Dear Edwin, The prayer flags that we sell through the Tibetan Nuns Project online store are made and blessed by the Tibetan Buddhist nuns at Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute in India. 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. Buddhists added their own texts to increase the power of the flags. 6 4 Some people have asked whether it is appropriate for non-Buddhists to display Tibetan prayer flags. Dear Mariusz, Thank you for your questions. Around the frame of the doorway is regarded as the right place to put the flags. Butter holds a sacred place in Tibetan Buddhist culture and is used for butter lamps, butter sculptures, and in making tormas. This was a blog post written by the Tibetan Nuns Project, does that answer your question? Meditation shouldn't be limited to Buddhism, but it's important to acknowledge where it comes from and its traditions. I have a large patio awning with wide support poles along its perimeter where I would like to hang my prayer flags. 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. backyard chickens, https://tnp.org/about-tibetan-butter-sculptures/. The Tibetan Buddhist nuns at Dolma Ling Nunnery in India have been making prayer flags for many years. Yes, that would be fine Vidhya. He is predominantly a follower of Theravada Buddhism. Rice Cooker and Dough Maker at Dolma Ling, Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Tibetan Nuns Project, How to Make Your Chicken Coop Cute! 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? Dear Mariellen, This is not a question weve encountered before, but your intention is what matters. 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 an example, what would Christians feel if atheists use the image of Jesus as decorations? Learn more about Khatas' meanings, color, etiquette, etc. TIBETAN PRAYER FLAGS Brief Info On Tibetan Prayer Flag Sets. I am interested in your thoughts on this. The five colors are arranged in a specific order from left to right: blue, white, red, green, and yellow. What can I do? Any symbolism to pray upon? Winds have dispersed some to the ground which I left as part of that original idea. 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. In the end, whether youre praying, meditating or interior decorating, its the intention that matters most. Ideally, people hang their flags on sunny, windy days. Meaning when the wind blows through the flags are the flags facing the wind or facing where the wind blows? 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). 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. Is it OK to tie the prayer flags to my pack when I climb in the mountains ? The Tara prayer flags have a lovely image of Tara in the center. I am wondering if it would be disrespectful to incorporate prayer flag panels into a painting? Central to the appropriation in the West is the way Buddhism is tokenised and not treated as a legitimate religion. We would suggest that it is better not to take apart the set of prayer flags. Central to the appropriation in the West is the way Buddhism is tokenised and not treated as a legitimate religion. 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. Tibetan Buddhism Prostration is one of the oldest and most sincere waysfor Tibetan Buddhists to pray to the Buddha, also called kowtow. 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. The order of the flags (blue-white, etc. Here's a brief introduction to its beginning, development, and schools. Traditionally, the squares were printed with wooden blocks, and to this day that same method is often still used. Dear Alana, Yes you can hang them on your wall. I love that we can see the images from his clothing (mostly natural-world images as he loved nature and animals) and that we can also see the prayer text/images. As they blow in the wind, they confer blessings and peace. The issue of burning synthetic prayer flags doesnt not really come up for them because their prayer flags, like the ones we sell in our online store, are made of cotton. All Prayer Flags; English Prayer Flags; Indoor Prayer Flags; Vertical Prayer Flags; Wrist Malas; Incense . 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. Prayer flags have a long history dating back to ancient times. Is it inappropriate to hang prayer flags inside? What is your suggestion to do with them? So this could be photos, prayer flags, thangkas, etc. 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? Many Tibetan prayer flags have mantras written on them and can be placed in and outside of your home. They should not be placed on the ground or put in the trash. You can choose to say a mantra if you wish. Would this be a respectful way of disposing of them? We hope your move is smooth and happy. And the reason why they are put high above the roof is to let them flutter in the wind. Dear Willow, The main thing is ones intention and treating the prayer flags with respect. Regarding the order of the prayer flags hung on a balcony, theres no true rule for this. She also brings about longevity, protects earthly travel, and guards her followers on their spiritual journey to enlightenment. 8. 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. Its also best if it can flap in the breeze. The Origin of the Tibetan Prayer Flags. Each of our sets have a blank flag with a nice decorative border and the 7 jewels of power on the top panel and the 8 auspicious symbols of good fortune on the bottom panel pre inked in gold ink, with the inner space left for your creative and personal touch of prayers and wishes. A-. The Tibetan prayer flags carry symbols and mantras that are considered sacred. Thank you so much for supporting the nuns! There are Two Kinds of Flags- Horizontal and Vertical. Also when will you have more flags in stock Some that I am interested in are not available right now. 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 . They were cut, retied, flags cut from the strand then thrown on the ground, in my yard. (Note: Bambu Batu cannot be held accountable if for some reason your misuse of prayer flags results in bad karma.). You don't have to be a Bhuddist to hang prayer flags, but there is a right way to hang them. Great Tibet Tour is a local tour company based in Lhasa, Tibet. Tibetan Clothing and Diverse Tibetan Dress Culture Here and there I have hung prayer flags which I thought it best to let nature work to release the prayers as they disintegrated. 