[1] Please, give me your thoughts on this final solution. 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. I assume they are building their nests with them. 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. The Tibetan prayer flags are used as a means to spread. As you hang the prayer flags, wish that all beings be free of suffering and the causes of suffering. We sell these specially blessed objects through our online store and the revenue helps provide food, health care, shelter, and education for the over 230 nuns who live at the nunnery, as well as to helpsupport around 500 nuns at six other nunneries in India. Traditionally, Tibetan prayer flags come in sets of five: one in each of the five colors that correspond with the 5 Elements of Chinese theory. I recently bought the prayer flags from a store that sells hand made stuff and support local artists. Janet, thanks for your question. Do I really need to burn these? 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? 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. The prayer flags made by the nuns at Dolma Ling are strung on white cotton. Thank you, Daniel. Ive been told synthetic material shouldnt be burned because of harm to the environment. The UN's top human rights body reviewed China for the third time on . Tibetan Buddhism Prostration is one of the oldest and most sincere waysfor Tibetan Buddhists to pray to the Buddha, also called kowtow. Traditionally, prayer flags are hung outside so the wind can carry the prayers to the world for the benefit of all sentient beings. Dear Genevieve, The best option may be for you to leave them up to fade away and disintegrate. Songtsen Gampo(617-650) was the 33rd Tibetan King. Tashi Delek! Order Gyaltsen Tsenpo prayer flags in three sizes here. is this not adding pollution to our planet? Color and order. Surrounding the Lung ta are mantras and Buddhist sacred symbols. A bit like the American flag, there are certain norms regarding how, when and where the flags are displayed. 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. 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. This post is a draft, and thus is not publicly visible. It took about 4 hrs to take out all (synthetic) strings from the beads. This way the prayers on the Tibetan prayer flags will be fully free to blow in the breeze and spread prayers and good wishes to all sentient beings. There's a point at which "appreciation" mutates into "appropriation" - and it's a line we should all be weary of. Your email address will not be published. Is it possible that the rope is twisted or the prayer flags are curled up? Buddhist Prayer flags His Holiness the Dalai Lama says that our motivation, to end the suffering of sentient beings, is the most important thing. Cut a length of thread long enough for your desired length. We should perhaps all just buy prayer flags that are made of 100% natural fibres. And next came the Tibetan prayer flags, more vibrant in their rainbow colors, but more subtle in their messaging. This was a blog post written by the Tibetan Nuns Project, does that answer your question? Therefore, they should be hung at a height. Tibetan prayer flags are bright and beautiful, but their colours aren't just for show. Tibetans do not wash prayer flags. Are Tibetan prayer flags appropriation? You can string the prayer flags either way because the wind moves around and changes direction. 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. This is all part of the natural process of time, and reinforces the Buddhist notion of impermanence. Fading of the colors on these flags means that the prayers were carried by the breeze. How can I hang them? Blessings. 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. It's a Tibetan indigenous religion. Bon(Bonismo), originated from the "Gangdise Mountains" and "Manasarovar Lake" in ancient Xiangxiong, Tibet. The first is a long rope hung with a five-color square cloth (blue, white, red, green and yellow) in accordance with the order, printed with the Buddha's teachings as well as patterns of birds and beasts, which are commonly seenon sparsely populated mountains. But how much of the Tibetan religion do Westerners really understand, and how much of it is just a case of cultural appropriation? No you do not have to burn them and get replacements. The intention is the most important thing. 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. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. They believe that God will help those who hang 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. The main contents of the scriptures are the Indian Dharani mantra, the six-character Mantra (Om Mani Padme Hum), Sanskrit mantras, auspicious words, proverbs, and prayer scriptures, etc. Here are 10 things you should know: 1. Our cotton linen prayer flags are handmade and blessed by Tibetan Buddhist nuns living in India. Temples and monasteries are springing up and serving both Asian migrant communities and Western followers alike. If you decide to hang them indoors, thats ok too. I wanted to present a set of prayer flags with the name of those who could not be there on it. The five colors represent the five elements and the Five Pure Lights. The old-style marriage is that the man and the woman are married under the arrangement of their parents. Buddhism is vastly complicated religion, comprising of hundreds of schools of thought that fall under the two main schools of Mahayanna and Theravada. Yes, these are excellent questions and we are writing to the nuns to get the very best answers to them. It's a great way to stay How to dispose of synthetic cloth (not cotton) prayer flags? They were cut, retied, flags cut from the strand then thrown on the ground, in my yard. When disposing of old prayer flags one should burn them so that the smoke may carry their blessings to the heavens. Tara represents virtuous and enlightened action. Traditionally, Tibetan prayer flags are hung up and kept hanging up with the air flowing through them. 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. Dear Anne, Phone: 805.316.1233Email: mail@bambubatu.com. 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. Any symbolism to pray upon? They are meant to represent the five elements in balance and it is not really appropriate to the purpose or culture to separate them. This is because Buddhism, the country's major religion, has played a huge role in the development and history of . The traditional cotton prayer flags, like those made by the nuns at Dolma Ling and sold in our online store, fade more quickly than synthetic ones and may be safely burned. I would like to honor her at her memorial by representing all of the people she touched but who can not attend the service. Traditionally, Tibetan prayer flags are hung left to right in this specific order: blue, white, red, green, and yellow. Tibetans do hang prayer flags on auspicious days, thereby multiplying the merit and impact of hanging the prayer flags. Each hue signifies an element and the flags are always arranged in a specific order, from left to right: blue, white, red, green, yellow. These jewels represent the Buddha, the Dharma (Buddhist teachings), and the Sangha (Buddhist community) which are the three cornerstones of Tibetan philosophical tradition. Fortunately, mine are all cotton, because Ive ordered them from the Tibetan Nuns Project store. 