5. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said, The quality or purity of any spiritual practice is determined by the individuals intention and motivation. Wishing you every happiness, Mary. One option is to take the synthetic prayer flags to a place in nature and tie them on a tree somewhere. Are Tibetan prayer flags appropriation? Balancing the five elements in places and in our own bodies and lives helps to bring harmony, health and well-being. It is best to hang them outdoors rather than indoors, for example, and ill-advised to hang them in the rain. Should I remove the flag and respectfully burn it or simply reattach it? Now, it's widely used in the northern part of India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Hi! Dear Mary, We are very sorry for the loss of your friend. The colorful prayer flag decorates the holy snow-covered plateau, like rainbows, and it has become a unique landscape. Can I take my flags and hang them at my new home? Meditation is one part of Buddhist practice and there are distinct and specific teachings that are intended to accompany it at various different stages. What prayers or mantras should I do before hanging prayer flags.Im told they should be blessed before hanging blessed rice et cetera!? Prayer flags are an integral component of the annual Saga Dawa Festival in Tibet, and G Adventures can get you there. When raising prayer flags it is important to have a good motivation. 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. Tibetan Buddhism Prostration - How and Why to Make Prostrations 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. However, they are really meant to be hung outside where the winds can carry their prayers to all sentient beings. Thank you for your comment, Caitlin, and your wish to donate prayer flags. Normally prayer flags are hung outdoors so the wind can carry the prayers, but intention is key and it is OK to hang them indoors also. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I do not want to be disrespectful but also want to honor my friend in a way she would enjoy or relate to. In the corners of the prayer flags are images of four powerful animals, also known as the Four Dignities: the dragon, the garuda, the tiger, and the snow lion. Prayer flags have a long history dating back to ancient times. Padmasambhava, the renowned saint of the eighth century, was a central figure in shaping Buddhisms history in Tibet. Tibetans do not wash prayer flags. As the flags like people age and die, we must replace them, setting out new prayers and intentions. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'bambubatu_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_4',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-bambubatu_com-medrectangle-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'bambubatu_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_5',114,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-bambubatu_com-medrectangle-4-0_1');.medrectangle-4-multi-114{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}With ever-increasing popularity, the Dalai Lama was able to raise awareness about the plight of Tibet and the Buddhist monks who had been driven into exile by the Chinese communist regime. Dear Mariellen, This is not a question weve encountered before, but your intention is what matters. Thank you so much for your response. Check the top 10 Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. So they come to you, already having been blessed with prayers by the nuns. Repeat until desired length is reached, leaving about an inch between flags. Ideally, people hang their flags on sunny, windy days. What if in the process of hanging the prayer flags, they accidentally touched the ground, should I respectably burn them and get new ones? This way, every time you walk in and out you will activate and receive that protective blessing. Blue represents the sky, white represents the air, red symbolizes fire, green symbolizes water, and yellow symbolizes earth. His message of peace and love and understanding was just the right medicine for a world ill at ease. Buy Windhorse Prayer flags here. (Note: Bambu Batu cannot be held accountable if for some reason your misuse of prayer flags results in bad karma.). Hello, I have lovely prayer flags which hang for a time and then one by one, come unfastened at one end and dangle, without touching the ground. Its a combination of values like compassion, ethics, patience, diligence, renunciation, and wisdom. I have a large patio awning with wide support poles along its perimeter where I would like to hang my prayer flags. 