Rosemead Temple Showcases Relics Believed to Inspire Faith

Visitors to the Wei Mountain Temple in Rosemead, California, are gathering to witness a unique display of Buddhist relics believed to inspire deep faith. These relics, said to belong to Gautama Buddha, include tooth and finger bone fragments that draw believers seeking spiritual connection. Katherine Nguyen, a visitor at the temple, expressed her sentiments: “To be able to see the Buddha, to get close to him and feel the energy — it’s very special for a Buddhist.”

Every Lunar New Year, the temple showcases what it calls the “10,000 Buddha Relics.” The collection, however, contains a far greater number of items housed in glass display cases and miniature stupas. According to the temple’s founder, Master YongHua, the collection prominently features bones and teeth purportedly from the Buddha, his relatives, and disciples. Additional items include numerous shariras, colorful, pearl-like objects believed to have emerged from the cremated remains of Buddhist masters.

The veneration of relics is a common practice across various faiths, including Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity, where they are viewed as connections to saints or Christ. In Buddhism, relics are considered living sources of blessings with supernatural qualities. Despite their revered status in temples, the authenticity of such relics can be contentious. For instance, a famous tooth relic in Singapore was determined to likely belong to a cow rather than a human.

Believers assert that relics can appear spontaneously, grow, or even multiply. This phenomenon often serves to explain the numerous relics found across the globe. Typically, the relics of the Buddha or revered monks are enshrined in stupas, sacred monuments used for meditation and pilgrimage.

Faith and Authenticity

At the Rosemead temple, the displayed relics are notably larger than those found in most human bodies. Master YongHua attributes this to their “growth” over the years. He claims that the tooth relic produces “baby shariras,” which are believed to have multiplied, filling several containers in their exhibit.

Most Buddhist sects acknowledge the significance of relics, even as some leaders emphasize the importance of Buddha’s teachings on mindfulness and kindness. Relics are prevalent in countries with rich Buddhist traditions, including India, Japan, Myanmar, and Thailand. Within temple settings, the authenticity of these relics is rarely subjected to scientific scrutiny, as spiritual leaders fear that such tests might diminish their extraordinary nature.

Over the years, fraudulent relics have emerged in markets across Asia, often accompanied by falsified authenticity certificates. For example, in 2007, experts scrutinized a tooth relic at Singapore’s Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, concluding that its characteristics were inconsistent with those of a human tooth. The temple’s abbot, the Venerable Shi Fazhao, stood by its authenticity, stating, “If you believe it’s real, it’s real.”

Master YongHua maintains that the primary purpose of the relics at the Rosemead temple, donated by a collector approximately 14 years ago, is to inspire faith. He has witnessed what he describes as their ethereal qualities. “I have seen them multiply with my own eyes,” he said. “They move on their own, they levitate… I’ve seen people get cured of various ailments just by being in their presence.”

Historical and Spiritual Context

John Strong, professor emeritus of religion at Bates College, documented the history of such relics in his 2004 book, “Relics of the Buddha.” He noted that the earliest accounts of the Buddha’s funeral appear in Pali texts from the 2nd century B.C. These texts describe relics emerging from the Buddha’s ashes as shimmering jewels, varying in size and resembling gems.

According to Geshe Tenzin Zopa, a Tibetan monk, relics are “the most precious, most sacred, most powerful holy objects.” He recounted witnessing pearl-like relics emerging from the body of his teacher, Geshe Lama Konchog, during his cremation in 2001. Zopa described the experience as miraculous, stating, “I’d never seen anything like that in my life.”

For students of yogis, finding relics among cremated remains is not morbid but an expression of unwavering faith. Zopa explained that such relics are believed to be left as a kindness from holy gurus, encouraging followers to collect merit and purify themselves. He emphasized that producing relics requires extensive prayers and maintaining pure morality over many lifetimes.

In Southern California, the U.S. headquarters for the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist order offers a different perspective. The Venerable Hui Ze, a representative of the order, stated that their founder, Venerable Master Hsing Yun, guided followers to focus on applying Buddhist teachings in daily life rather than fixating on relics. Hui Ze shared his profound connection with a tooth relic gifted to Hsing Yun, enhancing his sense of intimacy with the Buddha.

Following Hsing Yun’s death on February 5, 2023, his disciples sifted through his cremains and reportedly found colorful relics. Respecting his wishes, they opted to leave these relics within the ashes, which will be enshrined in the Southern California headquarters during a ceremony on March 21.

As interest in relics continues to spark debates about authenticity and faith, the Wei Mountain Temple remains a focal point for believers seeking a tangible link to their spiritual heritage.