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. Therefore, the prayer flag has become a link between Gods and men. 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. Many Tibetan prayer flags have mantras written on them and can be placed in and outside of your home. Mindful in May is symbolic of the broader appropriation of meditation and only giving it validation through Western science. We have placed an order with the nuns at Dolma Ling, but it could be some time before they can obtain materials. I really appreciated these teachings about prayer flags. 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. i have hung a prayer flag inside the car recently i bought new prayer flag little big in size .. so my question is the flag which i have removed can be hung outside my house. When raising prayer flags it is important to have a good motivation. "Color, in ancient times, is generally considered to be the worship of the gods," Tsering adds, stating that the five colors represent the elements of sky (blue), air (white), fire (red), water (green) and earth (yellow). Buddha statues are cute totems for middle-class "progressives." All things must pass, to quote another counter culture icon. Jarni Blakkarly is a Melbourne-based free-lance journalist and a journalism student at RMIT. Buying Buddhist statues and art should be something done by those with a genuine interest in Buddhism or else it's just collecting infantilised things from the "Orient.". Hello Maura, We have consulted the nuns about disposing of prayer flags. Sutras or mantras from three pillars of the great Buddhist Bodhisattvas, conveying things like peace, wisdom, and strength are written on them. 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. 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. 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. Yes, that would be fine Vidhya. But do you even know that these are not just some fancy accessories? 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. Therefore, burying it in the ground ensures that its components cannot be released into these vital global systems. Other auspicious days are those connected with the Buddhas life and teaching. If youre not able to re-hang them, then the best thing would be to burn them with respect. Just remove them and re-hang the respectfully and make sure they do not touch the ground. 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. 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 . In the end, whether youre praying, meditating or interior decorating, its the intention that matters most. Can I do this on any day, or are there specific days one should take down prayer flags? I am planning to move and am interested in taking my Windhorse prayer flags with me. 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 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. 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. Dear Mary, We are very sorry for the loss of your friend. All five colours together signify balance. 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). 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. The problem is that under the coronavirus lockdown there are many factors causing delays. 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. I do not want to be disrespectful but also want to honor my friend in a way she would enjoy or relate to. Blue represents the sky, white represents the air, red symbolizes fire, green symbolizes water, and yellow symbolizes earth. Some people have asked whether it is appropriate for non-Buddhists to display Tibetan prayer flags. I have a dear friend who has died and spent most of her adult life in Nepal. Dear Paul, Yes, you can hang prayer flags on your pack when you climb, but you might ensure that the flags do not touch the ground. Please advise. Well post updates on our Facebook page as soon as we hear more. As you hang them, wish that all beings will be free of suffering and the causes of suffering. Would this be disrespectful? Ive had some prayer flags for several years that have now faded and gotten dirty with bird droppings. Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Disclosure Letter. A symbol of spiritual enlightenment or international brotherhood, these prayer flags hang from awnings and sway in the breeze, indicating a certain philosophical orientation.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'bambubatu_com-box-3','ezslot_6',118,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-bambubatu_com-box-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'bambubatu_com-box-3','ezslot_7',118,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-bambubatu_com-box-3-0_1');.box-3-multi-118{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:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Prayer Flags . Quickly place the thread on the glue and flatten it with your fingers. Central to the appropriation in the West is the way Buddhism is tokenised and not treated as a legitimate religion. hello! Now, it's widely used in the northern part of India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Those flags are called lung dar prayer flags. Songtsen Gampo(617-650) was the 33rd Tibetan King. It's a Good Omen to Receive Buddhist Prayer Flags as a Gift. Buy Windhorse Prayer flags here. It is based on the Tibetan calendar, usually on a certain auspicious day after the first day of the Tibetan New Year. Prayer flags are believed to have originated within the religious tradition of Bon. Should I unravel them or leave them be.? Luckily he agreed to do that in their back yard. Bamboo Symbolism in Mythology and Folklore, Bamboo and Community in Uganda: Okere City. I live in a desert so I am a bit lost. Your email address will not be published. Hello, 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. 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. Do you also burn old khatas in a similar fashion? Does this have any symbolic meaning? 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. 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. Moreover, the arrangement order of each color is strictly stipulated. Tibetan Prayer flags are intentionally crafted with 5 specific colors to honor and represent the 5 elements in balance: Blue for space.