An exposition of Sacred Relics of the Buddha and the sravakas will be held during Vesak 2009. The event is organised by the Damrivi Foundation. Here Professor Asanga Tilakaratne, MA, Ph.D.Programme of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Colombo and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Damrivi Foundation talks about its significance to Sri Lanka.
Q: Tell us something about the goals or the purpose of the Maitreya Relic Tour?
As its focus, the Maitreya Project is building a magnificent 500ft / 152m bronze statue of Maitreya Buddha, the essence of Maitreya Buddha being loving-kindness and peace.
 |
| Prof. Tilakaratne |
The statue will be located at Kushinagar, Uttra Pradesh, in Northern India close to the place where the Buddha's passing away occurred. It will be constructed not only as a Buddhist place of worship but also as a place with spiritual, medical and educational facilities. It will include meditation halls , exhibition halls, a museum, library, audio-visual theatre and hospitality services.
The Maitreya Project was initiated and managed by a group of Buddhists based in California. The relics we are exhibiting will be enshrined inside the Buddha statue . By inviting this relic tour to Sri Lanka we are expressing our solidarity with the Buddhists of the world, and rejoicing (anumodana) in this great event.
Q: The Damrivi Foundation has not so far actively sought publicity. Why have you undertaken a project such as the Maitreya Relic Tour?
‘Dam’ refers to the teaching of the Buddha. ‘Rivi’ stands for the sun which illuminates the world and in Buddhist literature illumination is a synonym for Panna or Wisdom. So the focus of Damrivi would be to generate wisdom in the individual seeking assistance to be better able to deal with the day-to-day situations.
A relic tour is primarily an exercise in ritual and tradition. Ritual and tradition is not the focus of Damrivi. There was no need to bring a new organisation to continue with rituals and traditions that are regularly and scrupulously performed by many temples in the island. However, Damrivi recognizes the need for rituals and traditions. We appreciate that it is the rituals and traditions that form the base, which in fact makes a launching pad to understanding the futility of rituals and traditions alone without the substance of Dhamma to back it.
The Maitreya Relic Tour has been in existence since 2001, in over 44 countries and at 431 venues. It has brought together countless Buddhists of diverse traditions and non – Buddhists all working together in peace and harmony to make the tour a successes at each venue.
The very fact that such diverse groups, some with opposing view points or beliefs could work together towards a common goal exemplifies the message of loving kindness, the one-ness common to all people expounded by the Buddha over 2500 years ago. Therefore what better project could we espouse to give the message of the Buddha during Vesak to this little country torn apart and almost though not quite destroyed for more than thirty years?
Q: How does the approach of Damrivi towards social service differ from any other organisation that is devoted to social service or more particularly any other organisation offering a counselling service?
Our services are offered with no strings attached. When someone calls or walks in seeking help the reception directs them to a counsellor right away. There are no forms to fill, the organisation collects no data, makes no demands. It is a service with Buddhist insights.
This means we use the knowledge or Dhamma or Buddhist philosophy - to bring about a change in the person. It is an attitude change that is brought about making the person independent and better able to cope with real life situation. Self-reflection, self-examination and self-analysis are taught and encouraged to make the person independent rather than keeping that person dependent on a counsellor or organisation.
The Maitreya Relic Tour
To coincide with Vesak 2009, ‘The Maitreya Relic Tour’ will visit many places in Sri Lanka, to allow Sri Lankans to view the exposition of sacred relics. Over 50,000 devotees are expected each day at the exposition sites.
The relics due to be displayed for veneration are the Sacred Relics of the Gauthama Buddha and His sravakas (disciples) such as Vens. Sariputra, Moggallana, Ananda Kondanna, Rahula and some of the first 500 Arahats.
The relics have been collected by Nepalese Master, Lama Zopa Rinpoche from Burma, Thailand, Taiwan and Indonesia. Most of the relics are from the Meiktila Relic Museum in Burma.
Since 2001, ‘The Maitreya Relic Tour’ has travelled to 44 countries and the exposition of the Sacred Relics of the Buddha and his Sravakas has been held at 413 venues. This is the first time the tour is hosted by a Theravada country.
The Maitreya Project places much value to this tour of Sri Lanka due to its status in the Buddhist world and has been very cooperative in eliminating all non Theravada values and aspects for this exposition which will coincide with the Vesak celebrations 2009.
The donations made at the sites of exposition will be remitted towards the cost of the Maitreya Project.
Tour schedule:
Isipathanaramaya ,
Havelock Town, Colombo 5 - May 2-May 5.
May 2- (opening ceremony) at 6.p.m.
May 3- May 5 from 10.a.m.- 9.p.m.
Tissamaharama Rajamaha Viharaya, Tissamaharama- May 8 - 12
May 8, (opening ceremony) at 10 a.m.
May 9 -May 12 - 10.a.m. 9.p.m.
Ruwanwelisaya, Anuradhapura, May 16- May 20
May 16 (opening ceremony) at 6 p.m.
May 17 – to May 20- 10.a.m.- 9.p.m.
Damrivi Foundation
Havelock Town Colombo 5 - May 23 (closing ceremony)- by invitation only. |
E-mail