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. Much of this romanticism comes from the over simplified perceptions of the religion and an infantilised view of its beliefs. Prayer flags are believed to have originated within the religious tradition of Bon. There are two basic kinds of prayer flags that are used in Tibetan Buddhism today, horizontal and vertical. My friends husband, a Tibetan ex-monk, then said it was best to bury them as burning was not advisable. right, Hostel hop your way to the most Southeast Asia, Saga Dawa Festival, which takes place in Tibet, Check out our Kailash Saga Dawa Festival trip here. You can choose to say a mantra if you wish. Like a tie-dye t-shirt or a Bob Marley tattoo, the Tibet prayer flags signified membership in certain segment of society. Bamboo Symbolism in Mythology and Folklore, Bamboo and Community in Uganda: Okere City. Blue, white, red, green and yellow, the colors also signify the five elements: sky, air, fire, water and earth, respectively. 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. This sheet lists each budget bill, including supplemental funding bills, the next action on the bill or its public act number, current action on the bill, links to the bill and bill analysis, and links to highlight sheets and decision documents. Yes, that would be fine Vidhya. Therefore, they should be hung at a height. Can you give some advise? is this not adding pollution to our planet? Twice now my prayer flags have been taken by squirrels. The prayer flags made by the nuns at Dolma Ling are strung on white cotton. In Melbourne a bar run by white non-Buddhists called Asian Beer Cafe features Buddha themed rooms to drink in. We have 20 Acres half of which is left to nature. Is it significant which direction you put it in. Popular inner-city Asian clothes and furniture chain Ishka offer you "karma cards" as a loyalty program. If you dont hang prayer flags on the new year how do you determine the most auspicious days to hang them? In Tibet, the tradition of hanging flags began more than 2,000 years ago. Color Symbolic Meaning Miss Jennifer, Material:Made Of Satin Fabric With Glossy Surface.Clear Decals Are Printed On A Stunning Polyester Material.It Promotes Peace,Compassion,Strength And Wisdom.These Flags Would Also Look Attractive In Your Home Or On The Yard. Tibetan Buddhism is important to Tibetans as it affects every aspect of their lives. Central to the appropriation in the West is the way Buddhism is tokenised and not treated as a legitimate religion. 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. 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. 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. Check the top 10 Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. Is it inappropriate to hang prayer flags inside? Wishing you health and happiness in your new home! I have a dear friend who has died and spent most of her adult life in Nepal. 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. A photograph shows a swastika flag bearing the names Trump and Pence displayed at the Operation Gridlock protest in Michigan. Blessings to you. His Holiness the Dalai Lama says that our motivation, to end the suffering of sentient beings, is the most important thing. 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. Each hue signifies an element and the flags are always arranged in a specific order, from left to right: blue, white, red, green, yellow. The flags contain sacred texts and symbols and should be treated respectfully. As you hang them, you should wish to end the suffering of all sentient beings. Were putting together our 2019 Tibetan Nuns Project calendar which will have the important Tibetan Buddhist days marked. [1] The annual Saga Dawa Festival, which takes place in Tibet, is the most important religious festivals in the country. This is something in my tradition to think about, as recommended by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. The UN's top human rights body reviewed China for the third time on . How should I dispose of them? When you travel to Tibet, you can see the great number of Buddhists Prayer Flags hung at the summits of mountains, passes of mountains, banks of rivers, sides of roads, roofs of monasteries, etc. WHEREAS, the 71 st observance of the National Day of Prayer will be held on Thursday, May 5, 2022, with the theme, "Exalt The Lord Who Has Established Us,"; and, WHEREAS, a National Day of Prayer has been a part of our heritage since it was declared by the First Continental Congress in 1775; and, WHEREAS, a Public Law established in the United States Congress in 1952 approved by a Joint . 6 4 Those flags are called lung dar prayer flags. Also when will you have more flags in stock Some that I am interested in are not available right now. First used in the Bon religion, an early form of Tibetan Buddhism, they symbolized natural elements through association with primary . So this could be photos, prayer flags, thangkas, etc. The contrast between old and new prayer flags is a reminder of impermanence and the continuing cycle of birth and death. The wind makes the flags wave more briskly, carrying the prayer higher and further. 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. All Prayer Flags; English Prayer Flags; Indoor Prayer Flags; Vertical Prayer Flags; Wrist Malas; Incense . 