Chapter Thirteen: The Supreme Sarira

In the Dharma-Ending Age, the delusions of sentient beings are rampant, and the spiritual realm is declining. Without any extraordinary and external presentations, even if they receive precious teachings, it is extremely rare for them to obtain the ultimate result. Therefore, Rinpoche applied expedient means and exhibited Sarira, believers from all corners of the world came to pay homage to Rinpoche and grew unshrinkable faith in Rinpoche’s compassion and the Dharma. Despite this, Rinpoche always said modestly, “the relics produced do not necessarily mean that they are good signs. According to the Three Codes by Sakya Pandita, ‘the manifestation of Sarira and rainbow point to two types of omens, good or bad. The good ones come with the practice of the right paths; the bad ones are the other way around.’” Rinpoche further illustrated, “The appearance of the auspicious sarira is all due to the disciples’ faith. There is an anecdote that says that as long as the faith is sufficient, even a dog’s teeth can produce Sarira.”

According to the Golden Light Sutra, Sarira is the result of the immeasurable merits accumulated through six paramitas. It also says that Sarira is the result of the cultivation of precepts, meditation, and wisdom. They are very difficult to obtain and are the best field of merits.

Rinpoche first manifested his Sarira in 1988. As recorded in the Hum Sutra, Rinpoche’s fallen front tooth was wrapped in a small cloth and placed in a cabinet. After being picked up by his disciples, many Sarira grew out of the tooth. Later, in the hair, clothes, cushions and even other fallen tooth Sarira, many Sarira sprung up. Some were as big as beans, while some were as small as seeds.

After Rinpoche’s Nirvana, the Dharma body continuously produced Sarira, the number of which expanded multiple times than before, and even richer in the colors and varied in shapes, unprecedentedly.

As stated in the Vajrasattva Consciousness Sutra, “When a tantric practitioner passes away, colorful light and wonderful sounds appear in the sky. There are auspicious signs of Sarira nearby. There are five colors of Sarira: blue, white, red, yellow, and green. This majestic manifestation confirms the achievement of five bodies.”

At that time, Sarira fell like nectar around the Dharma body. There were so many that the attendants could only start picking them up from the outside of the room to the inside, one by one, fearing that they might accidentally stepped upon or missed out on any. Among the three largest relics, yellow, white and red, one was even bigger than a quail egg. The three big Sarira from the first day were also growing at a speed visible to the naked eyes. A few days later, many Sarira appeared in the main hall of the monastery. Some people picked up hundreds of Sarira at a time, most of which were white, but there were also yellow, pink, sky blue and green ones. They were extremely sacred.

Rinpoche practiced Buddhism throughout his entire life, verified the extraordinary and true meaning of Buddhism, added glory to Buddhism, opened the door to the right path for all sentient beings, and left behind the most precious teachings and Sarira.

Chapter Thirteen: The Supreme Sarira