieces of the original cross of Jesus. There are many temples in Thailand that claim to have a Buddha relic. I've asked about some and have come to the conclusion that some of them are in fact relics of a very highly respected monk who passed on. The ones that are to be displayed at the Golden Mount are said to be actually relics of the Buddha. In fact, here at Wat Promkunaram Buddhist Temple of Arizona, we are in the process of building a chedi where some of those relics will be displayed and kept after completion. Our abbot here is a disciple of the Abbot of the Golden Mount. He's back there right now for that display. A lot of the former respected monks almost to a man had some Buddha relics in their temples. Normally not displayed. Ajahn Lee, Luang Phor Parn, Luang Phor Luesi Lingdam, Luang Phor Koon, Luang Phor Toh, Luang Ta Maha Boowah, Luang Phor Sohd. Many. Where all these relics came from, I don't have a clue.

[Fookhaht]

I once asked about Buddha's relics on display in one temple from a witty (and very intelligent/scholarly) Buddhist monk I know (U.S. educated Thai guy, but serving at a Temple in Thailand) and he frankly said:

"There're so many of his supposed relics 'floating around' that I'm not even sure anymore how large the guy was."

My suspicions exactly. Just last Friday I went to the famed Wat Phra Maha Chedi Chai Mongol in NE Roi-Et province. After huffing and puffing my way to the top of the inside of the chedi, I arrived at a glass-enclosed altar containing about 10 small glass cylinders--all purported to be relics of Buddha. I've lost count of all the relics I've seen in Thailand over the last 9 years. Let alone all the other countries containing temples with additional relics. It runs counter to logic that all these are from the same human being.

[khaowong1]

I once asked about Buddha's relics on display in one temple from a witty (and very intelligent/scholarly) Buddhist monk I know (U.S. educated Thai guy, but serving at a Temple in Thailand) and he frankly said:

"There're so many of his supposed relics 'floating around' that I'm not even sure anymore how large the guy was."

My suspicions exactly. Just last Friday I went to the famed Wat Phra Maha Chedi Chai Mongol in NE Roi-Et province. After huffing and puffing my way to the top of the inside of the chedi, I arrived at a glass-enclosed altar containing about 10 small glass cylinders--all purported to be relics of Buddha. I've lost count of all the relics I've seen in Thailand over the last 9 years. Let alone all the other countries containing temples with additional relics. It runs counter to logic that all these are from the same human being.

I would hazard a guess, that when it comes to Buddha relics, logic has nothing to do with it. Whether they are all real, in fact are ashes, bones, hairs, etc, from the Buddha, I think we should assume they are unless there is confirmation they are not. Doubt is described in dictionary as a feeling of disbelief. Human beings have this unique gift of disbelieving things even if viewed by the eye. And more often than not, disbelief comes more frequently when viewed in a religious setting. Disbelief in a higher power, Christianity, Buddhism, Judism, Islamism, and all the other ism's. We seem to think that if it doesn't involve us directly, has some thing to do with our personal lives, it's not real. Shakespeare once wrote, "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

[Fookhaht]

I once asked about Buddha's relics on display in one temple from a witty (and very intelligent/scholarly) Buddhist monk I know (U.S. educated Thai guy, but serving at a Temple in Thailand) and he frankly said:

"There're so many of his supposed relics 'floating around' that I'm not even sure anymore how large the guy was."

My suspicions exactly. Just last Friday I went to the famed Wat Phra Maha Chedi Chai Mongol in NE Roi-Et province. After huffing and puffing my way to the top of the inside of the chedi, I arrived at a glass-enclosed altar containing about 10 small glass cylinders--all purported to be relics of Buddha. I've lost count of all the relics I've seen in Thailand over the last 9 years. Let alone all the other countries containing temples with additional relics. It runs counter to logic that all these are from the same human being.

I would hazard a guess, that when it comes to Buddha relics, logic has nothing to do with it. Whether they are all real, in fact are ashes, bones, hairs, etc, from the Buddha, I think we should assume they are unless there is confirmation they are not. Doubt is described in dictionary as a feeling of disbelief. Human beings have this unique gift of disbelieving things even if viewed by the eye. And more often than not, disbelief comes more frequently when viewed in a religious setting. Disbelief in a higher power, Christianity, Buddhism, Judism, Islamism, and all the other ism's. We seem to think that if it doesn't involve us directly, has some thing to do with our personal lives, it's not real. Shakespeare once wrote, "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

When it comes to Buddhism, may I submit that logic has everything to do with it. Buddhism prides itself in being a philosophy based on logic.

If human beings have this "unique gift of disbelieving things" then one needs to be reminded of the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who climb millions of stairs and hundreds of mountains to worship/venerate the millions of relics, all from Buddha's body. In my observation, it's definitely a belief, however misplaced or misguided it may possibly be.

These things don't involve us directly? Please consider this: As expats, Buddhism involves many of us directly, surrounded by hundreds of friends and colleagues who embrace its philosophy and remind us of it continually, visiting multitudes of temples, and living under a government which actively promotes its practice. I have a Buddhist monk as one of my university students who continually shares the Buddhist viewpoint in my class discussions. Therefore, "not being directly involved," could not possibly be the source of disbelief in the reality of the "relics," for many of us are certainly "involved."

My own skepticism concerning relics comes from simple logic--the same kind embraced by the philosophy of Buddhism.

Yes, there is certainly the world beyond the temporal, as observed in your quote from Horatio. However, the veneration of relics involves a practice which puts high value on things we can see and touch; certainly, a temporal focus to the point of spiritual materialism.

In my humble opinion, Catholicism, with its slavish devotion to relics and all the accompanying mysticism has amazing similarities to Buddhism in this regard. Would that the same or more amount of energy be turned to living righteously and in harmony with one's fellow man and God, if one believes in such a One.

Edited May 15, 2011 by Fookhaht

[Xangsamhua]

I don't think I'd travel far to see a relic, especially if it's doing the rounds, but I went a long way to visit Bodhgaya and Sarnath (Isepatana). It was quite moving to be at those places, particularly the former. Visiting the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, however, was a bit of a waste of time.

Buddhadharma teaches that we are not the sum of our physical components, nor even more than that. We take form from emptiness and return to emptiness, every moment. Perhaps a Buddhist reliquary would be a vessel of dharma if it contained nothing at all.

[bankei]

The cult of the relics in Buddhism is very early and is widespread, but I wonder what the Buddha would think about it now? He would probably role over in his stupa (or his stupas).

Actually, from what I've read, the Buddha had some say in where his relics, or remains would be distributed.

Yes, in the Mahaparinibanna Sutta the Buddha is reported to have given instructions for his body to be cremated and the bones/ashes to be split into 8 and given to various rulers to prevent them fighting over his remains.

There are also a lot of relics floating around that are from famous monks such as Achan Chah etc.

Bankei

[beautifulthailand99]

From some of the footprints I've seen in temples in Thailand it would also appear that the Buddha was a giant - which of course he was - metaphorically .