We are deeply sorry for the loss of your son and send you our profound condolences. Required fields are marked *. You can always hang new ones along with the old ones. 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. You can buy Tibetan prayer flags through the Tibetan Nuns Project online store. So the Dalai Lama became a best-selling author and a social media sensation. They are also used to carry prayers and mantras through the wind. Dear Margaret, Thank you for your comment. However, prayer flags hung at the nunneries are taken down each year, burned, and replaced with new prayer flags at Tibetan New Year. 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. Also when will you have more flags in stock Some that I am interested in are not available right now. Thank you for your time and consideration, I really appreciate all the information in this blog post. My friends husband, a Tibetan ex-monk, then said it was best to bury them as burning was not advisable. Pingback: How to Make Your Chicken Coop Cute! Thank you and blessings. 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. Appropriation Bill Status Sheet. 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. My flags face the street so is it blue first from my right facing out when putting them up ? The Origin of the Tibetan Prayer Flags. Quickly place the thread on the glue and flatten it with your fingers. Yes, it is fine for non-Buddhists to display Tibetan prayer flags. According to Tibetan Buddhism, those five colors are related to the five Buddhas and five kinds of wisdom, which increases the mystery of Tibetan prayer flags. Most appreciated. Rice Cooker and Dough Maker at Dolma Ling, Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Tibetan Nuns Project, How to Make Your Chicken Coop Cute! Its ideal that they slowly disintegrate as this is a reflection of the prayers being sent out to the world. We would suggest that it is better not to take apart the set of prayer flags. Buddhism has a growing visibility in mainstream Australia. What is order of single colour vertical prayer flags, if I wish to display on both sides of my entry gate? 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. The best and auspicious time to put up these flags is during the Losar Tibetan New Year. Buddhism and Zen mediation offered an escape from the materialistic mindset of the West. The colors blue and white represent the sky, the air, red represents fire, green represents water, and yellow represents earth. Today, these flags adorn the high mountains of the Himalayas, where elevations and spirituality achieve record heights. Prayer flags have a long history dating back to ancient times. I am wondering if it would be disrespectful to incorporate prayer flag panels into a painting? Thank you, Maggie. Two: there are powerful beings around who will be utterly provoked and create all sorts of calamities. Instead of getting Buddhist monks to promote the project, they got an array of Western scientists and academics to testify that the benefits of meditation have been proven "real" according to Western science (in case you thought monks have been practicing it for 2500 years for no reason). 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. Tibetan Language Hes currently consulting on bamboo projects in Thailand, India, Kenya, and beyond. Both work. Can you give some advise? Prayer flags are colorful panels of rectangular cloths that promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom in Tibetan Buddhism. Either is fine. A bit like the American flag, there are certain norms regarding how, when and where the flags are displayed. Meaning is the wind in my face or at my back when situating the blue flag to the left? They are meant to represent the five elements in balance and it is not really appropriate to the purpose or culture to separate them. They Should Never be Put on the Ground or Keep Still. 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. Is there an appropriate way to store them for moving? Chinese authorities in Tibet have ordered the destruction of prayer flags in many parts of the region in one of China's most direct assaults to date on visible symbols of Tibetan culture and . Twice now my prayer flags have been taken by squirrels. Thank you, Daniel. I wanted to put up new prayer flags as the ones I have now are now faded. Many Tibetan prayer flags have mantras written on them and can be placed in and outside of your home. Just remove them and re-hang the respectfully and make sure they do not touch the ground. [1] 1. Balancing these elements externally brings harmony to the environment. These flags can be seen dotted throughout the mountainous regions of China, Nepal, Bhutan, and northern India. Make sure this fits by entering your model number. Do I really need to burn these? Dear Willow, The main thing is ones intention and treating the prayer flags with respect. You can not only see marvelous religious artworks but also discover the spiritual home of Tibetan people. According to legend, the practice is said to originate with the Buddha himself, whose prayers were written on flags to protect the Devas in their cosmic battle against the mythological forces of evil. 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.". As Buddhism grows in the West, it is natural that the initial points of contact will be through the pre-socialised systems of reasoning. 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. It took about 4 hrs to take out all (synthetic) strings from the beads. 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. live, learn and work. Color and order. In any case, here are some signs your practice may be causing harm through cultural appropriation. I would have burned them, but I have a feeling they are likely synthetic and I dont want to burn plastic materials. Ideally, people hang their flags on sunny, windy days. I use mixed media to create paintings of a spiritual nature. The colorful fabric squares, hanging side by side, each contain a Buddhist Sutra, prayer or mantra. 