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. They're so sacred, they shouldn't touch the ground and must eventually be burned as they age. The flags customarily come in sets of five, each with a different color and mantra. Would it be disrespectful to sew stone beads to the rope holding the prayer flags? is there such thing as moving them too often? My prayer flags are doing the same thing, wrapping around the rope. The video advertisement also featured people receiving the type of halo Gotama is often depicted post-enlightenment, the minute they sit down to meditate. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'bambubatu_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_8',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-bambubatu_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'bambubatu_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_9',113,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-bambubatu_com-large-leaderboard-2-0_1');.large-leaderboard-2-multi-113{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}. Unlike some other religions from the East, Buddhism is highly romanticised in Western eyes. Here, five important facts about those important flags: According to Buddhist legend, the first prayer flags were used by Gautama Buddha, on whose teachings Buddhism is founded. Prayer flags are an integral component of the annual Saga Dawa Festival in Tibet, and G Adventures can get you there. Wishing you health and happiness. It is so wonderful that you have put such thought and care into the respectful disposal of your old prayer flags. They Should Never be Put on the Ground or Keep Still. Our artisans combine vintage style Tibetan beads hand-sourced in Nepal with authentic and ethically sourced mala beads. Yes, these are excellent questions and we are writing to the nuns to get the very best answers to them. The five colors represent the elements: blue symbolizes the sky and space, white symbolizes the air and wind, red symbolizes fire, green symbolizes water, and yellow symbolizes earth. Over time, the wind and the elements take their toll, the colors fade, and the fabric frays. Many in the West often try to understand Buddhism through the eyes of European science and philosophy. Since the ancient Zhangzhung period of the Tibetan Plateau, prayer flags have become popular here. When disposing of old prayer flags one should burn them so that the smoke may carry their blessings to the heavens. backyard chickens. When hanging prayer flags one should wish that all beings everywhere will benefit and find happiness. I wanted to present a set of prayer flags with the name of those who could not be there on it. Do you also burn old khatas in a similar fashion? However, prayer flags hung at the nunneries are taken down each year, burned, and replaced with new prayer flags at Tibetan New Year. Therefore, burying it in the ground ensures that its components cannot be released into these vital global systems. Dear Kimberley, There is no problem with incorporating a prayer flag into your art. Your email address will not be published. For horizontal" 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. 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. 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. Khata And Related Etiquette The Suttas record many of the same teachings taught by the Buddha in different ways, with different levels of complexity as he adapts the way he teaches to his audience. On top is blue, followed by white, red, green, and yellow, which denote the five elements: sky, air, fire, water, and earth. Other auspicious days are those connected with the Buddhas life and teaching. Tibetan prayer flags, found in many parts of the Himalayas, are an important part of the Buddhist culture in Tibet (now part of China) and parts of Nepal. In Tibetan, this ceremony is called "Tuosui", which means offering sacrifices to gods and praying for blessings. Tibetan Buddhism Prostration - How and Why to Make Prostrations 9 Likes, 0 Comments - Tibetan Culture (@culturetibet) on Instagram: "Tibetan prayer flags are either designed for horizontal or vertical hanging. 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. Buddhism has a growing visibility in mainstream Australia. In any case, here are some signs your practice may be causing harm through cultural appropriation. The Peace Flag Project is based on the Prayer Flags of Tibet. We have 20 Acres half of which is left to nature. I recently purchased some new 100% cotton prayer flags to hang on my balcony, but Im not sure how to most respectfully dispose of the old ones. Made by Nuns; Japanese Incense . Your email address will not be published. Yes, you can hang the prayers outside your house. I really appreciated these teachings about prayer flags. Wishing you health and happiness in your new home! As a writer and consultant, Fred is a leading voice in the world of bamboo. THEY ARE ALL PLASTIC NOWADAYS. The five colors represent the five elements and the Five Pure Lights. There are two basic kinds of prayer flags that are used in Tibetan Buddhism today, horizontal and vertical. Hello Myrna, Thank you for sharing the story about the malas. Please tell me specifically when I can hang them. Tibetans believe the prayers and mantras will be spread by the wind and bring goodwill and compassion to benefit all beings. Lha gyal lo, Green for water. Clearly you care deeply about not harming wildlife or the environment by burning any plastic materials or by hanging the prayer flags in a place where wildlife might be impacted. The problem I have is that I live in a city that does not permit burning as it is very dry here and sunny. 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. Popular inner-city Asian clothes and furniture chain Ishka offer you "karma cards" as a loyalty program.

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