This introductory video is a guide to setting up various types of altars according to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, from the simplest to the...
The Buddhist altar serves a practitioner in a number of ways. Firstly it is a visualisation aid that inspires the practitioner to remember the qualities of the Buddhas and to progressively let go of samsaric attachments. The altar is also a field of merit through which the practitioner can accumulate merits through the act of cleaning and making offerings.
This introductory video is a guide to setting up various types of altars according to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, from the simplest to the most extensive.
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Justin Cheah
Posted on October 14, 2016 #1 AuthorThank you for the video. I found it helpful as the explanantions were clear and straight to the poinrt. I particularly like the symbolism of Tibetan Buddhism to be honest esp how and why arrangements as made as such and not another way. How and where to place certain items on an altar. Thank you for the helpful video.
Alice Tay
Posted on March 23, 2017 #2 AuthorTo have an altar at home is a golden opportunity for us to make offering to the Three Jewels and enable us to collect immense merits. We need very much merits to support our practice and understand better in dharma.
To set an altar, we must place the Buddha image in the middle, dharma text on the left side when we face to the altar and the stupa is on the right. Buddha image is very important in order to remind us the qualities of perfect wisdom and compassion of the Buddha. Besides, Buddha image also inspire us to develop these qualities and follow Buddha teachings.
The offerings that we can offer to the Three Jewels including 8 sensory offerings (water for drinking, water for washing the feet, flowers, incense, light, perfume, food and music), 8 bowls of water offering, mandala offering, 5 commitment offerings (tea, milk, oat yogurt and beer), herbs, medicines and many others that were not obtained from non-virtuous deeds.
Fong
Posted on May 4, 2017 #3 AuthorThe A – Z of altar setup plus the abc’s. Very clear information and a very good guide to altar setup not just for beginners but for those who already have an altar as well. Maybe it is time to change the look of the altar again and have a fresh look besides recalling the qualities of the Buddhas. And, to clean and make offerings to clear the cobwebs in my mind.