What is so magical about the relics?

Most people are familiar with sarira. Generally speaking, sarira is worshipped and respected in Buddhism. Simply speaking, sarira is generally obtained by a person through practicing precepts, concentration, and wisdom, and then adding the wishes of the practitioner. Therefore, the formation of sarira is generally related to the practitioner's practice during his lifetime. So what is so magical about sarira?

The sutra says that sarira is obtained through the practice of precepts, concentration, and wisdom, plus the great aspirations in one's heart. As Buddhism believes, the formation of relics is closely related to the practice of the practitioner during his lifetime, just like the relics burned after the Buddha's Nirvana, which amounted to one stone and six dou. In addition, only monks with high spiritual practice and lay believers will obtain relics after their death. Therefore, it is also rare and precious.

There is currently no scientific conclusion on the cause of relics. Most explanations are just inferred based on existing scientific principles, for example, white relics are from bones, black relics are from hair, red relics are from muscles, and of course there are also colorful relics that cannot be inferred. There are many speculations about sarira today, and most people believe that it is a stone produced in the body. Stones are mainly composed of calcium or metal salt precipitation, which is easy to break. There are tens of millions of people suffering from stones. Only practitioners can have relics. The tongue, heart and other soft tissues of great masters will form relics after cremation. Even the tongue of a parrot chanting the Buddha's name will form relics. The relics are extremely hard and cannot be damaged even by hitting them with a hammer. Therefore, many phenomena indicate that the sarira cannot be stones.

What is the use of relics?

What the Buddha left behind are relics, and what the Bodhisattva left behind are solid seeds. Both are accumulated without any leisure from the great compassion, and are obtained by achieving the merits of the Tao. Relics have the characteristics of not bullying the weak and not tolerating the hard.

1. Eliminate disasters and avoid difficulties

Those who hold the relics can effectively protect their own safety, avoid disasters, turn misfortune into good fortune, and have everything go well.

2. Bless yourself

Holding the relics can make oneself respected and supported by the heavenly guardians and all living beings, and protect oneself from interference from non-human beings.

3. Double the merits and demerits

If you hold a relic in your hand, the merit of chanting a mantra can be increased to tens of millions of times, and similarly, the sin of chanting a word can also be increased to tens of millions of times.

4. Emphasis on karma and neglect of retribution

If you hold the relics and accumulate good deeds, your past karmic obstacles will be reduced accordingly, and the karmic retribution will also be reduced.

5. Cure all diseases

Drinking the relics mixed with water can effectively cure diseases. If you are pregnant, taking the relic can prevent difficult labor, and the baby born will be blessed and easy to raise.

6. The boundless power of the ancient Buddha

If one takes a relic of the Buddha in his mouth at the time of death, those with lighter karma or superior roots can be reborn in the Pure Land. Those with heavier karma will not have to fall into the three evil realms, but will be able to hear the Dharma in the next life and be liberated instantly. On the contrary, if one’s mind is not pure or one does not respect the Buddha’s relics, the relics will fly away by themselves. If one has great faith, merit, or is diligent in practicing Buddhism, the relics will multiply and grow larger.

7. The Essence of Buddhism

This is a spiritual object of heaven and earth, the essence of Buddhism left behind by the ancient Buddha, which was nurtured with heaven and earth as its foundation and the sun and moon as its dew.

8. Inspiration for future generations

The relics can provide inspiration to future disciples.