Are your Prayer Flags
Blessed? Yes, all our prayer
flags are blessed in Nepal before they get shipped out to us. It is a ritual
that we have taken upon us to make sure we do it as traditionally as
possible. The whole Ram-nya ceremony and prayers are done and then only are
they shipped to us.
What
material do you use? Most of
our flags are made with the traditional fabric - 100% natural cotton. We
choose it over synthetic fabrics like polyester, which last longer and are
much cheaper, but because of the chemicals used in making the cloth and
other pollutants we wanted to stay away from. A few of the prayer flags are
made from silk and are labeled as such. The ink we use is natural dye ink
for fabric.
How
long, do your prayer flags last?
This is one of the
questions that we are asked most frequently. Simply put, it all depends on
how you use them. If you hang your Prayer Flags outside, as is generally
done in the Himalayan subcontinent, then the natural elements, such as rain,
sun, wind, will fray and fade them with time. If you hang your prayer flags
indoors they will last much longer. The beauty lies in seeing the changes of
the flags with time. Remember, the intention of prayer flags is for them to
be hung outside so the wind and other elements will take your prayers to
places where we cannot go.
When
should you hang prayer flags?
My belief is that what’s most important in
deciding when to hang your prayer flags are your thoughts and intentions,
Any day is a good day as long as you do it with a clear and open heart. My
parents hung flags religiously every month for me, and my family, but they
always checked for auspicious days.
How
frequently do you hang new flags?
Prayer flags are typically
hung for special occasions, such as new ventures, special events like
birthdays, marriages, housewarming, get-well wishes and many more you can
think of. And you can replace them when they’re old and faded and the
prayers have faded. As we need food for the body so do we need prayers for
the soul. With the passage of time we need to replenish our prayers and
replace the old with new ones. It reminds us of the impermanence of life.
How
do I recycle the flags?
Since prayer flags have
prayers and sacred images on them, when you no longer want to display them,
kindly burn them. PLEASE DO NOT PUT THEM IN YOUR REGULAR GARBAGE. If you
like, you can send them back to us for proper handling at our annual Prayer
Flag celebration during Losar (Tibetan New Years) in February or March each
year.
What
is so special about your prayer flags?
One of the reasons we also
got into making Prayer Flags was the sheer negligence on the part of some
prayer flag makers to pay cultural and traditional respect to prayer flags.
They are made with the artwork of sacred images distorted or very poorly
made with very poor print quality. I also wanted to reach a wider group of
people so we have translated all Tibetan Prayer Flags into English too.
These Prayer Flags are the medium of awareness about Tibet, so they are very
special to us.
Where is the best place to hang the prayer flags?
The best place to hang any
prayer flag is where you have a never-ending flow of wind and breeze, and
where they will not be disrespected. But, in general, it is OK to hang them
where you feel is holy and they will be treated with respect, such as sacred
spaces in the home, office/work place, gardens or others. The most important
aspect of the hanging is the intention. Good thoughts and prayers generate
happiness and joy. Air is very flexible and it will take your prayers to
wherever you want it to go or wherever it wants to go, even from your
basement apartment in New York City.
Is
the extra blank prayer flag on each string traditional?
As a bonus, we’ve
added a blank flag on each set so you can attach your own prayers with the
traditional ones on the other flags and make it one of its kind. But to be
honest it is not traditional, although Tibetans do write the names of loved
ones and birthdays and years on prayer flags in blank spaces, around the
borders to personalize it for individuals. I believe that change is the law
of nature so I asked for advice and guidance from monks and other respected
people and they did not object to our plans and they felt good about it.
How
soon will I receive my order?
We ship out orders as soon
as we receive them, no later than 2 business days. How soon you receive them
depend on how far you are from us, and the method of shipment you specify.
Our standard shipment is US Postal Service, which should take from 2-10 days
from the time we receive your order. If you need your order quicker or by a
certain day, email us,
info@TibetanPrayerFlag.com or call us at 503-445-9470 and we can discuss
shipping options and costs.
Can
I pay by personal check or money orders or other means?
While we prefer charge
card payment, you can pay whichever way you want and we will gladly help
you. If you send us a check we will ship your order when your check clears,
typically overnight after deposit. If you send us a money order, we will
ship immediately. Please be sure your checking account has adequate funds,
as we will charge back to you any returned check charges we get.
Can
I buy prayer flags from you at wholesale prices?
In order to buy wholesale,
you must be a registered business or non profit group, and order the minimum
required amount from our list of wholesale packages. Please fill out the
application form for wholesale buyers elsewhere on this web site or call us.
Who
benefits from my purchase of these Prayer Flags?
While we certainly make a
small profit selling these prayer flags, it is actually a long line of
people that come to mind, from the cloth makers to the block maker, from the
printer and the tailors to the artists and the monks in Nepal. Also, your
purchase keeps the art of Tibetan Prayer Flags alive and vibrant and builds
awareness of the Tibetan
plight
and more.
