One of the goals is to spread their blessings outward so over the entrance might be good, but over the altar is good too. Made by Nuns; Japanese Incense . Thank you, Maggie. is this not adding pollution to our planet? document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Subscribe to our blog and receive new posts by email. Tibetan nuns at Dolma Ling Nunnery in India remove and burn old prayer flags and set up new ones to mark Losar, Tibetan New Year. The UN's top human rights body reviewed China for the third time on . Is it ok to hang Om Mani Pae Mey Hun flag high up in the bedroom wall.. We just want peace all over.. We mostly keep windows closed.. is it ok.. please advise. Two: there are powerful beings around who will be utterly provoked and create all sorts of calamities. She also brings about longevity, protects earthly travel, and guards her followers on their spiritual journey to enlightenment. Where can I send them? This all comes with a general disinterest in learning any of the actual teachings of the Buddha, Siddhartha Gotama Sakyamuni. That way we will not have a problem if disposal. Devas, which in Buddhism are a type of god-like, non-human entity, would carry flags with Gautama Buddha's prayers written on them into battle with asuras, which are a type of demi-god. Almost every monastery enshrines her. When we have anything that has holy images or texts- mainly the images. Tibetan prayer flags are religious. The Tibetan Buddhist nuns at Dolma Ling Nunnery in India have been making prayer flags for many years. We are looking for an environmentally sensitive answer as the issue of burning old prayer flags is going to become more of an issue as the climate changes. The reason why those streamers are known as prayer flags is that there are numerous Buddhism sutras printed on them. Thank you. One option is to take the synthetic prayer flags to a place in nature and tie them on a tree somewhere. The Tara prayer flags have a lovely image of Tara in the center. This way, every time you walk in and out you will activate and receive that protective blessing. STATEWIDE BUDGET. Content and Meaning of the Prayer Flags. Is it OK to tie the prayer flags to my pack when I climb in the mountains ? Luckily he agreed to do that in their back yard. The five colors are arranged in a specific order from left to right: blue, white, red, green, and yellow. I recently got beautiful prayer flags as a gift from my friend, I am a student in college and we are not allowed to hang items by the window (fire hazard) the best place I can hang them without it being a hazard is on my wall with the most sunlight.. is this appropriate ? Your wish is clearly to honor the memory of your beloved son and his generous, kind, and fair-minded nature. backyard chickens. However, you dont need to wait to hang your prayer flags. I am very excited to hang my prayer flags as I would like to begin sending my wishes to end suffering for sentient beings. Lha gyal lo, When disposing of old prayer flags one should burn them so that the smoke may carry their blessings to the heavens. There is no specific direction to hang them. Thanks for your question, Billy. A Closer Look at the Prayer Flags One unique traditional feature of the Tibetan prayer flag 'Lungta' is the image of a powerful horse with 3 'ratnas' or flaming jewels on its back. Tibetan prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. But still I was left with the blessed strings. Photo courtesy of Olivier Adam. Thank you for your time and consideration, I really appreciate all the information in this blog post. The horse (Ta)is a symbol of speed and the transformation of bad fortune to good fortune. Tibetans do not wash prayer flags. You can not only see marvelous religious artworks but also discover the spiritual home of Tibetan people. Each hue signifies an element and the flags are always arranged in a specific order, from left to right: blue, white, red, green, yellow. Thank you for your comment, Caitlin, and your wish to donate prayer flags. Buddhism has a growing visibility in mainstream Australia. Butter holds a sacred place in Tibetan Buddhist culture and is used for butter lamps, butter sculptures, and in making tormas. If you choose to enhance your home, garden or yoga studio with Tibetan prayer flags, its important to know the story behind them. Each color on these flags is not just for good looks, but these colors symbolize an element. They are not created to be washed, but rather hung in place where the prayers will blow in the wind. Meditation is quickly heading down the track of Yoga, which has become so far removed from its Hinduism roots many people in Australia probably wouldn't even know its religious tradition. Is there anything I can do to prevent this from continuing to happen? It was founded in 2005 and recommended by Lonely Planet as one of the best reputed local Tibet travel agencies. Made of cotton cloth, yarn of ramie, silk and so on, those oblong-shaped prayer flags are combined with five different colors, blue, white, red, green and yellow. During his reign, he greatly expanded the territory of Tibet and made it a powerful country on the Plateau. There is a concerted effort to make the Dhamma (the teachings of the Buddha) completely compatible with modern Western thinking and disregard for the supernatural. That being said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with engaging with Buddhism through Western philosophy. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the You don't have to be a Bhuddist to hang prayer flags, but there is a right way to hang them. Khata And Related Etiquette They are also used to carry prayers and mantras through the wind. Color Fading of These Flags also has a Meaning. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'bambubatu_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_2',119,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-bambubatu_com-medrectangle-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'bambubatu_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',119,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-bambubatu_com-medrectangle-3-0_1');.medrectangle-3-multi-119{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. And while easily accessible teachers - such as some of the works of the Dalai Lama - should be welcomed and celebrated, it's important to remember that you don't know everything there is to know about Buddhism from reading one book of quotes. My idea is that all of the materials that go to make up the prayer flags come from the ground Eventually they will go back to the ground, one way or another.through fire to ash or natural decomposition in the air to be carried by the natural processes, recycled to earth again. According to Tibetan Buddhism, where there is the prayer flag, there are God and wishes. Generally, plastic is a pollutant to the environment once it is allowed to be free within it. You can buy Tibetan prayer flags through the Tibetan Nuns Project online store. If that is not possible, then you can bury them underground in a clean place. It's a great way to stay The Dalai Lama, along with other Buddhist teachers, have actively sought to engage Westerners in Buddhism through the lens of Western philosophy and there is a direct comparison that can be draw here to the Buddha's own life. The new-style marriage is that men and women have the freedom to choose their spouses but still follow the etiquette of the traditional Tibetan wedding. Yes, it is fine for non-Buddhists to display Tibetan prayer flags. Thank you so much for your reply. White color symbolizes cloud, red is fire, green is water, yellow is earth, and blue is the sky. G ADVENTURES LIMITED, a company incorporated and registered in England and Wales with company number 7848780, VAT No.175 4505 02, and its registered office is 60 Bastwick Street, London, EC1V 3AT. It shows the spiritual charm of the Tibetan people to the world, and also shows people the cultural landscape of the roof of the world. Your Consumption of Buddhism Is Self-Serving I'm not going to knock mindfulness. Blue symbolizes the sky and space, white symbolizes the air and wind, red symbolizes fire, green symbolizes water, and yellow symbolizes earth. How can I hang them? 2. Blue represents the sky, white represents the air, red symbolizes fire, green symbolizes water, and yellow symbolizes earth. hello! Balancing these elements externally brings harmony to the environment. Yes, that would be fine Vidhya. 0. . Tibetan prayer flags are flown without any understanding or consideration of their religious meaning. 6. As you are burning the prayer flags, you should try to remember the intentions with which the prayer flags were made and blessed and have compassion for all sentient beings. Please tell me specifically when I can hang them. We have a long stretch to cover and are wondering a couple of things: Is it ok to string multiple prayer flags together to get the desired length or would you custom make the flags to our desired length? Ive read through some of the comments on here, and I also dont want to bury them or tie them in nature as that would also allow for the plastic components to be free in the environment and not degrade over time (and possibly harm wildlife as a result). The five colors represent the five elements and the Five Pure Lights. Now, it's widely used in the northern part of India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Buddhism in Western Society Sutras - or mantras from three pillars of the great Buddhist Bodhisattvas, conveying things like peace, wisdom, and strength - are written on them. Handmade art has been an indispensable part of the lives of the Tibetan people. In Buddhist believers eyes, the prayer flag waves for one time in the wind means reciting the sutra once, which is a way to show pilgrims wishes and seek blessings from Gods. As they blow in the wind, they confer blessings and peace. Do you also burn old khatas in a similar fashion? Thank you. Tibetan Prayer flags are intentionally