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}. Its ideal that they slowly disintegrate as this is a reflection of the prayers being sent out to the world. Regarding the order of the prayer flags hung on a balcony, theres no true rule for this. The order of the flags (blue-white, etc. Made by Nuns; Japanese Incense . Learn how your comment data is processed. This is a common prayer flag, especially at New Year, symbolizing new ventures and beginnings. To publish it, click on the 'Publish' button on the I understand the order and colour of the flags but does it matter if the blue flag is first when hanging them or the yellow flag first ending with the blue? document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. If you violate the thousand-year-old traditions of northern India, youre not likely to be punished with 144 days of bad karma, so long as you act mindfully, respectfully and in accordance with the laws of nature. In terms of their external forms, prayer flags can be roughly classified into three types. Tashi Delek! Tibetan prayer flags are flown without any understanding or consideration of their religious meaning. Dear Charlotte, Tibetan prayer flags are strung left to right in this specific order: blue, white, red, green, and yellow. I have read that there are mantras to be said while hanging up the flags, what are they? Are you sure you want to delete this blog post? The native people, however, made their own flags to honor the nature gods of Bon, their shamanistic . It is said that her compassion for living beings is stronger than a mothers love for her children. Thank you so much for purchasing products made by the nuns. Get to Tibet, Tibetan Clothing and Diverse Tibetan Dress Culture, Tibetan Buddhism Prostration - How and Why to Make Prostrations, Dava Private House, No. She also brings about longevity, protects earthly travel, and guards her followers on their spiritual journey to enlightenment. There's a point at which "appreciation" mutates into "appropriation" - and it's a line we should all be weary of. I am wondering if it would be disrespectful to incorporate prayer flag panels into a painting? Buddhism and Zen mediation offered an escape from the materialistic mindset of the West. Your intention is important. As a writer and consultant, Fred is a leading voice in the world of bamboo. We hope to share a blog post soon about the mantra OM MANI PADME HUM. I am very excited to hang my prayer flags as I would like to begin sending my wishes to end suffering for sentient beings. 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. Tibetan Prayer Flags are colorful, rectangular cloths that hung outside and used to promote compassion, peace, strength, and wisdom. Dear Mariusz, Thank you for your questions. live, learn and work. hello! These prayer flags are often tied to willow branches and can be seen everywhere on the roofs of buildings in Lhasa's old town. Or if that doesnt feel right, I might put them into the recycling bin so that at least they can be turned into something useful rather than being thrown in the trash. Thank you so much for your reply. It's a Good Omen to Receive Buddhist Prayer Flags as a Gift. No, there is no consistent answer for this; not everyone does this. First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we them ready for you. Photo courtesy of Olivier Adam. White symbolises air, red is fire. The flags contain sacred texts and symbols and should be treated respectfully. ): if they are hung on a balcony, is this the view of them from the inside, or from the outside? For more on common misperceptions of Buddhism in Western culture, you can also listen to the recent RN Encounter program, "Instant Karma's gonna get you.". If so, do you have any recommendations of specific kinds of shrine houses to use? Despite the many deep complexities of Buddhism there is a tendency for people to think they have an understanding of the religion from a single meme or a Dalai Lama coffee-table book. Well post updates on our Facebook page as soon as we hear more. Hi! Khata And Related Etiquette We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Yes, we dont think that is a problem. Both work. I would like to know, since other bereaved parents have inquired how we did it, and if it would be better to use blank flags made in a different way (ie not blessed prayer flags) we would tell them that in future. Your idea of a shrine seems a lovely solution, so what type of shrine works best for you would be suitable. Tibetan Clothing and Diverse Tibetan Dress Culture Our artisans combine vintage style Tibetan beads hand-sourced in Nepal with authentic and ethically sourced mala beads. This is because Buddhism, the country's major religion, has played a huge role in the development and history of . When talking about Tibetan handicrafts, people would think of Thangka, Tibetan incense, Tibetan medicine, Tibetan knife, Tibetan ornaments, etc. It had been advised to make a wooden enclosure or something to protect the damaged holy objects and this could be placed in the forest as a sort of shrine house. 