Blessing our Prayer Flags: May 30, 2009

It isn't often that one can say: "Look at the plane flying below us!" This was kinda cool. This picture was taken halfway between Pisang Village and Base Camp.

Plane Flying Below Us!


Close Up of the Plane!


The colorful flags are Tibetan prayer flags. Because the Tibetans and Buddhists believe that mountains are sacred (e.g. the name for Mt. Everest Chomolangma in Tibetan, which loosely means “Goddess Mother of the Universe.”), early this morning my Sherpas sought the blessing of the local lama. For a fee, of course, he blessed our prayer flags and wished us good luck for our journey. He wrapped around each of us a crème colored silk prayer shawl and made us eat reddish brown pellets that tasted somewhere between tobacco leaves and a barn but looked like little Willy Wonk a nerds.

According to Wikipedia: "Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. The flags do not carry prayers to 'gods,' a common misconception, rather the Tibetans believe the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread the good will and compassion into all pervading space. Therefore, prayer flags are thought to bring benefit to all.

By hanging flags in high places the "Wind Horse" will carry the blessings depicted on the flags to all beings. As wind passes over the surface of the flags which are sensitive to the slightest movement of the wind, the air is purified and sanctified by the Mantras.

The prayers of a flag become a permanent part of the universe as the images fade from exposure to the elements. Just as life moves on and is replaced by new life, Tibetans renew their hopes for the world by continually mounting new flags alongside the old. This act symbolizes a welcoming of life changes and an acknowledgement that all beings are part of a greater ongoing cycle." See also: http://www.tibetanprayerflag.com/history.html#8