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. No you do not have to burn them and get replacements. It's a Good Omen to Receive Buddhist Prayer Flags as a Gift. As the flags like people age and die, we must replace them, setting out new prayers and intentions. Central to the appropriation in the West is the way Buddhism is tokenised and not treated as a legitimate religion. It is based on the Tibetan calendar, usually on a certain auspicious day after the first day of the Tibetan New Year. Order Gyaltsen Tsenpo prayer flags in three sizes here. I understand the blue start on the left my question would be on the left if I am facing downwind or upwind? Would it be disrespectful to sew stone beads to the rope holding the prayer flags? The 5 colors of prayer flags represent the 5 basic elements: yellow-earth, green-ater, red-fire, white-air, blue-space. Eventually, the prayer flags will fade and can be replaced with new prayer flags. Theyre made of paper and I think Id need separate them and pull out the string in order to recycle them. Buddhism in Western Society Tibetan prayer flags are used to promote peace, wisdom, and compassion. Dear Hazel, Its best to hang the prayer flag somewhere high. 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. Is it possible that the rope is twisted or the prayer flags are curled up? Sign up for our newsletter below. Free shipping on u.s. orders over $75 | canada over $150. 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. 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. They are used to bless the surrounding countryside and for other purposes. I am interested in your thoughts on this. This cannot be undone. Tibetan prayer flags are religious. can you wash TIbetan prayer flags and re-hang them? The date cannot be chosen arbitrarily. Tibetan Buddhism Dear Michelle, Yes it is totally fine to string multiple sets of prayer flags together and this is commonly done. You can string the prayer flags either way because the wind moves around and changes direction. They should not be placed on the ground or put in the trash. Padmasambhava, the renowned saint of the eighth century, was a central figure in shaping Buddhisms history in Tibet. Bon(Bonismo), originated from the "Gangdise Mountains" and "Manasarovar Lake" in ancient Xiangxiong, Tibet. 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. Learn more about Khatas' meanings, color, etiquette, etc. 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. 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. The prayer flags made by the nuns at Dolma Ling are strung on white cotton. Prayer flags are an integral component of the annual Saga Dawa Festival in Tibet, and G Adventures can get you there. Therefore, taking prayer flags to your friend after your visit to Tibet is the right thing to do. Miss Jennifer, There are two different kinds of prayer flags: Lung-ta, meaning wind horse, and Dar Cho, where "Dar" means to increase fortune, wealth, health . If youre unable to do this, just dispose of them as respectfully as possible. 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. Thank you. 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. Old prayer flags should be burned in order to show traditional Tibetan respect and carry prayers to the heavens. They believe that God will help those who hang prayer flags. Prayer Flags . Thank you for your comment, Caitlin, and your wish to donate prayer flags. Buy Windhorse Prayer flags here. STATEWIDE BUDGET. Central to the appropriation in the West is the way Buddhism is tokenised and not treated as a legitimate religion. Your intention is important. The festival is celebrated to commemorate when Sakyamuni (Buddha) attained enlightenment, and is typically observed by visiting temples, lighting lanterns and practising kindness and generosity. How to dispose of synthetic cloth (not cotton) prayer flags? Because of the sacred writings on the flags, they should not be used in clothing or thrown away. The Tibetan prayer flags are used as a means to spread. Are Tibetan prayer flags appropriation? Tara represents virtuous and enlightened action. Blue represents the sky, white represents the air, red symbolizes fire, green symbolizes water, and yellow symbolizes earth. Thank you so much for purchasing products made by the nuns. Fading of the colors on these flags means that the prayers were carried by the breeze. These are the most often seen kind of . Perhaps you can give the prayer flags to someone who would like them. This has always pleased me as it is benefitting them. Made by Nuns; Japanese Incense . Songtsen Gampo(617-650) was the 33rd Tibetan King. As they blow in the wind, they confer blessings and peace. So they come to you, already having been blessed with prayers by the nuns. 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. The five colors are arranged from left to right in a specific order: blue, white, red, green, and yellow. Vipassana meditation is re-named "insight or mindful meditation" and Anapana meditation is renamed "breathing meditation." Teaching Buddhism by drawing comparisons to Western philosophy can be seen in this light, as a vessel to understanding some aspects of the Dhamma. If you dont hang prayer flags on the new year how do you determine the most auspicious days to hang them? It is said that they emit positive spiritual vibrations andthe wind like silent prayers carries the prayers. This is a common prayer flag, especially at New Year, symbolizing new ventures and beginnings. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Yellow for the earth. A Tibetan Buddhist nun at Dolma Ling Nunnery hangs new prayer flags at Losar, Tibetan New Year. 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. 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. These colors also represent directions - North, South, East, West, and Centre. Believers engrave scriptures and spiritual prayers on the colorful prayer flags and then hang them in series on cliffs, representative snow-capped mountain passes and bridges connecting the two sides. If you choose to enhance your home, garden or yoga studio with Tibetan prayer flags, its important to know the story behind them. 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. Meditation shouldn't be limited to Buddhism, but it's important to acknowledge where it comes from and its traditions. He was a Tibetan healer. Is it ok if the few flags which will hang against the wide support poles dont get to blow in the wind as much as the other flags? What if in the process of hanging the prayer flags, they accidentally touched the ground, should I respectably burn them and get new ones? 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