The following was posted in June 2010 :
BEIJING, June 14 (Xinhuanet) -- A Buddhist ceremony was held on Saturday to unveil the most sacred Buddhist scull relic ever found in China. The relic was found in a former temple site and is believed to be a part of the skull of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism. The event took place at the Qixia Temple in east China's Jiangsu Province. CCTV reporter Han Bin brings us the story from Nanjing.
The name of the ceremony is " Relics Rediscovered in Time of Peace and Prosperity".
This Buddhist relic which has been hidden underground for more than 1000 years, is now out for the first time.
Archeologists document the entire process with photographs and videos.
It is from a miniature gold coffin. The relic is believed to be the only known part of the skull of the Supreme Buddha Sakyamuni in the world.
Master Xuechen, Vice-President China Buddhist Association, said, " Buddhist relics are the highest spiritual objects in Buddhism, they are the evidence of Buddha's enlightenment. Seeing the relics is like seeing the Buddha and it promotes good virtue. "
In July 2008, at a former temple site in Nanjing, Chinese archeologists found a 1000 year-old miniature stupa. From the inscriptions found on a stele, it claimed to have held a piece of the skull relic from Buddha and originated from Indian Emperor Ashoka some 2000 years ago.
(Source: CNTV.cn)
Editor: Mo Hong'e
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Thank you Namdrol. I came across the above article but were not able to get any images.
Relics serve to remind us that Buddha was a real person and that enlightenment is possible.
