Teeth, finger bones and blessings: Buddhist relics inspire beliefCalifornia Buddhist temple displays what it calls the “10,000 Buddha Relics.”ByDEEPA BHARATH Associated PressMarch 1, 2026, 8:00 AMROSEMEAD, Calif. -- Katherine Nguyen stood with hands folded and head bowed at the altar of a Buddhist temple in Southern California. Before her were tooth and finger bone relics believed to belong to Shakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism who is said to have attained enlightenment in India about 2,500 years ago.“To be able to see the Buddha, to get close to him and feel the energy — it’s very special for a Buddhist,” Nguyen said. Every Lunar New Year, the Wei Mountain Temple in Rosemead, California, publicly displays what it calls the “10,000 Buddha Relics," though the actual number contained in several glass display cases and miniature stupas or reliquaries is far larger, according to the temple’s founder, Master YongHua. The collection prominently features bones and teeth believed to have come from the bodies of the Buddha, his relatives and disciples.
