Prayer Flags

So the idea of Prayer Flags, besides being gorgeous colourful decorations, is that the prayers printed on them are, as the wind passes the cloth, carried into the air and into the surrounding areas to bring blessings to all. Usually they have the most common tibetan mantra Om Mani Padme Hung printed on them, which means roughly something like Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus... which metaphorically refers to Compassion, the Jewel, being the most precious characteristic of a pure mind, the Lotus. The Lotus symbolises a pure mind because it is able to grow and rise above the muddy waters to blossom in startling white beauty... To wish someone compassion, to send this blessing forth into the air towards them, is to wish for their ultimate happiness as it is through developing loving kindness for all beings that true and lasting happiness is found....

Speaking of compassion...

These photos were taken on the spot where the Buddha in a previous life gave his own flesh to a hungry tigeress so that she could feed her cubs. He came upon the Tigress and was going to go and search for food for her and then realised - why would he kill another animal to feed her when all that was needed was already there... and in doing this took a huge step towards developing perfect Boddhichitta, perfect compassion, and an enlightened mind in his next life as the Buddha.

Its awe inspiring...

As a counsellor we are carefully trained to be compassionate and caring towards others, but not at the expense of our selves... and in life we are generally taught that its a good thing to be kind to others, as long as we put ourselves first. This is one of the ways that Buddhism turns Western Psychology on its head - because true compassion does put the needs of others before our own... In buddhism we are taught that all living beings have been our mother in a previous life and as a mother puts her child's needs before her own... so too has every being given fully of themselves for our care, and so when ever we have the chance it is great for us to return the favour...in a sense... to give as freely and as generously of ourselves as if each and every living being was our own newborn child.