The Sun Newspaper dated March 17, 2010: Buddha relics on tour in Penang, Klang Valley by Lee Su San

GEORGE TOWN (March 16, 2010): A rare collection of ancient relics, including the remains of Gautama Buddha, is currently on tour in Penang and the Klang valley.

Andy Melnic, manager of the Maitreya Relics tour, showing part of the

collection at the Chokyi Gyaltsen Centre in Penang

The Maitreya Relics, part of a massive historical Buddhist collection, feature mainly objects said to be found and meticulously preserved from the cremated ashes of the Buddha, his disciples, commentators of his teachings, lineage founders and modern day lamas.

The tour’s manager Andy Melnic, 50, said the collection, mostly made of remains of Tibetan Buddhist masters, is on tour throughout Asia.

Melnic said the spiritual director of Maitreya Project, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, has been collecting such relics from around the world for many years.

"The collection will eventually be placed in a special shrine to be built at Kushinagar in India," he said.

Melnic said the relics, which Tibetans call "ringsel", were normally fragments like hair, teeth and flakes or pieces of bone.

"We want to give people the opportunity to be inspired and connect with the loving kindness of the Buddha and spiritual masters," he said.

The collection includes relics from historical Buddhist icons like Ananda, Shariputra, Lama Atisha, Lama Tsongkhapa, Milarepa, Lama Yeshe, Rilbur Rinpoche.

The Maitreya relics will be on display at the Losang Dragpa Centre No.1 Jalan 17/21F, 46400 Petaling Jaya, from 10am to 7pm, on Saturday and Sunday (20 and 21 March 2010), and the opening ceremony will be held at 7pm on Friday. -- theSun