A new one hit my desk for The Heart Shrine Relic Tour.  It sounded fascinating!

A unique and precious collection of more than 1,000 sacred Buddhist relics will be permanently displayed in the Heart Shrine of the completed Maitreya Buddha statue in Kushinagar.

Meanwhile, it is the wish of the Spiritual Director of the Maitreya Project, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, that the collection should travel throughout the world to bring the blessings of the holy relics and the message of loving-kindness to people everywhere.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The relics going on tour is all part of the larger Maitreya Project.

While the throne building being created as an educational facility, the project’s crowning glory is a 500ft / 152m bronze statue of Buddha that is being built at Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh in northern India.

Throughout the world, the Buddha is recognised as a symbol of peace. Maitreya means ‘loving-kindness’. The vision of Maitreya Project is to effect peace at every level of society through the practice of loving-kindness: peace within the family, the community and the world, as well as inner peace for the individual.

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

What caught my eye was the project’s eye toward sustainable design.

A sustainable society must seek to protect and enhance the environment, meet social needs, and promote economic success. For the Maitreya Project to achieve the aim of promoting such a sustainable society the Project’s design process will:

• ensure that water, energy and other natural resources, are used efficiently and with care.
• minimize waste, then re-use or recover it through recycling, composting or energy recovery, and finally, sustainably dispose of what is left.
• limit waste to levels that do not damage natural systems.
• safeguard and promote health and amenity through safe, clean, pleasant environments.
• meet needs from locally available resources wherever possible.
• maximize local access to training and skills development.
• give full consideration to the social and community impacts of decisions.
• work to create a vibrant local economy that gives access to satisfying and rewarding work without damaging the local, national or global environment.

WHERE TO SEE THE RELIC TOUR IN FLORIDA

Admission is free to all the relic tour events.  More info in the press release!

October 17, 18 & 19, 2008
Kissimmee, Florida, USA
Friday 7pm Opening Ceremony
Saturday 10am to 7pm
Sunday 10am to 7pm
Wat Florida Dhammmaram
2421 Old Vineland Road
Kissimmee
FL 34746
USA
Contact: Chih Ho
Email: chihho2004@yahoo.com
Telephone: +1 407 538 6491

October 24, 25 & 26, 2008
Orlando, Florida, USA
Friday 7pm Opening Ceremony
Saturday 10am to 7pm
Sunday 10am to 7pm
Phap Vu Buddhist Cultural Center
716 N. Dean Road
Orlando
Florida
USA
Contact: Venerable Thich Nhat Tri
Telephone: +1 407 277 7262

October 31, November 1 & 2, 2008
Clearwater, Florida, USA
Friday 7pm Opening Ceremony
Saturday 10am to 7pm
Sunday 10am to 7pm
Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater
2470 Nursery Road
Clearwater
Florida 33764
USA
Contact: Frank Tedesco
Email: truedharma108@gmail.com
Cellphone: +1 727 512 4805

November 7, 8 & 9, 2008
Boca Raton, Florida, USA
Friday 7pm Opening Ceremony
Saturday 10am to 7pm
Sunday 10am to 7pm
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
2601 St. Andrew Blvd
Boca Raton
Florida
USA
Contact: Elaine Blumenkranz
Email: elaineblu@comcast.net
Telephone: +1 561 865 3455