Jade Buddha on World Tour - The Star dated 10 January 2013

THE Malaysian Buddhist fraternity will have a golden opportunity to view the world’s largest Jade Buddha statue in Penang in April.

The statue — Jade Buddha for Universal Peace — which weighs four tonnes and stands at 2.7m will be displayed at Penang Times Square in Jalan Datuk Keramat for 10 days starting April 6.

The event is organised by Chokyi Gyaltsen Centre (CGC).

CGC president Dr Daniel Yeoh said the event was aimed at inspiring the visitors on the importance of peace in their mind and heart.

“We expect to draw a 100,000-strong crowd throughout the days,” said Dr Yeoh in a press conference at CGC in Air Itam, Penang, on Tuesday.

Among the programmes are chanting sessions, relic blessings, Tibetan sand mandala exhibition and Pindapata alms round.

Rare gem: The world's largest Jade Buddha statue will be displayed at Penang Times Square for 10 days starting April 6

Dr Yeoh said the Jade Buddha statue came from an 18-tonne gemstone which was discovered in Canada in 2003 by Australian Ian Green who raised funds to buy it at US$1.5mil (RM4.56mil).

Green, who was present at the press conference, said the gemstone was shipped to Thailand where six renowned jade carvers created the statue modelled after a famous Buddha image at the Mohabodhi Stupa in the holy city of Bodh Gaya, India.

“The carving and polishing of the statue was completed in 2008 and since then, the Jade Buddha has been on a world tour to 14 countries including Vietnam, Singapore, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Australia, the United States, Canada, Germany and Norway.

“The statue will be on display in Kuala Lumpur in March before arriving in Penang,” said Green.

He said the world tour would continue for the next three years before coming to a rest at a permanent home at The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo, Australia.

Admission to the event in Penang is free. For more information, call CGC at 04-4285528 or visit www.fpmt.org and www.jadebuddha.org.au.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=%2F2013%2F1%2F10%2Fnorth%2F12549117&sec=North#.UO44AT4XJTw