It is considered disrespectful too if the Buddhist flags lay down on the ground or keep still. THEY ARE ALL PLASTIC NOWADAYS. While many aspects of Buddhism are compatible with Western philosophy, trying to understand all aspects of the Dhamma through these notions requires a high level of selectivity and misrepresentation. Tibetans believe that the prayers will be spread by the wind, bringing goodwill and auspiciousness to all beings. Tibetan prayer flags are religious. Thank you so much for purchasing products made by the nuns. They also represent directions - North, South, East, West and Center. If so, how should I take them down and put them back up? Blue, white, red, green and yellow, the colors also signify the five elements: sky, air, fire, water and earth, respectively. 9 Likes, 0 Comments - Tibetan Culture (@culturetibet) on Instagram: "Tibetan prayer flags are either designed for horizontal or vertical hanging. Is there anything I can do to prevent this from continuing to happen? Hello Maura, We have consulted the nuns about disposing of prayer flags. If they touch the ground accidentally, just collect them and touch them to your forehead a few times, saying a short prayer (like Om mani padme hum) with sincerity and the wish to end suffering for all sentient beings. The flags contain sacred texts and symbols and should be treated respectfully. Handmade art has been an indispensable part of the lives of the Tibetan people. Presenting Khata expresses good wishes and respect. Is there an appropriate way to store them for moving? Tibetans do hang prayer flags on auspicious days, thereby multiplying the merit and impact of hanging the prayer flags. Twice now my prayer flags have been taken by squirrels. Then they were to be safely put back in the forest, after doing some Medicine Buddha mantras, blowing on them, pouring some saffron water over and making some dedications. Where can I send them? If so is it ok to create pieces of colored fabric that has their names, mimicking a prayer flag? Instead, Buddhism has been widely appropriated and pacified by a broader audience in a manner which fits broadly in the context of Orientalism. The prayer flags signify an affiliation with Tibetan Buddhism, and those who decorate with them presumably embrace the ideals of mindfulness, tolerance, and non-violence. Temples and monasteries are springing up and serving both Asian migrant communities and Western followers alike. I have prayer flags Id like to donate. Other auspicious days are those connected with the Buddhas life and teaching. Tibetan prayer flags long 5 meters 20 flags from Nepal handmade frayed flags with prayers and blessings for peace Karmandala (1,551) $22.13 Healing Tibetan Prayer Flags Rolls - 2 Sizes (Small 7" & Large 10") meditation art, Buddhist wall art - Tibetan Prayer Flags Spiritual Flags HPvillage (2,134) $9.31 But even before that, Indians were printing these banners and displaying them as a symbol of their commitment to the tenets of Ahisma and non-violence. However, there is a concerted effort to remove meditation from its religious context as a Buddhist practice and ignore the teachings that are intended to accompany it. We are moving and our old prayer flags need to be taken down. Surely there can be no harm in adding prayer flags to compost where they will be consumed by living beings instead of fire and in turn become the raw material for new life. them ready for you. Yes, it is fine for non-Buddhists to display Tibetan prayer flags. Go off the beaten path (and onto a dhoni boat) to best explore this island paradise, Our Roamie-ing Reporter, Claire Scott, shares highlights from her big Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia adventure, Our Roamie-ing Reporter, Claire Scott, shares highlights from her fun-filled Costa Rican adventure, As part of her two year solo trek, Dina Carter gives you the lowdown on hiking hubs in Patagonia, Where to travel this year based on your zodiac sign. According to Tibetan Buddhism, where there is the prayer flag, there are God and wishes. You can string the prayer flags either way because the wind moves around and changes direction. This was finally done today after pondering the best way to do that, eliminating the options of discarding them in the sea or the river. Traditionally, Tibetan prayer flags are hung left to right in this specific order: blue, white, red, green, and yellow. This all comes with a general disinterest in learning any of the actual teachings of the Buddha, Siddhartha Gotama Sakyamuni. And some of the text on the