Visitors' Experiences
“…the relics are shining, giving us this wonderful energy and hopefully raising our spirits to go on in the world and do what we need to do to help the world at this time. Because the world needs a lot of help.”
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Olga Osbourne, a visitor at the San Francisco Relic Show, California, summer 2005
"Many non-Buddhists were walking around the statue and being blessed and
coming into contact with these rare, powerful, holy objects. It was
overwhelming to observe. Young girls were spending time writing out the
Sanghata sutra, dogs were being blessed, people were coming off the street
without prior knowledge of the event and were emotionally overcome. The
range of nationalities, gender, age and race was extensive. It was
wonderful."
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Bob Charlton, organiser of Leeds Relic Show, England, November 2007
“Words fail to express the gratitude I have for those responsible
for making the Tour possible; truly a reminder of the sacredness
within.”
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Mike, a visitor to the USA Relic Tour, August 2004
“In our
day-to-day lives there are really very few times when we have the
opportunity to make so many people happy and to afford them the
chance to become healthier and wiser... . As people left the event
each day I noticed that most left happier, some were crying, some
could not stop talking, but I think each one left with more energy
and a deeper understanding of who and what they are... . ”
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Mike Hicks, PR Co-ordinator for the Washington DC Relic Show, October 2003
"I visited 3 Albion Place yesterday (what a splendid venue) and was deeply impressed. The spirit of loving kindness permeated the atmosphere and everyone I spoke to was kind and helpful. I don't want this feeling of peace to pass. I hope the bronze statue of Maitreya will soon be built at Kushinagar though I don't think I will be fit enough to visit the site..."
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Pat Oldham, visitor at the Leeds Relic Show, England, November 2007
"I was blessed to be able to view the relics and to volunteer while they were in Auburn, California. On Saturday upon arriving I was asked how I was. I broke into tears and was barely able to mouth the words, "I have brought my mother." The gratitude for this experience cannot be put into words. So I enclose a picture of my 82 year old mother , who has a breast cancer tumor on her liver, receiving a blessing. Her name is Bobbie Rothchild [pictured above left]. Thank you so much for all that you do."
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Jesse Gillam, visitor at the Auburn Relic Show, California, August 2007
"Sorry it's taken me a little while to get in touch - I've been recovering from the fantastic weekend, physically it took it out of me a bit - all the travelling, etc. But I wouldn't have missed it for the world!! I do feel huge benefits from the experience - my mind feels spacious and i feel lighter - it's amazing, but true. My meditations seem to have benefited too. I just can't thank you enough..."
- Kim Phillips, visitor at the Leeds Relic Show, England, November 2007 (pictured below left)
"The last two weeks have been busy with hosting the Relic Tour, and Sunday the mandala of the relics dissolved. It has been a very precious time. Wonderful to be meet Andy and Siliana and for the centre, the city and Denmark the relics have been a wonderful blessing.
"Many volunteers helped out and for sure it has strengthened the group. Furthermore the connection between different Buddhist groups, Buddhist and non-Buddhist have also improved. At the Opening Ceremony Tibetans, Chinese, Vietnamese and Danes contributed."
- Tine Lauridsen, organiser of the Copenhagen Relic Show, Denmark, July 2007
"Personally I want to express my thanks to His Holiness Dalai Lama, to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, to you and all members of the big Maitreya Project Family. I feel an incredible gratefulness to all holy masters. I cannot express it in words, only in tears. Please let me know whenever I can do anything for the Maitreya Project."
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Martin Schaurhofer, organiser of the Vienna Relic Show, Austria, June 2007
"We would like to say thank you for everything you have done for us. We would like to offer our sincere thanks to the Buddhas and bodhisattvas for having us, ordinary sentient beings, in mind, and for leaving the relics behind, arising from their compassion thousands of years ago.
"We would like to say thanks to you for having the possibility to organise the Show, and that everyone who took part in the organisation, arrangements and donation could receive immense blessings. Many thanks to Andy and Siliana for their tireless work. They set an example inspiring us.
