Lu Mountain Temple in Rosemead, California, has placed its collection of Buddhist relics on display this week. The “10,000 Buddha Relics Collection” is said to be the largest collection of its kind in the United States.
Crystallized blood “sharira” of Shakyamuni Buddha. From SGV Tribune
The relics were first shown at the temple in 2013. Of particular value are two teeth and a finger bone of the Buddha himself, which have inexplicably increased in size. They are the only known pieces of the Buddha’s body in the US. There are only four other known teeth of the Buddha around the world.
A large part of the exhibition consists of crystals which have formed from the cremated remains of the Buddha and others, called sharira. They are believed to have supramundane qualities, in that they multiply over time, and even change color or emit a pleasant fragrance.
Tooth relic of the Buddha. From SGV Tribune
Since the first exhibition the temple has acquired many new pieces, including relics from the Buddha’s 54 great disciples. “This very rare, complete set of relics of Buddha’s disciples includes 13 great nuns who have been documented in the Buddhist scriptures as having reached significant levels of wisdom under the guidance of Buddha himself,” said Vickie Sprout, spokesperson for the temple, in August 2014 of the recent acquisition (SGV Tribune). Donations have come from around the globe, the majority being from Asian countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Another rare addition to the collection is a small, white, pearl-like relic of Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc, who stood against the suppression of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese government and set himself on fire in 1963. According to a statement from the temple, “The shocking image of self-immolation covered the front pages of newspapers around the world. This action was later regarded as a turning point in the Buddhist crisis and a critical point in the collapse of the American supported Diem regime.”
“Sharira.” From SGV Tribune
“People are still very emotional about him,” said Lu Mountain Temple’s abbot, Venerable Thich Vinh Hoa. “Not only Vietnamese people but also a lot of G.I.s and people involved in Vietnam for one way or the other.” (CBS Los Angeles) He added, “We opened during this Lunar New Year week so that more people can come and receive blessings from the relics.”
The temple hopes to build a stupa complex in southern California to house the collection on a permanent basis.
The 10,000 Buddha Relics exhibition is free of charge and runs from 10 a.m to 7 p.m. until Sunday 22 February. Lu Mountain Temple is located at 7509 Mooney Drive, Rosemead. A detailed schedule and online registration can be found at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4da5ad2aa1ff2-100001