prayer flags are purely selected from Buddhist tantra mantras, such as the White Parasol Mantra on the Great Prayer Flag. Photo courtesy of Olivier Adam. I saw one comment about placing the flags in a shrine house to place in nature, and thought I could possibly fold them up (the flags are quite small) and place them in some kind of terrarium or other small shrine or spirit house to keep in my balcony garden. Imagine, the compost might even be used to fertilise cotton plants producing new cotton for new prayer flagsEm Ah Ho! Both work. The Origin of the Tibetan Prayer Flags The reason why those streamers are known as prayer flags is that there are numerous Buddhism sutras printed on them. Tibetan prayer flags are flown without any understanding or consideration of their religious meaning. I hope this is understandable . Tibetan prayer flags fly from many porches across the inner-city, Bunning's Warehouse sells Buddha statues and water-features and Big W sells paintings of the Buddha. Above the home temple or on the door at the entrance? Revered as the second Buddha, Guru Rinpoche (Precious Guru) conquered the local deities and demons of Tibet and bound them by oath to become guardians of Buddhism. Your southern-facing window is fine. Almost every monastery enshrines her. The wind makes the flags wave more briskly, carrying the prayer higher and further. Traditionally, prayer flags are hung outside so the wind can carry the prayers to the world for the benefit of all sentient beings. Old prayer flags should be burned in order to show traditional Tibetan respect and carry prayers to the heavens. Made by Nuns; Japanese Incense . 11 Mile Public Parking & Public Space Project Requested Amount: $2,000,000 Recipient: City of Oak Park Project Location: Oak Park Project Description: Funding will be used to repair parking lots and install lighting, EV charging stations, and ADA upgrades. Tashi Delek! [1] Tibetan Buddhism Prostration is one of the oldest and most sincere waysfor Tibetan Buddhists to pray to the Buddha, also called kowtow. 4. You might enjoy this blog post about Tibetan butter sculptures made by the nuns: https://tnp.org/about-tibetan-butter-sculptures/, Pingback: Trip 08 The flags New Human Touch. Sign up for our newsletter below. Your email address will not be published. If so, you might want to try ironing the prayer flags so that they lay more flat. Description. Lha gyal lo, And so the cycle continues. I hope you enjoy! Prayer Flags are the Religious Token for the Well-being. You may also choose to let your old Tibetan prayer flags fade and disintegrate naturally, hanging new prayer flags up with old ones. Every so often we receive messagesabout how to hang and dispose of Tibetan prayer flags respectfully. Tibetan Wedding Customs and Ceremony Menu. Another question that weve received about Tibetan prayer flag protocol is whether it is OK to disassemble them and use them separately, or do they have to be displayed together in a row so that all the elements are represented. These are merely recommendations for the best results, however, and not deeply held religious laws whose violation will bring eternal punishment. Palden Lhamo is the chief Dharma Protector, so she is highly valued in all major sects of Tibetan Buddhism. Where can I hang it? Tibetans do not wash prayer flags. Thank you so much for your reply. Thank you so much for supporting the nuns! Over time, the wind and the elements take their toll, the colors fade, and the fabric frays. First came the Free Tibet t-shirts and bumper stickers, iconic symbols of grassroots organizing and international awareness, even before the era of MySpace and TedTalks. I would have burned them, but I have a feeling they are likely synthetic and I dont want to burn plastic materials. The Tibetan people have a long history and relationship with spirituality in their cultureso much so, that almost any thought of Tibet conjures up images of monks and temples in our minds. One option is to take the synthetic prayer flags to a place in nature and tie them on a tree somewhere. Tibetan Buddhism Prostration is one of the oldest and most sincere waysfor Tibetan Buddhists to pray to the Buddha, also called kowtow. Each color on these flags is not just for good looks, but these colors symbolize an element. 