Search Buddhist Channel
Pets get Buddhist blessing
by Dana Brown, The Hamilton Spectator, October 13, 2009
Animals welcome at Burlington relic tour
Burlington, Vermont (USA) -- Gillian Jakubowski wanted to make her nearly 15-year-old dog's path to death easier.
Valerie Cousens wanted to help with her cat Monty's seizures. Kayte Cleary's dog just had surgery on her leg.
All had their pets blessed by a Zen Buddhist nun using sacred relics, during the Maitreya Project Heart Shrine Relic Tour on Saturday.
"It's just the power of the universe," said Cousens, a Hamilton resident.
The pet event was a part of a three-day showing of the rare and ancient relic collection, which was on display for the first time in Halton.
"These relics are all important in the Buddhist faith, in that we've got holy relics of Shakyamuni Buddha, which are 2,500 years old, here," said Dekyi-Lee Oldershaw, executive director of The Centre for Compassion and Wisdom.
Oldershaw is currently travelling with the tour as a custodian.
The relics, some of which are more recent and consist of hair, cloth or ash, were on display next door from the centre at Holy Cross Lutheran Church on Lakeshore Road.
The older relics, which appear as small stone or pearllike chips, come from the cremated ashes of masters, Oldershaw said. They carry the power and the blessing, the mind of that master, she said.
Oldershaw likened it to being in a room with "50 Dalai Lamas at one time."
Hundreds attended the event to take in the relics, which were displayed around a large statue of the Buddha on a table in a basement room at the church.
With soft music in the background and blessed water on the table, people were invited to walk around the display, without their shoes, and take in the ornamented sight.
The tour is part of the Maitreya Project, which is raising funds to build a 150-metre tall statue of Maitreya Buddha in northern India. The $250 million US project will include the statue and development of a large radius around it that will have free health care and education.
The relics will be shown from Oct. 23 to 25 at the Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre, 40 Titan Rd. in Etobicoke.
To obtain more information visit maitreyaproject.com.
Buddhist AI Chat Bot NORBU!
(Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding)
For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:
Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB
The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118
Note: Please indicate your name in the payment slip. Thank you.
Dear Friends in the Dharma,
We seek your generous support to help us train NORBU, the word's first Buddhist AI Chat Bot.
Here are some ways you can contribute to this noble cause:
One-time Donation or Loan: A single contribution, regardless of its size, will go a long way in helping us reach our goal and make the Buddhist LLM a beacon of wisdom for all.
How will your donation / loan be used? Download the NORBU White Paper for details.
For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:
Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB
The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118
Note: Please indicate your purpose of payment (loan or donation) in the payment slip. Thank you.
Once payment is banked in, please send the payment slip via email to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv. Your donation/loan will be published and publicly acknowledged on the Buddhist Channel.
Spread the Word: Share this initiative with your friends, family and fellow Dharma enthusiasts. Join "Friends of Norbu" at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/norbuchatbot. Together, we can build a stronger community and create a positive impact on a global scale.
Volunteer: If you possess expertise in AI, natural language processing, Dharma knowledge in terms of Buddhist sutras in various languages or related fields, and wish to lend your skills, please contact us. Your knowledge and passion could be invaluable to our project's success.
Your support is part of a collective effort to preserve and disseminate the profound teachings of Buddhism. By contributing to the NORBU, you become a "virtual Bodhisattva" to make Buddhist wisdom more accessible to seekers worldwide.
Thank you for helping to make NORBU a wise and compassionate Buddhist Chatbot!
May you be blessed with inner peace and wisdom,
With deepest gratitude,
Kooi F. Lim
On behalf of The Buddhist Channel Team
Note: To date, we have received the following contributions for NORBU:
US$ 75 from Gary Gach (Loan)
US$ 50 from Chong Sim Keong
MYR 300 from Wilson Tee
MYR 500 from Lim Yan Pok
MYR 50 from Oon Yeoh
MYR 200 from Ooi Poh Tin
MYR 300 from Lai Swee Pin
MYR 100 from Ong Hooi Sian
MYR 1,000 from Fam Sin Nin
MYR 500 from Oh teik Bin
MYR 300 from Yeoh Ai Guat
MYR 300 from Yong Lily
MYR 50 from Bandar Utama Buddhist Society
MYR 1,000 from Chiam Swee Ann
MYR 1,000 from Lye Veei Chiew
MYR 1,000 from Por Yong Tong
MYR 80 from Lee Wai Yee
MYR 500 from Pek Chee Hen
MYR 300 from Hor Tuck Loon
MYR 1,000 from Wise Payments Malaysia Sdn Bhd
MYR 200 from Teo Yen Hua
MYR 500 from Ng Wee Keat
MYR 10,000 from Chang Quai Hung, Jackie (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from K. C. Lim & Agnes (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from Juin & Jooky Tan (Loan)
MYR 100 from Poh Boon Fong (on behalf of SXI Buddhist Students Society)
MYR 10,000 from Fam Shan-Shan (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from John Fam (Loan)
MYR 500 from Phang Cheng Kar
MYR 100 from Lee Suat Yee
MYR 500 from Teo Chwee Hoon (on behalf of Lai Siow Kee)
MYR 200 from Mak Yuen Chau
We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.
If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv