Ruth and I recently experienced a mini-miracle. Relics of the Buddha were recently brought to Melbourne by the renowned Tibetan teacher, Kalu Rinpoche as part of an Australian tour.
These relics include fragments of bone and crystallized remains (ringsels), found and carefully preserved after the Buddha was cremated over 2,500 years ago. Their history, our experience with them, an explanation of why and how one would bother to connect with holy relics or beings follows, and details of our coming meditation retreats and Meditation Teacher Trainings, but first
Thought for the day
Mind is eclipsed by many different obscurations;
If they are removed, mind’s fundamental nature,
Like the sun shining brightly in a clear, open sky,
Can manifest all the qualities
Of wisdom, compassion, and a Buddha’s abilities.
The First Kalu Rinpoche, Luminous Mind
There is a particular atmosphere when one enters a sacred space - a temple - where genuine people gather for genuine teachings and practices. You feel it. It is physically tangible, yet not able to be scooped up or placed in a bottle. There is respect in the air; a reverence and devotion. A palpable feeling of calm, and a gentle joyfulness.
We felt this atmosphere.
Visually, it was also stunning...
Mostly Asians, we were two of very few white Australians. No idea why so few???
Anyway, many people in traditional costume – the Vietnamese, Tibetans, many Bhutanese; just a wonderful scene. And so welcoming.
Presumably due to my disability, we were ushered past the long queue; a real blessing as many waited in hot sun for 2-3 hours plus.
Once in the main temple, we did join the queue that slowly wound its way past the relics. They were contained in an elaborate yet smallish relique, some distance from us, so a great experience yet not so much to see.
Having passed by the relics, an usher requested us to wait.
Suddenly, Kalu Rinpoche himself appeared from not sure where, went over, gathered the relics, came back to us and blessed us on the head with them.
Remarkable.
We then went and sat on the floor in front of the relics just to be with them for a while longer and soak it all in.
Almost immediately several hundred Vietnamese nuns lined up just behind us and spend the best part of the next hour chanting and doing prostrations.
The atmosphere...
Amazing.
So what to make of all this?
To be clear, for us it was a real treat. A spiritual highlight.
However, others might be sceptical. Are they really the Buddha’s relics? Even if they are, what value is there in being close to them? Why bother??? And if one does, what protocols need to be followed?
Having recounted our own experience, for this blog – a history of these relics, some details of Kalu Rinpoche. Then in the next post – the why and the how...
Historical Origins of these Buddha Relics
• Discovery (1898): The relics are believed to be part of the sacred findings from Piprahwa, Uttar Pradesh, India, unearthed by British engineer William Claxton Peppé in 1898. These were identified as part of the original ashes of the Buddha, divided among eight kingdoms after his cremation.
• Gift to Thailand (1898): A portion of these relics was gifted by British authorities in India to King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) of Siam (now Thailand).
• Transfer to France (2009): The relics were entrusted to the Union Buddhist of France (UBF) in 2009.
• Connection to Kalu Rinpoche: His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche, the lineage holder of the Shangpa Kagyu tradition, has been closely involved with the stewardship and promotion of these relics for public veneration, connecting the ancient lineage with modern Buddhist practice.
• Australia Tour (2026): At the initiative of Kalu Rinpoche, the sacred relics were brought from France to Australia for a tour in January 2026, visiting cities including Perth, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, and Melbourne.
· Significance: These relics are considered to hold immense spiritual energy, providing blessings of wisdom, compassion, and liberation to followers.
Kalu Rinpoche – the First
The current Kalu Rinpoche’s predecessor, sometimes now referred to as the first Kalu Rinpoche, (1905-1989) was a prominent Tibetan teacher who taught extensively around the world.
He was one of the first senior Tibetans to teach in the West, and he established many Dharma centres in Europe and North America.
Kalu Rinpoche was the uncle of my own main teacher Sogyal Rinpoche who held him in very high regard and quoted him often.
Kalu Rinpoche commenced his first 3 year retreat at the age of 13.
At 25, he began practising for twelve years in solitary retreat in the mountains of Eastern Tibet, wandering about without possessions, until he was requested to return and teach.
