Relics are bones and ashes gathered from a cremation fire.
In this case, a small cremation stupa had been built at Karme-Choling in Vermont in May 1987 where the Vidyadhara's body was cremated and his relics gathered. Much earlier statements by the Vidyadhara also contributed to the intention to build stupas in North America. The first monumental building of a stupa will be at Rocky Mountain Dharma center. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche set the direction for building a large stupa at RMSC, a reliquary for the remains of the Vidyadhara. It is well known that stupas are older than Buddhist tradition.