In the 5th century BC, after Buddha's passing, he left behind four tooth relics. One was taken to the heavens, and three others remained on earth. One of these relics is enshrined in the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n
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<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\nThis tooth is a national treasure of Sri Lanka and a symbol of royal power. In the past, kings had to worship the tooth when they ascended to the throne, and even today, presidents must do the same when they take office. This makes the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic a symbol of power and status. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.<\/p>\n
<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\nEvery evening at 6:30 PM, the tooth is displayed to the public for half an hour. Three hours before the display, I sat with the locals in the hallway, listening to them chant prayers. They didn\u2019t have prayer books, only lotus flowers, but they could recite the scriptures from memory, showing how deeply ingrained the words were in their minds.<\/p>\n
<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\nWhen the tooth was finally displayed, there was a long line and limited time, so each person only had a moment to see it. In that brief glance, a golden, magnificent stupa was etched into my mind. I couldn\u2019t find the tooth itself, but it didn\u2019t matter. The focused gazes and quiet weeping of the people around me completed my impression of the sacred tooth.<\/p>\n