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. Check out our Kailash Saga Dawa Festival trip here. Buddhism in Western Society I got it to hang in our car but its too long, and want to put in my home but our home is in such a way that there is no wind coming either from patio or from window. My friends husband, a Tibetan ex-monk, then said it was best to bury them as burning was not advisable. They believe that God will help those who hang prayer flags. Can I take my flags and hang them at my new home? So, instead of buying it, getting these flags as a gift from someone is how you should acquire a prayer flag. Jarni Blakkarly is a Melbourne-based free-lance journalist and a journalism student at RMIT. I would like to honor her at her memorial by representing all of the people she touched but who can not attend the service. Content and Meaning of the Prayer Flags. Hi. In the highlands of the Himalayas, devotees hang their prayer flags far and wide. We have 20 Acres half of which is left to nature. Being careful not to let the old prayer flags touch the ground, a Tibetan Buddhist nun burns the flags while wishing to end the suffering of all sentient beings. Prayers vary, but typically they invoke a series of blessings, including longevity, prosperity, health and peace. While the cat is poised with mindfulness, it is without right intention. We hope that helps as you hang your prayer flags. Because of the sacred writings on the flags, they should not be used in clothing or thrown away. Traditionally, Tibetan prayer flags are hung up and kept hanging up with the air flowing through them. The colorful fabric squares, hanging side by side, each contain a Buddhist Sutra, prayer or mantra. China was grilled at the last two days of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights session in Geneva on February 15-16. Is it possible that the rope is twisted or the prayer flags are curled up? Dear Michelle, Yes it is totally fine to string multiple sets of prayer flags together and this is commonly done. 2. At the end of the day Buddhism is a religious tradition that dates back more than 2500 years and not a fad or something you "discovered" on your holiday to Thailand. Balancing the five elements in places and in our own bodies and lives helps to bring harmony, health and well-being. Many Tibetan prayer flags have mantras written on them and can be placed in and outside of your home. Windhorse prayer flags made by the nuns are available in three sizes. Prayer Flags Must Be Treated With Respect Considered sacred, and therefore must be given utmost respect are the prayer flags and the text, mantras, and symbols. Gyaltsen Tsenpo prayer flags are printed with sutras bestowed by Lord Buddha to Indra, king of the gods to overcome his enemies and achieve victory. I do not want to be disrespectful but also want to honor my friend in a way she would enjoy or relate to. As Buddhism grows in the West, it is natural that the initial points of contact will be through the pre-socialised systems of reasoning. Can I do this on any day, or are there specific days one should take down prayer flags? His Holiness the Dalai Lama says that our motivation, to end the suffering of sentient beings, is the most important thing. Learn how your comment data is processed. In Melbourne a bar run by white non-Buddhists called Asian Beer Cafe features Buddha themed rooms to drink in. It better stills, just tie up the new ones next to the old. Sutras or mantras from three pillars of the great Buddhist Bodhisattvas, conveying things like peace, wisdom, and strength are written on them. A bit like the American flag, there are certain norms regarding how, when and where the flags are displayed. Yes, these are excellent questions and we are writing to the nuns to get the very best answers to them. Perhaps there is a Buddhist temple or meditation center near you that you can give them to. Tibetan marriage customs have distinctive local characteristics. Color and order. White for air. We hope to share a blog post soon about the mantra OM MANI PADME HUM. I am interested in your thoughts on this. A-. 4 Days Lhasa City Essential Group Tour from USD450, 8 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Group Tour from USD930, 9 Days Lhasa Shigatse Mt.Everest Namtso Tour from USD1200, 15 Days Mt.Everest & Mt Kailash Group Tour from USD1840, 7 Days Lhasa Mt. The horizontal flags, known as Lung-ta or "Wind Horse", are either square or rectangular and are strung along the longest edge in a row between two high points or a high point and the ground. What was left of them, in the tree, I brought inside. Green for water. Wishing you health and happiness. Our cotton linen prayer flags are handmade and blessed by Tibetan Buddhist nuns living in India. 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