Having left Tibet in the late 1950s, Kalu Rinpoche first went to Bhutan, where he established two retreat centres and ordained 300 monks.
In 1965 he established his own monastery in Darjeeling. He passed away on 10th May 1989 at another of his monasteries; this one in Sonada, India.
Kalu Rinpoche – the second
The current Kalu Rinpoche, was born in 1990 and recognized by HH the Dalai Lama.
A prominent Tibetan Buddhist master, Rinpoche is recognized as the reincarnation of the renowned 1st Kalu Rinpoche.
As the holder of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage, he was traditionally trained from a young age and completed a three-year retreat in 2008.
He now travels extensively and leads his predecessor’s meditation centers worldwide.
Rinpoche emphasizes accessible teachings with a focus on adapting the Dharma for a modern, digital world; along with traditional Vajrayana practices.
He advocates for self-reliance in practice rather than blind faith, aiming to make deep teachings accessible without requiring exclusive authority.
COMING EVENTS
Meditation in the Forest – The Heart of Meditation; its wisdom and its experience
Sunday 7th to Saturday 13th June
Ruth and I have been presenting the annual 7 day meditation retreat Meditation in the Forest at the Yarra Valley Living Centre for many years.
This year, the retreat focus will be the heart of meditation – the experience and the wisdom of Stillness.
Highly experiential, we will delve into the theoretical structure that provides the knowledge and the wisdom that helps us to approach this profound inner experience.
Then together, we will practice the techniques that progressively lead us into the direct experience of our own stillness – our own inner essence. Joyful...
There will also be optional yoga sessions with the incomparable Melissa Borich, plus all the delights of the Upper Yarra environment along with the care and food provided by the Yarra Valley Living Centre.
Many do come regularly to this annual retreat, but we always welcome newcomers. Due to its fundamental simplicity, the retreat is accessible to those newer to meditation, as well as those more experienced.
To enquire re bookings, view our website, or contact our retreat manager Mel Crow on mel@insighthealth.com.au. Mel will be happy to talk with you if you do need more details.
Meditation Teacher Trainings
May and November 2026
And now for something new... with also a certain sense of familiarity...
Actually, not so very new.
In fact, I have presented Meditation Teacher Trainings since 1988, but these new trainings – to be frank – are much better developed than those earlier versions!
We have developed 3 training modules: Meditation, Contemplation and Imagery.
The Meditation module goes into how to present the 8 week Mindfulness-Based Stillness program that is elaborated in my most recent meditation book – Blue Sky Mind.
The other 2 modules, cover the very basics of meditation, but give most attention to these very important, but rarely taught aspects of meditation – Contemplation and Imagery.
We now have individual manuals for each training that are at least 180 pages each.
The trainings are solid in theory, yet highly experiential. You will get to practice leading meditations and groups, while receiving measured feedback from the staff and peers.
Many who have completed these trainings have now qualified for full membership of Meditation Australia, and have the knowledge and confidence to teach in their own right.
As part of our commitment to provide ongoing support as you develop your skills and experience, we have established an online Meditation Teacher’s Community that does just that. There is peer support, ongoing professional development, a mass of resources, and opportunities to practice and develop your teaching skills with the audience of the closely allied Meditation Community.
Currently, I have a strong commitment to training and supporting the development of new meditation teachers, so if you are considering this as a possibility, and do meet the criteria, please do join us.
Each year we provide the basic Meditation Teacher Training, this year: 11 - 15 May 2026
Also, this year we will once more present the wonderful Contemplation Training: 31 October – 4 November 2026.
Next year, 2027, we are likely to present the Imagery Training once again; along with the basic Meditation module.
Attending 2 of these trainings meets MA’s criteria for membership. While you can attend the 3 modules in whatever order that suits, and each module does stand in its own right, we do encourage everyone interested in our approach to complete the Meditation module at least.
You will be welcome; and be joining a group of amazing, like-minded peers.
As with the retreat, to enquire re bookings, view our website, or contact our retreat manager Mel Crow on mel@insighthealth.com.au Mel will be happy to talk with you if you do need more details.
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