crafted with 5 specific colors to honor and represent the 5 elements in balance: Blue for space. So, instead of buying it, getting these flags as a gift from someone is how you should acquire a prayer flag. Yes, you can hang the prayers outside your house. Maybe I will put them in a bag for Goodwill or another place that accepts donations. They should not touch the ground. Tibetan Handicrafts When hanging prayer flags one should wish that all beings everywhere will benefit and find happiness. You have written that, when hanging and taking down the prayer flags, you are handling them with respect and good intentions. The five colors are arranged from left to right in a specific order: blue, white, red, green, and yellow. To be clear, the reason behind hanging Tibetan prayer flags is to spread blessings not only for us but also for other beings and people all over the world, up to the place, the spirit of the Lungta settles and reaches. Prayer flags are colorful panels of rectangular cloths that promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom in Tibetan Buddhism. Songtsen Gampo(617-650) was the 33rd Tibetan King. I recently had vandalism to my prayer flags. Since the ancient Zhangzhung period of the Tibetan Plateau, prayer flags have become popular here. You can choose to say a mantra if you wish. Tibetan tradition considers prayer flags to be holy. I live in a desert so I am a bit lost. These times include Tibetan New Year and the two weeks that follow it and Saga Dawa (the fourth month of the Tibetan Lunar calendar), particularly Saga Dawa Duchen, the most holy day (the 15th day of the 4th lunar month) which marks the Buddhas birth, enlightenment, and paranirvana. The Tibetan prayer flags carry symbols and mantras that are considered sacred. When talking about Tibetan handicrafts, people would think of Thangka, Tibetan incense, Tibetan medicine, Tibetan knife, Tibetan ornaments, etc. The flags give strangers an opportunity to ask what they are about and learn of our son, who was a generous, kind, and fair-minded spirit. Well post the answers as soon as possible. Hi, I recently hung my prayer flags, some are twisted right up on themselves. Flags that fly vertically, which are less common, are known as dar Cho or dar Chen flags. Those flags are called lung dar prayer flags. Tibetan language is referred to as Bodic or Tibetic language. In that way we are reminded, not only of impermanence, but also the mystery of re-incarnation. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said, The quality or purity of any spiritual practice is determined by the individuals intention and motivation. As this blog post says, When raising prayer flags it is important to have a good motivation. We have placed an order with the nuns at Dolma Ling, but it could be some time before they can obtain materials. Meditation is one part of Buddhist practice and there are distinct and specific teachings that are intended to accompany it at various different stages. The red, blue, yellow, white and green buddhist prayer flags represent elements like air, fire, water and earth. Regarding the order of the prayer flags hung on a balcony, theres no true rule for this. There are Two Kinds of Flags- Horizontal and Vertical. So, if you want to hang them somewhere, make sure that theyre on a height. The intention is the most important thing. The five colors are: blue, white, red, green and yellow. Wishing you health and happiness. Any symbolism to pray upon? Ones intention is what matters. The third type of prayer flag is composed of five pieces of colorful streamers without lettering and a single color trimmed main banner square cloth, which are printed with Buddha's teachings and patterns of birds and animals. When talking to educated rulers he would use intellectual language; when speaking to farmers he would often use simple similes to everyday agricultural practices. Can I do this on any day, or are there specific days one should take down prayer flags? Dear Willow, The main thing is ones intention and treating the prayer flags with respect. It includes a budget status summary table with . I have read that there are mantras to be said while hanging up the flags, what are they? Thank you, Daniel. Tibetan prayer flags are bright and beautiful, but their colours aren't just for show. Since you have some synthetic prayer flags hanging on your patio now, when you want to replace them, perhaps you can take the old ones out into a forest or natural place and hang them on a tree. Are you sure you want to delete this blog post? Is it significant which direction you put it in. However, the way the organisation went out promoting it was in line with the broader trend to remove the religion and pacify the practice for a Western audience. Therefore, taking prayer flags to your friend after your visit to Tibet is the right thing to do. I am moving to a new home, can I hang the prayer flags I currently have at my old home? Your wish to honor her in this special way sounds full of love and compassion, including