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. But its always better to know the rules before you break the rules. Green is water, yellow is earth, and blue is wind. When you pack them for the move, treat them with respect and care. 4. Khata scarves are the most common Tibetan gifts. Very interesting and also challenging. Note: If you only want to remove this post from public view, you can choose to unpublish it instead. Sutras - or mantras from three pillars of the great Buddhist Bodhisattvas, conveying things like peace, wisdom, and strength - are written on them. Does this have any symbolic meaning? Tibetan Wedding Customs and Ceremony I will be grateful for your answers to these two questions: I am planning to move and am interested in taking my Windhorse prayer flags with me. Please advise. Maybe I will put them in a bag for Goodwill or another place that accepts donations. For the prayer flags, the combination of earth and earth is said to be the most auspicious. And therefore, Tibetan prayer flags are believed to promote prosperity, compassion, peace, and wisdom. The problem is that under the coronavirus lockdown there are many factors causing delays. Tibetan Language Handmade art has been an indispensable part of the lives of the Tibetan people. Prayers vary, but typically they invoke a series of blessings, including longevity, prosperity, health and peace. So, if you want to hang them somewhere, make sure that theyre on a height. Tibetan Buddhism Prostration is one of the oldest and most sincere waysfor Tibetan Buddhists to pray to the Buddha, also called kowtow. Is there an appropriate way to store them for moving? Prayer flags are colorful panels of rectangular cloths that promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom in Tibetan Buddhism. When I paint, my practice is to first meditate, and then to create from that space, allowing the painting to spring forth from the concept that I am meditating on. You can not only see marvelous religious artworks but also discover the spiritual home of Tibetan people. Buddhism has a growing visibility in mainstream Australia. Well, you may be curious about the meaning of the Buddhist/Tibetan prayer flags. According to Tibetan Buddhism, where there is the prayer flag, there are God and wishes. Color Fading of These Flags also has a Meaning. Would it be disrespectful to sew stone beads to the rope holding the prayer flags? Theyre made of paper and I think Id need separate them and pull out the string in order to recycle them. 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. Can I do this on any day, or are there specific days one should take down prayer flags? Required fields are marked *. What do you think of this way of disposing of prayer flags? The five colors are: blue, white, red, green and yellow. Would this be a respectful way of disposing of them? White color symbolizes cloud, red is fire, green is water, yellow is earth, and blue is the sky. Free shipping on u.s. orders over $75 | canada over $150. The horse (Ta)is a symbol of speed and the transformation of bad fortune to good fortune. 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. Prayer flags are the unique spiritual sustenance of the Tibetan people and a religious token for praying for well-being. On top is blue, followed by white, red, green, and yellow, which denote the five elements: sky, air, fire, water, and earth. They come in a variety of types and sizes of prayer flags as follows: The Wind Horse or Lung-ta is the most prevalent symbol used on prayer flags. If youve enjoyed these reflections on Tibetan prayer flags, you might also enjoy some of the following articles about Buddhism and Eastern spirituality. Those flags are called lung dar prayer flags. Balancing these elements externally brings harmony to the environment. When disposing of old prayer flags one should burn them so that the smoke may carry their blessings to the heavens. I had an idea but was not sure if it was appropriate. A Vision for Renewal and Accessibility: Michigan's . 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. One should not have selfish or limiting thoughts. Thank you. 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. Tibetan prayer flags are flown without any understanding or consideration of their religious meaning. 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. Buddha statues are cute totems for middle-class "progressives." The ABCs Religion and Ethics portal is home to religious reporting & analysis, ethical discussion & philosophical discovery, and inspiring stories of faith and belief. Right now I have mine hanging in a southern direction in my bedroom window. The Tibetan prayer flags are used as a means to spread. Is it OK to tie the prayer flags to my pack when I climb in the mountains ? In many ways, the counterculture adopted Eastern spirituality as a reaction against the rampant consumerism and self-serving mentality that pervaded post-war America. This is because, unfortunately, plastic does not biodegrade, which is to say it does not break down into its atomic components (ie, carbon, water, etc). 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? The Tara prayer flags have a lovely image of Tara in the center. They're so sacred, they shouldn't touch the ground and must eventually be burned as they age. 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. I hope you enjoy! In Tibetan, this ceremony is called "Tuosui", which means offering sacrifices to gods and praying for blessings. It would involve disassembling the prayer flags to remove one of the panels. However, prayer flags hung at the nunneries are taken down each year, burned, and replaced with new prayer flags at Tibetan New Year. I understand the blue start on the left my question would be on the left if I am facing downwind or upwind? Please tell me specifically when I can hang them. Palden Lhamo The commercial use of Buddhist beliefs for advertising points to a broader society that doesn't respect or acknowledge them as genuine religions. 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. Taking it out of the sacred context and use it as an 'exotic' or decorative purpose is disrespectful to Tibetan culture: what is sacred in one culture is a plaything for you. This has always pleased me as it is benefitting them. We have placed an order with the nuns at Dolma Ling, but it could be some time before they can obtain materials. Above the home temple or on the door at the entrance? In our actions, it is our intentions and thoughts that are important. Thank you so much for supporting the nuns! Help. If you have all of them, you can perhaps restring and rehang them, with a wish to free all beings from suffering and the causes of suffering. Tibetan clothing is worn with an inner garment and a pair of wide and long sleeves, with rich connotation and diversity dressing culture in tradition. Dear Michelle, You can double back your prayer flags or tie it to something else. Ive had some prayer flags for several years that have now faded and gotten dirty with bird droppings. Therefore, taking prayer flags to your friend after your visit to Tibet is the right thing to do. 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. All of those activities are prohibited by the virus and the lockdown. They also represent directions - North, South, East, West and Center. Perhaps there is a Buddhist temple or meditation center near you that you can give them to. 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. 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. I have been given a single Mongolian prayer flag . At the same time, he managed to bring Tibetan Buddhism, or at least some version of it, into the forefront of popular Western culture. One of the most significant events of Saga Dawa is the replacing of the Tarboche Flagpole, a famous flagpole draped in Tibetan prayer flags that stands on the sacred mountain of Kailash. The horse symbol of 'ta' represents speed and of ill-fortune turning into good ones. Would this be disrespectful? If so, you might want to try ironing the prayer flags so that they lay more flat. We are deeply sorry for the loss of your son and send you our profound condolences. How is the best way to use it? The flags customarily come in sets of five, each with a different color and mantra. The most critical thing about hanging prayer flags is ones intention. When we have anything that has holy images or texts- mainly the images. The cloth strip is often sewn on a thick and long flagstaff in front of the squares and monasteries, such as the square of Jokhang Temple in Lhasa. Cut a length of thread long enough for your desired length. Each color on these flags is not just for good looks, but these colors symbolize an element. 0. . Is there anything I can do to prevent this from continuing to happen? In the center of the prayer flag is a powerful horse (lung-ta) bearing three flaming jewels on its back. Thanks for your question, Billy. Almost every monastery enshrines her. The only possible issue is in handling the remainder of the original prayer flag in a respectful way, which is always a bit of a challenge. 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 key is, as you clearly know, to try to dispose of prayer flags with the greatest respect possible. Some people have asked whether it is appropriate for non-Buddhists to display Tibetan prayer flags. We are moving and our old prayer flags need to be taken down. Prayer Flags . Hello, our son passed away at the age of eleven. Songtsen Gampo(617-650) was the 33rd Tibetan King. Because of the sacred writings on the flags, they should not be used in clothing or thrown away. However, you dont need to wait to hang your prayer flags. 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. Mindful in May is symbolic of the broader appropriation of meditation and only giving it validation through Western science. And next came the Tibetan prayer flags, more vibrant in their rainbow colors, but more subtle in their messaging.

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