Buddha relics visit World Museum
Exclusive visit as Maitreya Heart Shrine Relic tour comes to Liverpool
Rare and precious relics of the Buddha and other Buddhist masters are coming to Liverpool for the first time for two days as a part of a world tour.
Some of the relics, which were found among the cremation ashes of Buddhist masters, are more than 2,500-years-old.
The Maitreya Heart Shrine Relic tour has been travelling the globe for 11 years, visiting 65 countries on 6 continents, with over 1.6 million visitors. It will come to World Museum on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 September.
The artefacts resemble beautiful pearl-like crystals and Buddhists believe they embody the Buddha’s spiritual qualities of compassion and wisdom, with people sometimes reporting experiences of inspiration and healing when in the presence of the relics.
Emma Martin, World Museum’s Head of Ethnology and Curator of Asia Collections, said:
"We are very excited to have this international tour come to World Museum. The relics have received a big response in other part of the world so we are thrilled to be able to show them for a couple of days at World Museum.”
Visitors to World Museum will also see a large golden statue of the Maitreya Buddha and be invited to participate in a blessing ceremony.
According to Buddhist scriptures, Maitreya will be the next Buddha to bring teachings of loving-kindness to the world. Eventually the relics will be enshrined in a bronze statue of Maitreya Buddha that is being built in northern India.
Notes for editors
Notes to editors: For more information regarding Maitreya Heart Shrine Relic tour contact: Andrea Bridger on 0207 820 3676. Email: andreabridger@ymail.com
KhedrupJeLiverpool@hotmail.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 7582 767476
Please contact: Lucy Cattell in the press office for more information on this release.