Prayer Flags at the Thrangu Monastery in Richmond (Vancouver), Canada
Today is Losar which means New Year according to the Tibetan Calendar.
May you all find peace, happiness and good things.
This is the Year of the Dragon 2139. The celebration usually lasts 3 days.
One of the Buddhist traditions on New Year is to hang prayer flags which contain written Mantras with good wishes for everyone in the world.
The wind spreads these Mantras or prayers around the world.
The most important Mantra is “Om Mani Padme Hum”
The pronounciation is: Om ma nee pay may hung
Buddha at the Thrangu Monastery in Vancouver Canada
This Mantra is associated with Avalokiteshvara in Tibetan Buddhism: Chenrizig. It means “Jewel in the Lotus of the Heart”.
The recitation of this mantra is to develop infinite compassion within us and others and to transform our body and speech into a pure exalted body.
You will find this mantra carved and written on stones, paper, flags and prayer wheels like in the image below. Spinning the wheel is like repeating the mantra endlessly and it spreads all over the world for all sentient beings.
Mani Prayers Wheels at the Thrangu Monastery in Vancouver, Canada
Read more about Tibetan Buddhism or about the Thrangu Monastery in Canada
Text, and photographs are © Copyright Malu Couttolenc and are not in the public domain. They may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from Malu Couttolenc.
