Explanation of Practices and Activities that Hswagata Abstains From:
Commercial Exploitation:
Hswagata Buddha Tooth Relics Preservation Museum adamantly abstains from any form of commercial exploitation related to the sacred Buddha relics. This includes refraining from selling relics or any items associated with the relics for profit. The core belief is that these relics are not commodities but revered artifacts embodying the teachings of Lord Buddha. Engaging in commercial activities with the relics would be seen as a sacrilegious act, contradicting the principles of reverence and respect.
Unethical Exhibition:
The museum maintains a strict policy against engaging in exhibition practices that could be perceived as unethical or disrespectful. It abstains from any form of sensationalism, inappropriate displays, or activities that might compromise the solemnity and dignity of the relics. Hswagata is committed to ensuring that the relics are presented in a manner that aligns with the highest standards of reverence and cultural sensitivity.
Unauthorized Replication:
Hswagata Museum unequivocally abstains from endorsing or participating in the replication or reproduction of the Buddha relics. Unauthorized replication can lead to confusion and misrepresentation, potentially diluting the authenticity and sanctity of the relics. The museum recognizes that any attempt at replication should only be undertaken with the utmost care, respect, and adherence to ethical guidelines.
Irresponsible Handling:
The custodians at Hswagata Museum are rigorously trained to abstain from any form of irresponsible or careless handling of the Buddha relics. They follow meticulously prescribed protocols for the proper care, preservation, and safekeeping of the relics. Irresponsible handling is not only inconsistent with the reverence due to these sacred artifacts but also risks causing inadvertent damage or harm.
Conflict and Controversy:
Hswagata Museum is committed to abstaining from any activities or practices that may incite conflict, controversy, or disrespect towards the Buddha relics or Buddhist teachings. This includes refraining from participating in debates or discussions that have the potential to lead to disharmony. The museum's primary goal is to maintain an atmosphere of reverence and tranquility, where visitors can engage with the relics in a spirit of peace and reflection.
The Reasons Behind These Abstentions:
The abstentions observed by Hswagata Museum are driven by profound reasons deeply rooted in Buddhist values and principles:
Preservation of Sacredness:
Abstaining from commercial exploitation, unethical exhibition, and unauthorized replication is essential for preserving the sacredness of the Buddha relics. These practices could compromise the profound reverence with which these relics are held within the Buddhist tradition and beyond.
Respect for Authenticity:
Refraining from unauthorized replication ensures that the authenticity of the relics remains unblemished. Authenticity is paramount in preserving the historical and spiritual significance of the relics, as any doubts about their genuineness could undermine their cultural and religious importance.
Ethical Custodianship:
Abstaining from irresponsible handling is a testament to the ethical custodianship practiced at Hswagata Museum. It signifies a commitment to ensuring the safety, preservation, and responsible care of the relics in alignment with Buddhist principles of compassion and reverence.
Promotion of Harmony:
Avoiding activities that may incite conflict or controversy is consistent with Buddhism's emphasis on peace and harmony. The museum's commitment to these abstentions contributes to maintaining a harmonious environment for visitors and the broader community, fostering an atmosphere of tranquility and respect.
Alignment with Buddhist Principles:
These abstentions are an embodiment of core Buddhist principles such as compassion, non-violence, and ethical conduct. They serve as a living manifestation of the teachings of Lord Buddha, reinforcing the museum's role as a guardian of these values.The Hswagata Museum's practices and abstentions serve as a safeguard for the sanctity, authenticity, and cultural significance of the Buddha relics.
They embody a profound commitment to upholding the reverence, ethics, and principles associated with Buddhism, ensuring that visitors and future generations can engage with these relics in an environment of deep respect and spiritual reflection.
An agenda for the 10 key activities involved in taking relics during the Hswa Ga Ta ceremony, along with the purpose of each agenda:
Agenda 1: Paying Homage to the Panca Ananta Guna
• Purpose: To express endless gratitude and veneration to fundamental aspects of Buddhism, fostering a deep sense of respect and reverence for the core teachings and principles of the faith.
Agenda 2: Paying Homage to the 10 Great Friends
• Purpose: To seek forgiveness for accumulated sins and errors while paying homage to 10 significant figures in Buddhism, reinforcing the importance of humility, forgiveness, and gratitude.
