'Unique' tour brings Buddhist relics to town

by ALAN HUSTAK, The Gazette, Nov 19, 2007

Crystal-Like beads salvaged in Tibet. Display's final spot: Giant statue in India

Rosemont, Canada -- Rare Buddhist relics from the cremated remains of Siddhartha Gautama - known to the world as Buddha - and from the ashes of several of his disciples arrive in Montreal Friday on the latest stop of their world tour.

Known as ringsel, the relics are crystal-like beads that followers believe are found in the ashes of only the most enlightened teachers who die without fear.

They will be on display at the Huyen Khong Temple in Rosemont from 8 a.m. to 8. p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Email to a friendEmail to a friendPrinter friendlyPrinter friendly

When the tour is over, the pearl-size relics will be placed in the world's largest statue of Buddha being built in Kushinagar, India.

The $250-million shrine, known as the Maitreya project, will include a teaching hospital, museum, audio-visual centre and library. The relics are on a 150-city tour to promote love and kindness throughout the world and at the same time help raise money for the project.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Susan Buscemi, the tour's Montreal co-ordinator.

"A tour like this is unique, unprecedented. One of the most wonderful things is that while the relics are here, they can be placed on the heads of visitors, and there will be the opportunity to receive personal blessings.

''Once they are enshrined in the 152-metre-high gold statue in India, they will never be as accessible as they will be in Montreal," she said.

In addition to the ringsel, which were salvaged from statues destroyed by the communists in Tibet, artifacts from the present Dalai Lama's collection will be on display.

"It's a non-sectarian event," Buscemi said.

"It is very spiritual and open to everyone, no matter their religious affiliation."

The Buddhist relics will be on display at Huyen Khong Temple, 1292-1298 Rosemont Blvd., from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted.

For more information, visit www.maitreyaproject.org.

We Need Your Help to Train the
Buddhist AI Chat Bot
NORBU!
(Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding)



For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your name in the payment slip. Thank you.


Dear Friends in the Dharma,

We seek your generous support to help us train NORBU, the word's first Buddhist AI Chat Bot.

Here are some ways you can contribute to this noble cause:

One-time Donation or Loan: A single contribution, regardless of its size, will go a long way in helping us reach our goal and make the Buddhist LLM a beacon of wisdom for all.

How will your donation / loan be used? Download the NORBU White Paper for details.



For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your purpose of payment (loan or donation) in the payment slip. Thank you.

Once payment is banked in, please send the payment slip via email to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv. Your donation/loan will be published and publicly acknowledged on the Buddhist Channel.

Spread the Word: Share this initiative with your friends, family and fellow Dharma enthusiasts. Join "Friends of Norbu" at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/norbuchatbot. Together, we can build a stronger community and create a positive impact on a global scale.

Volunteer: If you possess expertise in AI, natural language processing, Dharma knowledge in terms of Buddhist sutras in various languages or related fields, and wish to lend your skills, please contact us. Your knowledge and passion could be invaluable to our project's success.

Your support is part of a collective effort to preserve and disseminate the profound teachings of Buddhism. By contributing to the NORBU, you become a "virtual Bodhisattva" to make Buddhist wisdom more accessible to seekers worldwide.

Thank you for helping to make NORBU a wise and compassionate Buddhist Chatbot!

May you be blessed with inner peace and wisdom,

With deepest gratitude,

Kooi F. Lim
On behalf of The Buddhist Channel Team


Note: To date, we have received the following contributions for NORBU:
US$ 75 from Gary Gach (Loan)
US$ 50 from Chong Sim Keong
MYR 300 from Wilson Tee
MYR 500 from Lim Yan Pok
MYR 50 from Oon Yeoh
MYR 200 from Ooi Poh Tin
MYR 300 from Lai Swee Pin
MYR 100 from Ong Hooi Sian
MYR 1,000 from Fam Sin Nin
MYR 500 from Oh teik Bin
MYR 300 from Yeoh Ai Guat
MYR 300 from Yong Lily
MYR 50 from Bandar Utama Buddhist Society
MYR 1,000 from Chiam Swee Ann
MYR 1,000 from Lye Veei Chiew
MYR 1,000 from Por Yong Tong
MYR 80 from Lee Wai Yee
MYR 500 from Pek Chee Hen
MYR 300 from Hor Tuck Loon
MYR 1,000 from Wise Payments Malaysia Sdn Bhd
MYR 200 from Teo Yen Hua
MYR 500 from Ng Wee Keat
MYR 10,000 from Chang Quai Hung, Jackie (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from K. C. Lim & Agnes (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from Juin & Jooky Tan (Loan)
MYR 100 from Poh Boon Fong (on behalf of SXI Buddhist Students Society)
MYR 10,000 from Fam Shan-Shan (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from John Fam (Loan)
MYR 500 from Phang Cheng Kar
MYR 100 from Lee Suat Yee
MYR 500 from Teo Chwee Hoon (on behalf of Lai Siow Kee)
MYR 200 from Mak Yuen Chau

We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.

If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv


TOP