Sutras - or mantras from three pillars of the great Buddhist Bodhisattvas, conveying things like peace, wisdom, and strength - are written on them. The 5 colors of prayer flags represent the 5 basic elements: yellow-earth, green-ater, red-fire, white-air, blue-space. Your intention is important. 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. Hi. We hang the flags from trees when we camp and attend music festivals; they are always carefully taken down at the end and stored in a special decorated cloth bag I created for the purpose. Dear Genevieve, The best option may be for you to leave them up to fade away and disintegrate. Dear Charlotte, Tibetan prayer flags are strung left to right in this specific order: blue, white, red, green, and yellow. I would prefer something on the smaller end. During his reign, he greatly expanded the territory of Tibet and made it a powerful country on the Plateau. As you pointed out, this is a very unique way of disposing of them. Two: there are powerful beings around who will be utterly provoked and create all sorts of calamities. Made by Nuns; Japanese Incense . 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 colors blue and white represent the sky, the air, red represents fire, green represents water, and yellow represents earth. Perhaps there is a Buddhist temple or meditation center near you that you can give them to. This way, every time you walk in and out you will activate and receive that protective blessing. 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? 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.". There is a concerted effort to make the Dhamma (the teachings of the Buddha) completely compatible with modern Western thinking and disregard for the supernatural. 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. First used in the Bon religion, an early form of Tibetan Buddhism, they symbolized natural elements through association with primary . Each set of prayer flags has five colors representing the different elements: blue for sky, white for clouds, red for space, green for water . Fortunately, mine are all cotton, because Ive ordered them from the Tibetan Nuns Project store. Tibetan tradition considers prayer flags to be holy. Handmade art has been an indispensable part of the lives of the Tibetan people. Free shipping on u.s. orders over $75 | canada over $150. Thank you for your comment, Caitlin, and your wish to donate prayer flags. The key is, as you clearly know, to try to dispose of prayer flags with the greatest respect possible. What prayers or mantras should I do before hanging prayer flags.Im told they should be blessed before hanging blessed rice et cetera!? Cut a length of thread long enough for your desired length. Tara represents virtuous and enlightened action. Mariusz. I assume they are building their nests with 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. Bon(Bonismo), originated from the "Gangdise Mountains" and "Manasarovar Lake" in ancient Xiangxiong, Tibet. Where can I send them? I understand the blue start on the left my question would be on the left if I am facing downwind or upwind? Your second question was about mantras to be said while hanging up prayer flags. When talking about Tibetan handicrafts, people would think of Thangka, Tibetan incense, Tibetan medicine, Tibetan knife, Tibetan ornaments, etc. Unlike some other religions from the East, Buddhism is highly romanticised in Western eyes. But how much of the Tibetan religion do Westerners really understand, and how much of it is just a case of cultural appropriation? Yellow for the earth. Tibetan Wedding Customs and Ceremony Do I reach for something else or double back and tie it unto itself, since it is not long enough to go the whole length back? 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 Alana, Yes you can hang them on your wall. 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). 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. 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. For the prayer flags, the combination of earth and earth is said to be the most auspicious. Appropriation Bill Status Sheet. Were putting together our 2019 Tibetan Nuns Project calendar which will have the important Tibetan Buddhist days marked. One option is to take the synthetic prayer flags to a place in nature and tie them on a tree somewhere. is this not adding pollution to our planet? Well, you may be curious about the meaning of the Buddhist/Tibetan prayer flags. 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. For hundreds of years of history, hanging prayer flags has become a traditional custom in Tibetan regions, which is a self-cultivation way. Do I really need to burn these? Buddhists added their own texts to increase the power of the flags. You can always hang new ones along with the old ones. Clearly, you are acting out of respect and you want to treat the prayers on the prayer flags with reverence, so provided that that is your motivation in adding the beads to the rope, then it is not disrespectful. The flags contain sacred texts and symbols and should be treated respectfully. 2. I was told these insects feed on dead wood so as not to harm the living trees. Either is fine. Fading of the colors on these flags means that the prayers were carried by the breeze. Dear Mariellen, This is not a question weve encountered before, but your intention is what matters. Wishing you health and happiness. Songtsen Gampo(617-650) was the 33rd Tibetan King. This is a common misconception: rather, the mantras printed on the flags are carried on the wind and believed to spread goodwill and positive energy wherever they go. Here are 10 things you should know: 1. Then place a small line of hot glue on the back of the flag on fold created by the flap. I truly love this idea to give thanks to our well being and compassion for all life! Color and order. So, instead of buying it, getting these flags as a gift from someone is how you should acquire a prayer flag. You can not only see marvelous religious artworks but also discover the spiritual home of Tibetan people. 