Agenda 3: Invocation of Deities
• Purpose: To invoke the presence and blessings of divine beings to bear witness to the ceremony and support the participants in their commitment to following the Buddha's teachings and upholding virtuous conduct.
Agenda 4: Remembering Silanussati and Making a Vow of Sila
• Purpose: To recall the principles of virtuous conduct (Sila) and to make a solemn vow to adhere to these precepts, promoting ethical living, and mindfulness in daily life.
Agenda 5: Offering Flowers, Water, and Light
• Purpose: To symbolize devotion and respect for the Buddha, Pyitsayka Buddha, and Araha, and to express the aspiration for purity, wisdom, and the illumination of one's own path toward enlightenment.
Agenda 6: Invocation of Relics
• Purpose: To formally invoke and welcome the relics into one's possession, recognizing their sacredness and the responsibility of safeguarding and venerating them.
Agenda 7: Giving Relics
• Purpose: To offer a portion of the relics, symbolizing generosity, and the willingness to share the blessings and merits accrued through this ceremony with others.
Agenda 8: Sharing Merits
• Purpose: To collectively dedicate the merits generated during the ceremony to benefit all sentient beings, fostering a sense of altruism and compassion.
Agenda 9: Sending Loving-Kindness
• Purpose: To cultivate loving-kindness (metta) and compassion (karuna) by directing well-wishes and positive intentions toward oneself and all beings, promoting inner peace and harmonious relationships.
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Agenda 10: Accepting Loving-Kindness
• Purpose: To receive and acknowledge the loving-kindness and positive energy generated during the ceremony, promoting a sense of interconnectedness and gratitude within the community.
These agendas collectively serve to deepen one's connection to the Buddhist tradition, promote virtuous living, and create an atmosphere of spiritual growth, compassion, and inner peace within the individual and the community.
What Hswagata may request from practitioners before they take relics to their own place:
The 10 key activities involved in taking relics during the Hswa Ga Ta ceremony, along with the purpose of each agenda:
Agenda 1: Paying Homage to the Panca Ananta Guna
• Purpose: To express endless gratitude and veneration to fundamental aspects of Buddhism, fostering a deep sense of respect and reverence for the core teachings and principles of the faith.
Agenda 2: Paying Homage to the 10 Great Friends
• Purpose: To seek forgiveness for accumulated sins and errors while paying homage to 10 significant figures in Buddhism, reinforcing the importance of humility, forgiveness, and gratitude.
Agenda 3: Invocation of Deities
• Purpose: To invoke the presence and blessings of divine beings to bear witness to the ceremony and support the participants in their commitment to following the Buddha's teachings and upholding virtuous conduct.
Agenda 4: Remembering Silanussati and Making a Vow of Sila
• Purpose: To recall the principles of virtuous conduct (Sila) and to make a solemn vow to adhere to these precepts, promoting ethical living, and mindfulness in daily life.
Agenda 5: Offering Flowers, Water, and Light
• Purpose: To symbolize devotion and respect for the Buddha, Pyitsayka Buddha, and Araha, and to express the aspiration for purity, wisdom, and the illumination of one's own path toward enlightenment.
Agenda 6: Invocation of Relics
• Purpose: To formally invoke and welcome the relics into one's possession, recognizing their sacredness and the responsibility of safeguarding and venerating them.
Agenda 7: Giving Relics
• Purpose: To offer a portion of the relics, symbolizing generosity, and the willingness to share the blessings and merits accrued through this ceremony with others.
Agenda 8: Sharing Merits
• Purpose: To collectively dedicate the merits generated during the ceremony to benefit all sentient beings, fostering a sense of altruism and compassion.
Agenda 9: Sending Loving-Kindness
• Purpose: To cultivate loving-kindness (metta) and compassion (karuna) by directing well-wishes and positive intentions toward oneself and all beings, promoting inner peace and harmonious relationships.
Agenda 10: Accepting Loving-Kindness
• Purpose: To receive and acknowledge the loving-kindness and positive energy generated during the ceremony, promoting a sense of interconnectedness and gratitude within the community.
These agendas collectively serve to deepen one's connection to the Buddhist tradition, promote virtuous living, and create an atmosphere of spiritual growth, compassion, and inner peace within the individual and the community.
What Hswagata may request from practitioners before they take relics to their own place: