A collection of some of the most-sacred relics in Buddhist culture will be displayed in Tucson this weekend.
The Maitreya Project Relic Tour is here as part of a world tour that has already included 52 countries.
The relics were found among the cremated ashes of Buddhist masters and resemble pearllike crystals. Buddhists believe such relics embody the master's spiritual qualities of compassion and wisdom, and were deliberately produced by the master at his death.
The exhibit includes relics from the collection of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, with some dating to about 500 B.C.
Visitors may participate in a blessing ceremony at which the relics of the Buddha are gently placed on the crown of the visitor's head as a personal blessing. Blessings will be offered each day of the exhibit.
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The event is directed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. The Maitreya Project is building a Heart Shrine in Kushinagar, India, in which the relics will be installed within a 500-foot monument in the form of the Maitreya Buddha. The project also includes improving sustainability and quality of life in communities near the Heart Shrine.
Go online to www.maitreya project.org to learn more.
If you go
What: Relic Tour
When: Friday 6 to 9 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday noon to 5 p.m.
Where: Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave.
Cost: Free. Donations are welcome
Parking: Street parking available, free on weekends and pay parking lots near the museum.
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