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. 6. Please advise. "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). It's a great way to stay Tibetan prayer flags are bright and beautiful, but their colours aren't just for show. Hello Maura, We have consulted the nuns about disposing of prayer flags. At the same time, he managed to bring Tibetan Buddhism, or at least some version of it, into the forefront of popular Western culture. Mindful in May is symbolic of the broader appropriation of meditation and only giving it validation through Western science. 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. In Melbourne a bar run by white non-Buddhists called Asian Beer Cafe features Buddha themed rooms to drink in. I recently bought the prayer flags from a store that sells hand made stuff and support local artists. Tibetans do not wash prayer flags. They are meant to represent the five elements in balance and it is not really appropriate to the purpose or culture to separate them. He is the Politics and Arts Editor at Asian-Australian publication Peril Magazine and correspondent for Tokyo-based The Diplomat. Originated from Bon culture, the prayer flags, namely Longda in the Tibetan language, primarily carry our prayers via the wind to get them answered. Also when will you have more flags in stock Some that I am interested in are not available right now. 1. 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. Please, give me your thoughts on this final solution. We hope your move is smooth and happy. [1] Tibetan Prayer Flags. 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. I had an idea but was not sure if it was appropriate. 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. Central to the appropriation in the West is the way Buddhism is tokenised and not treated as a legitimate religion. The problem is that under the coronavirus lockdown there are many factors causing delays. The Peace Flag Project is based on the Prayer Flags of Tibet. 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. It is most respectful to burn them. Your email address will not be published. Songtsen Gampo(617-650) was the 33rd Tibetan King. Khata scarves are the most common Tibetan gifts. Well post the answers as soon as possible. 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. In that way we are reminded, not only of impermanence, but also the mystery of re-incarnation. STATEWIDE BUDGET. I was given a beautiful strand of prayer flags, but when I opened them today to hang (Tibetan New Year) I discovered they are too long for my deck! Meaning if the wind blows West to East does the blue start in the North or South? Winds have dispersed some to the ground which I left as part of that original idea. If that is not possible, then you can bury them underground in a clean place as you did with the blessed cords from the mala. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Perhaps you can give the prayer flags to someone who would like them. Green is water, yellow is earth, and blue is wind. If you choose to enhance your home, garden or yoga studio with Tibetan prayer flags, its important to know the story behind them. These are merely recommendations for the best results, however, and not deeply held religious laws whose violation will bring eternal punishment. Order Gyaltsen Tsenpo prayer flags in three sizes here. Those flags are called lung dar prayer flags. We have placed an order with the nuns at Dolma Ling, but it could be some time before they can obtain materials. I dont even know how to do this responsibly. 4. They believe that God will help those who hang prayer flags. They were cut, retied, flags cut from the strand then thrown on the ground, in my yard. The red, blue, yellow, white and green buddhist prayer flags represent elements like air, fire, water and earth. Central to the appropriation in the West is the way Buddhism is tokenised and not treated as a legitimate religion. In Tibetan, this ceremony is called "Tuosui", which means offering sacrifices to gods and praying for blessings. Presenting Khata expresses good wishes and respect. Tibetan prayer flags are religious. Traditionally, Tibetan prayer flags are hung left to right in this specific order: blue, white, red, green, and yellow. 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. 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. These are the most often seen kind of . I found a set of Tibetan prayer flags at my grandmothers house on the floor in her kitchen and don't know if I can still fly them or if I should just Required fields are marked *. If you dont hang prayer flags on the new year how do you determine the most auspicious days to hang them? Palden Lhamo is the chief Dharma Protector, so she is highly valued in all major sects of Tibetan Buddhism. Presenting Khata expresses good wishes and respect. There are Two Kinds of Flags- Horizontal and Vertical. 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. I am interested in your thoughts on this. Eventually, even younger generations unfamiliar with the political context of the Tibetan nation were hanging prayer flags in their windows and over their patios. On top is blue, followed by white, red, green, and yellow, which denote the five elements: sky, air, fire, water, and earth. It is so wonderful that you have put such thought and care into the respectful disposal of your old prayer flags. This was a blog post written by the Tibetan Nuns Project, does that answer your question? 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. Learn more about Khatas' meanings, color, etiquette, etc. Quickly place the thread on the glue and flatten it with your fingers. His message of peace and love and understanding was just the right medicine for a world ill at ease. 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