Tibetan Dharma

Prayer Flage

Prayer flags

Prayer flags are colorful panels or rectangular cloths placed on single poles or strung along lines, on mountain ridges and peaks high in the Himalayas, on temples or homes. Prayer flags were used by Tibetans well before the arrival of Buddhism by Tibetan armies as regimental flags. Tibetan Shamans in the Bon tradition[1] adopted the flags into spiritual shaman rituals. Tibetan villagers adopted the shamanistic practice of prayer flags into their daily lives.

Buddhism has always demonstrated its ability to adopt and absorb shamanistic rituals into its own spiritual practices. Shamanism, Daoism, and Buddhism have evolved together in a kindred relationship throughout the history of Buddhist expansion in Asia. After Buddhism arrived in Tibet as early as the fourth century B.C.E., monks adopted the shaman's colored flags into Tibetan Buddhist practice. These flags came to be seen as prayer flags, adopted into the very fabric of Tibetan Buddhist belief. The prayer flags have retained their shaman uses to bring benefit and protection, including good health, and to invoke blessings on special events. Buddhist practitioners use the prayer flags to seek spiritual blessings including benefit in future reincarnations and the experience of Nirvana. The flags are often set at the highest places possible in the Himalayan mountains on single poles or strung on a line on houses. When set on mountain peaks, the flags have a unique beauty. Read More........

Buddhism

For two and a half thousand years, people have followed a Buddhism religion based on the teachings of a man they called the Buddha, meaning the Enlightened One. The starting pint in Buddhism is mankind and the way in which they suffer not just physical pain but the general feelings of dissatification with life, the craving to achieve or have something more, the fear of change and death. It seeks to give a person peace of mind and to encourage and develop loving compassion towards all living beings.
Buddhism is not a dogmatic religion in the sense that it does not required a person to accept fixed beliefs and ideas. It does not concern itself by debationg whether or not there is a God. It regards all such beliefs as secondary importance. The main thing is to help people overcome suffering and to achieve a full life. The goal of Buddhism religion is enlightenment which means to be fully awake to the reality of life, to have an understanding of why there is suffering in the world and how it man be overcome. Buddhists claim that in the teaching of the Buddha they find a path which will eventually lead them to achieve this enlightenment for themselves.
There is great variety within Buddhism. There are two main Branches of the religion - Theravada or Hinayana Buddhism in the North. Nevertheless there is a common basis to all Buddhism expressed in what is called the Triple Jewel (Tri Ratna). The Buddha ( the enlightened one), the Dharma (teaching) and the Sangha (community of monks.)

THE MAJOR SECTS OF BUDDHISM

HINAYANA BUDDHISM
MAHAYANA BUDDHISM
VAJRAYANA BUDDHISM

The Life of Buddha
Gautama Buddha, the historical Buddha, lived between 563 and 483 BC in the area known now as the Indo-Nepalese region. As a bodhisattva, he had passed through thousands of existences before coming to Earth for his ultimate transmigration.

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Gods, Goddesses and Buddhist Tantra

White Tara

White Tara is the female deity of the Buddhist pantheon. White Tara was born from a tear of the Bodhisattva of compassion Avalokiteswora she holds a very prominent position in Tibet and Nepal. Tara is believed to protect the human beings while they crossing the ocean of existence. The practice of white tara is basically performed in to prolong life as well as for healing purpose.

White Tara Mantra
Oṃ Tāre Tuttāre Ture Mama Ayuḥ Punya Jñānā Puṣtiṃ Kuru Svāhā
(Om Tare Tuttare Ture Mama Ayuh Punya Jñana Pustim Kuru Svaha)

White Tara (Sitatara) is associated with long life. Her mantra is often chanted with a particular person in mind. She’s another representation of compassion, and she’s pictured as being endowed with seven eyes (look at the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and her forehead) to symbolize the watchfulness of the compassionate mind.

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Tibetan Dharma Ritual Objects

The articles in this section explore the form, function and symbolism of the rich variety of objects used in Buddhist ritual and symbolic art.

BELL
The bell representing the female aspect stands for prajna or wisdom this is held in the left hand Dorje held in the right and they are always used in combination during the religious ceremonies. So bell & dorje are inseperable ritual objects and two together lead to enlighjtenment.

DORJE (VAJRA)
The thunderbolt or diamond that destroys all kind of ignorance, and itself is indestructible the dorje is symbol of indra also. In tantric rituals, the dorje symbolized the male principle which represents method in the right hand and the bell symbolized the female principle, is held in the left. Their interaction leads to enlightenment.also the dorje represents the upaya or method Tibetans name vajra as dorje.

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His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama Quotes

Dalai Lama Quotes

Here's an inspiring series of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama quotes. Often refer to as His Holiness, he's the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet. He is both the head of state and the spiritual leader of Tibet.

Read through these His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama quotes and you'll quickly realize that love, kindness, compassion, peace and happiness are often mentioned in his teachings.May you find peace and inspiration from his quotes.

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend - or a meaningful day.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

Tibetan Altar

Tibetan Altar  

Where to Place the Altar

The best place for an altar is in a separate shrine room, but if you live in a small place and cannot set aside a separate room for worship, any room can be used. The size of the altar is not mportant, but it should be in a clean and respectful place, higher than the level of your head as you site facing it. If it is in your bedroom, the altar should be placed near the head of your bed, never at the foot, and it should be higher than the bed. The altar should be either on a separate shelf or on a table set aside for this purpose that does not double as a coffee table or night stand.

How to set up an Altar

The most basic shrine consists of a statue or picture of a deity or lama elevated above a set of seven offering bowls and one butter lamp. The offering bowls are placed in a straight line along the front of the shrine table, and are spaced apart no more than the length of a grain of rice. Read More..............

Tibetan Buddhism Symbol

It is common to see various religious symbols when traveling in Tibetan monasteries, villages. They are used as sacred adornments.
The Eight Auspicious Signs, or eight motifs, generally symbolize how to progress along the Buddhist path.

The Golden Fish

The fish represent the emancipation of one's consciousness from all suffering and thereby leading to eventual spiritual liberation.

The Great Treasure Vase

The treasure vase symbolizes a long life, wealth and prosperity.