"Many thanks to the 11,000 people who had karma to meet the Buddhas and bodhisattvas through the relics and to get their blessing. Since then the sangha has talked a lot about the Relic Show, about the Maitreya Project. We are happy that we had the possibility of taking a little part in it. The Show was a rare occasion and left deep, positive impression in our minds."
- Zsolt Balogh, organiser of the Budapest Relic Show, Hungary, October 2006
'It was a wonderful event from many different points of view! There was great consideration and respect for the relics and many requests for blessings. The altar was always shining during the show and the gompa we prepared to host the relics was teeming with a strong energy which everyone seemed to be aware of. The group from Muni Gyana Centre was very closely-knit; we developed a strong team spirit in sharing the happiness for the success of such important an event.
"The extraordinary work and care of the two Relic Custodians, Andy and Peter, their respect and devotion towards the masters who continue to offer themselves to others in this 'special way', were like living and deep teachings, not only for me but for many of us. I felt Rinpoche was there, together to the relics and Maitreya, and this explains how everything was so perfect.
"So, many, many thanks from the very bottom of my heart for making all of this possible; thank you for the extraordinary energy which we set in motion by working all together, side by side."
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Rosana Giordano, organiser of the Palermo Relic Show, Italy, September 2006
"The universe is so timely, with my brother's passing on Friday, Phil and I and two of our three sons could not have wished for a better two days to have followed that than visiting & volunteering at the Heart Shrine Relic Tour. The exhibition of these ancient and sacred Buddhist relics is profound to say the least. Being in that peaceful energy, and receiving a blessing brought me such a peace, purification, and sense of relief, that is unexplainable.
"You do not have to be a practicing Buddhist to view them or receive a blessing – I am not myself, but believe in so many of their beliefs of sending love and kindness and compassion to everyone. I love the
statement by the Dalai Lama, 'Don't use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist; use it to be a better whatever-you-already-are'."
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Una, a visitor to the Hamilton Relic Show, Canada during September 2006
"Thank you for bringing the Heart Shrine Relic Tour to Ireland...as a practising Buddhist, the personal blessing I received was one of the most important moments in my life."
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Debra, a visitor to the Dublin Relic Show, Ireland, July 2006
“From
the very depth of our hearts we would like to thank you for all your
support and good advice in arranging the Heart Shrine Relic Tour
here in Copenhagen. The weekend was a flower opening the hearts
of 1,500 visitors; people came from different countries and from
different parts of Denmark – it was a weekend that went beyond culture,
tradition and nationality. Very beautiful, very powerful, and very,
very beneficial. Again, and on behalf of all volunteers and members
of Tong-nyi Nying-je Ling, I would like to thank you for letting
us host the relics.”
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Lise Lotte, organiser of the Copenhagen Relic Show, Denmark, October 2005
“My dream of bringing the relics to France came true! I never imagined
it could be so extraordinary. Immense thanks to Rinpoche for having
allowed us to receive and meet these holy beings.”
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Michelle Le Dimna, Fundraising Director of Maitreya Project France
“The experience I have is powerful, if difficult to describe. For much of the time of my visits and for some time afterwards, my chatty, unsettled and often cranky mind comes to rest and a more spacious and engaged heart awakens. I have a more direct experience of the qualities of vast care and spotless sanity that I understand to be at the heart of 'enlightenment'.
"And though I have been a Buddhist practitioner for several years and understand my own experience of devotion near the relics, I have observed many people apparently of other faiths having significant, seemingly parallel, experiences. This deepens my appreciation that the Buddha taught not to create a separate religion particularly, but to bring all people to their inherent intelligence and goodness. His aspiration for their benefit – our benefit! – is palpable in these relics. What great fortune that the Maitreya Project Relic Tour has offered this experience to so many people!”
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Karen, a visitor to the Bridgeport Relic Show, Connecticut, October 2004
“Thank you so much for arranging for the relics to come to Atlanta. It was the most wonderful experience of my life
and of great benefit to our center and community as a whole. We
had many other centers come to see the relics and it was great to
have such a diverse community in our shrine room. Some Chinese nuns
sat with our monks at one of the opening ceremonies and chanted
after the monks finished their morning prayers. It reduced me to
tears.”
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Wendy Hogg, organiser of the Atlanta Relic Show, Georgia, November 2003
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