for her friends who are unable to attend her memorial. Appropriation Bill Status Sheet. Dear Genevieve, The best option may be for you to leave them up to fade away and disintegrate. Would this be disrespectful? As you pointed out, this is a very unique way of disposing of them. Central to the appropriation in the West is the way Buddhism is tokenised and not treated as a legitimate religion. Quite some time ago I was assigned to dispose of some hundreds of wood malas that had been blessed by HH 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje. As the blog states, Tibetans traditionally hang new prayer flags at Losar, Tibetan New Year, which this year falls on February 5 2019. Dear Amy, Were very sorry to hear that someone vandalized your prayer flags. Dear Mariellen, This is not a question weve encountered before, but your intention is what matters. Ideally, people hang their flags on sunny, windy days. Free shipping on u.s. orders over $75 | canada over $150. Old prayer flags should be burned in order to show traditional Tibetan respect and carry prayers to the heavens. Rice Cooker and Dough Maker at Dolma Ling, Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Tibetan Nuns Project, How to Make Your Chicken Coop Cute! I know this this is not advisable for everyone, but if you have some woods or perhaps even just and undisturbed part of your land this could be a viable option. Top 10 Tibetan Monasteries Dear Hazel, Its best to hang the prayer flag somewhere high. Hello, our son passed away at the age of eleven. Buddhism and Zen mediation offered an escape from the materialistic mindset of the West. Tibetan Language i have recently purchased two sets of prayer flags, and was wondering how often i should be moving them around my altar? But do you even know that these are not just some fancy accessories? Tibetan Prayer Flags are colorful, rectangular cloths that hung outside and used to promote compassion, peace, strength, and wisdom. Dear Michelle, You can double back your prayer flags or tie it to something else. Is it inappropriate to hang prayer flags inside? While stringing your flags up wherever you choose to display them, it's important to keep good, selfless motivations in mind, in keeping with the flags' ultimate purpose, which is spreading positivity far and wide. 9 Likes, 0 Comments - Tibetan Culture (@culturetibet) on Instagram: "Tibetan prayer flags are either designed for horizontal or vertical hanging. For the prayer flags, the combination of earth and earth is said to be the most auspicious. Around the frame of the doorway is regarded as the right place to put the flags. There's a point at which "appreciation" mutates into "appropriation" - and it's a line we should all be weary of. Beijing, February 28: China once again came under UN scrutiny over human rights violations in Tibet, reported Pardafas. If so, how should I take them down and put them back up? Phone: 805.316.1233Email: mail@bambubatu.com. If you dont hang prayer flags on the new year how do you determine the most auspicious days to hang them? This cannot be undone. Tibetan tradition considers prayer flags to be holy. While it would be disrespectful if you were to write the names on top of prayers on real Tibetan prayer flags, but your idea of mimicking prayer flags with colored fabric does not sound disrespectful. The wind horse is a symbol of the human soul in the shamanistic tradition of East Asia and Central Asia.In Tibetan Buddhism, it was included as the pivotal element in the center of the four animals symbolizing the cardinal directions and a symbol of the idea of well-being or good fortune.It has also given the name to a type of prayer flag that has the five animals printed on it. They should not be placed on the ground or put in the trash. Long before the hipsters and bohemians started waving them from their motor homes and their frat houses, these prayer flags had a deep religious and spiritual significance in their own cultural context. First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we We are deeply sorry for the loss of your son and send you our profound condolences. I was given a beautiful strand of prayer flags, but when I opened them today to hang (Tibetan New Year) I discovered they are too long for my deck! Ajahn Brahmavamso, a well-known British Theravada monk based in Perth, illustrates the importance of mindfulness being accompanied by the Buddhist Triple-Gem foundations of Sila (morality), Samadhi (concentration/peace of mind) and Panna (wisdom), as similar to a cat that stalks with the intention to kill. The flags customarily come in sets of five, each with a different color and mantra. Now, it's widely used in the northern part of India, Nepal, and Bhutan. If youre unable to do this, just dispose of them as respectfully as possible. The second type of prayer flag is a three to five meters long strip of cloth with a single color, either white or red, printed with the Buddha's teachings. 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