A few weeks ago, I wrote about all the little flags in the park. Well, I found out what they are today. They are Tibetan Buddhist prayer flags or Dar Cho. These ones feature Lung Ta (wind horse). They bring peace and serenity. This is mostly created by their fluttering in the breeze and the beauty of the sun glinting through them. The different colours also play a big part.
Originally they were bits of coloured cloth which represented the different elements. They would be laid out around someone in need of healing, in order to rebalance the person’s spirit. It’s not known whether the original cloths had anything written or drawn on them.
The writing and images on them these days are the work of Buddhist masters from long ago. Like choreography, they never change. It’s actually very rare for someone to create a new one these days. Unfortunately, a lot of the wooden blocks that the Tibetan monks used to create the designs on the flags, were destroyed by the Chinese when they decided to lend the Tibetans a hand with their ‘administration’.
I find it odd that the Chinese are so anti-Tibet when Buddhism was such an integral part of Chinese history. Surely they knew the importance of the wooden blocks before they destroyed them…actually, that’s probably why they destroyed them. Can’t have them being too happy.
Like the writing, the images are very important as well. Here’s what I’ve found out about the Wind Horse:
The Wind Horse (Lung-ta) carrying the “Wish Fulfilling Jewel of Enlightenment” is the most prevalent symbol used on prayer flags. It represents good fortune; the uplifting life force energies and opportunities that makes things go well. When one’s lung-ta is low obstacles constantly arise. When lung-ta is high good opportunities abound. Raising Wind Horse prayer flags is one of the best ways to raise one’s lung-ta energy.
From this, I figure that whoever put the flags up in the park was looking to raise their lung-ta energy and I hope they succeeded. I like the little prayer flags very much, particularly in the breeze, fluttering away. I like the fragility of the simple cotton weave.
The individual colours of the flags also hold meaning. They are:
- Blue – space
- White – air (sometimes referred to as wind or cloud)
- Red – fire
- Green – water
- Yellow – earth
These prayer flags, in particular, which also happen to be the most popular, are meant to ‘…raise the good fortune energy of the beings in the vicinity…’ of them. I must be overflowing with it because I’ve made a point to visit them each time I walk the dogs!
Sadly though, today I found that one lot of the flags had been ripped down from the trees. The individual flags were strewn all over the place. You’d think this would make them look a bit sad and forlorn but it didn’t. They still seem to exude some sort of good fortune just by being there. Although, I’ve read that they shouldn’t be left on the ground or thrown in the trash because they hold sacred words. The proper form of disposal should be to leave them till they rot away naturally or by burning so that any blessings they have collected can be dispersed properly.
There are a few days that are not good for putting them up but, basically, any other time is fine. I’m thinking of getting some for the garden.
The mystery of the coloured flags is solved
I like the idea of some in the garden sometimes. Do you think they were trying to help all dog walkers??
Can’t be Janet’s Buddhism as don’t remember her saying about flags but it is interesting and would look good in your garden and might help you sell it.
love mum