Sacred Relics Coming to NY + Meditation Retreat : Calling for Volunteers
Dear I Liq Chuan / Zhong Xin Dao Family,
Following the deeply meaningful event in Chicago, we have a extraordinary update to share.
Renowned Buddhist scholar and monk Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi has requested for the sacred relics to travel to Chuang Yen Monastery right here in New York. Master Jiru agreed to this sacred arrangement on one condition: that our I Liq Chuan family returns to watch over and care for the relics once again. What an honor for our community to be entrusted with such responsibilities!
Chin Family and Zhong Xin Dao / I Liq Chuan volunteers at the Chicago Sacred Relics event
What Are the Relics?
In the Buddhist tradition, sacred relics (often called Śarīra or Ringsel) are physical remnants left behind following the cremation of the Buddha or highly realized spiritual masters.
They often appear as small, pearl-like, translucent, or jewel-colored crystals embedded within the cremation ashes. In Buddhist understanding, these objects are not merely physical bone or ash; they are considered the physical manifestation of a lifetime of deep spiritual cultivation, wisdom, concentration, and ethical purity.
Why Are They Sacred?
Living Reminders of Realization: The relics serve as tangible evidence of what human consciousness can achieve through dedicated practice, clarity, and compassion.
Vessels of Blessing & Presence: In traditional view, relics carry the living energetic essence (adhiṣṭhāna or spiritual blessing) of the masters. Being in their presence offers practitioners a space to quiet the mind and reflect on their own internal path.
Why Do They Need Guarding & Custodianship?
Guarding sacred relics combines practical responsibility with sacred stewardship:
Creating a Stable Environment: Large public viewings bring continuous crowds. Custodians hold a calm, grounded, and stable physical presence so pilgrims can pay respects in peace.
Respect & Tradition: Historically, caring for relics has been treated as a sacred duty (stewardship). Serving as a custodian ensures the relics are handled, moved, and displayed with utmost care and solemnity.
Mindfulness in Action: For practitioners, guarding the relics is an external extension of internal practice—maintaining quiet discipline, awareness, and presence while serving the wider community.
Safeguarding an Irreplaceable Treasure: Because these relics are one-of-a-kind and precious especially to Buddhist communities globally, Master Jiru must ensure they remain entirely safe from loss, damage, or theft. He specifically chose our I Liq Chuan / Zhong Xin Dao family because he deeply trusts the integrity and mental stability of the students cultivated by his dear Kung Fu brother, Grandmaster Sam Chin.
If you were unable to join us in Chicago, this is your chance! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (twice for our community!) to put your practice into action, serve our community, and connect with a pivotal piece of our lineage's history. We hope to recruit 10-15 volunteers to take rotating shifts throughout the day.
A Return to Our Roots
Chuang Yen Monastery holds a deeply sacred place in our lineage—it is the birthplace of I Liq Chuan in the United States. In the 1990s, Grandmaster Sam F.S. Chin worked full-time at the monastery as a handyman and served as the main chef for major Dharma assemblies, cooking for hundreds of people at once. It was right here, during the weekends, that he began teaching I Liq Chuan to the public for the very first time in America.
For this event, our team will be sleeping directly in Kuan Yin Hall—the exact same building where those initial I Liq Chuan classes were held over thirty years ago.
Chuang Yen Monastery : Kuan Yin Hall (left) and the Big Buddha Hall (right)
Volunteer Expectations & Logistics
Serving as a custodian for the relics is both a high honor and a direct application of our internal practice—adjusting with the demanding physical composure, stability, awareness of the surroundings and quiet discipline.
Location: Chuang Yen Monastery (2020 Route 301, Carmel, NY 10512)
Shift Schedule: Volunteers will serve 24 hours rotation shift schedule including the public display hours of the relics from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM on both 9/17 Saturday and 9/18 Sunday. Volunteers are expected to report in by Friday evening and staying overnight with the relics until Sunday. If you are unable to stay over night, please indicate it in the application.
Duty Requirements: Expect to be standing for 1.5 to 2-hour shifts at a time before taking a rest break.
Briefing: We will setup mandatory online info session for volunteers once registration closes to share more detailed information on what to expect and what to bring.
Accommodations: We will be staying in Kuan Yin Hall alongside the relics. Please note that no mattresses are provided, so please bring your own sleeping pad, sleeping bag, pillow, and whatever bedding you need to make yourself comfortable.
See official announcement of the event HERE from Chuang Yen Monastery.
What It's Like on the Ground
“Acting as a guardian, it was apparent from the first few minutes of standing under the sun that it takes real discipline and mental resilience to sustain an entire shift. I had to stay constantly aware of both my surroundings and my physical alignment.
I deeply appreciated the team that was assembled—each person genuinely showed up ready and willing to selflessly step up to the task.
I loved experiencing the collaboration between Master Jiru and Sifu Sam. They have such a unique bond and complementary understanding of life. This was truly an unforgettable experience!”
🌟 Volunteer Gratitude & Retreat
To express his deep appreciation for those who step up to serve, Master Jiru will be offering a special 2-day meditation workshop.
Dates: October 15th (Thursday) and 16th (Friday). Conveniently occurring after Master Hsin’s retreat. Exact time TBD.
For Volunteers: Attendance at the 2-day workshop is offered as a gift of gratitude for your service.
For Non-Volunteers: Anyone in our community who wishes to attend the meditation workshop without volunteering is warmly invited to join for a suggested donation of $80-$120.
If you are not joining us for the Meditation Workshop, we kindly request volunteers to report to Chuang Yen Monastery by 5PM on Friday October 16th to brief for the event.
👉 [APPLY HERE]
Please apply above latest by 9/14 if you’re interested in either joining us for the Meditation workshop, volunteering to guard the relics or to both! Registration will open until we fill up the spots. If you need more time to sort out logistics, please contact yen@iliqchuan.com.
Thank you for your continued dedication, presence, and spirit of service.
With gratitude,
CHIN FAMILY
