Trifter

Some Pictures depicting the very warmth and ambiance of the Tibetan and Buddhist culture in Pema Ts’al Sakya Monastic Institute of Pokhara, Nepal. The Institute was constructed in October 2003, is based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha and is headed by the eminent Dalai Lama himself.

Important prayer requests are often made by worshippers or visitors. These special prayer request rituals are performed by the monks or lamas of the monastic institute to aide in solving a persons conflicts on various issues in life. Most of the rituals involve the setting up of the sacred altars with red, yellow powders, lotus and jasmine flowers as well as clay lamps and strings. The number of monks performing the ritual may range from 4 to 6 or even more but the importance of butter lamps in these rituals is always very high. Some of the rituals performed in Tibetan and Buddhist rituals are listed below:

• VAIROCHANA BUDDHA

• VAJRAKILAYA BUDDHA

• TARA PUJA

• MAHAKALA PUJA

• THREE DEITIES LONG-LIFE PRAYER

• MEDICINE BUDDHA

• VIJAYA 1000 OFFERINGS

• SAMANTABHADRA PRAYERS

• THREE HEAPS PRAYERS

• HOISTING OF PRAYER FLAGS

All Buddhist rituals serve a purpose. They aid a person in receiving enlightenment and success. Their Meditation beliefs are very strong and the wheel or prayer lives hold a very deep meaning in their rituals. Some worshippers while on the journey to scared sites and temples, lie flat on the ground with their hands together, walk a few feet and then again lie flat and worship the deities. Since Mediation is an important aspect of their religion, they are almost always alert and awake even in a meditative and subconscious state. Some of their meditation practices are grouped together or some are done separately. They may concentrate for hours in a yogic position and clearly think on loveliness, tranquility or enlightenment. These monks or lamas have been practicing the true art of Buddhism for years and they truly know the meaning of Zen.

Mantras are sounds chanted throughout the prayer rituals. These can be done by single or groups of Buddhist priests sitting together and family members are also encouraged to chant along. The Mani Mantra is the most commonly or famous mantra used for enlightenment and can be chanted loudly or only to oneself. During this chant, the whorshipper or monk believes himself to be the devout Gautama Buddha himself. Some Mantras or Chants are associated with Buddhist Figures while others are not.

Some Buddhist deities in Monastery and Monastic institutes are depicted with their hands in a certain position. These hand positions are called Mudras. Different hand positions have different meaning and they are various resources on the Internet explaining the meaning of each and every hand position.

Gautama Buddha during his life on earth has indicated to his followers that a persons existence should be cyclic or round like a wheel on nature. Simply put, the symbolic wheel of life means reincarnation or passing into another life after death.  Also known as the Dharma wheel, the sacred symbol holds very deep meaning both religiously and traditionally for all Buddhists.

The Concept of Buddhism or the entire Dharma is based on eradication of all suffering and unnecessary disease and illness by seeking the cause of various issues within ones own self. In their efforts of achieving success through meditation, they are continuously tormented by spirits and beings form other Astral Dimensions. The try relentlessly to overcome or surpass the torments of these no good beings similar to Lord Buddha himself.