The Living Journal - Having a shrine in your home.

Why have an altar? A proper altar holds images or representations of the Buddha's enlightened body, speech and mind which serve as reminders of the goal of Buddhist practice is to develop these qualities in oneself so as to be able to fully benefit all sentient beings.

The reason for setting up an altar is not for fame, for showing off wealth, or to increase pride, but rather it is to reduce one's mental afflictions and to seek the ability to help all sentient beings.

As you know, every Tibetan family, even if they only have a tent to live in, will always set up a shrine with His Holiness the the 14th Dalai Lama’s photo or something like that. Having a shrine in your home is very good but it is not compulsory.  Lack of space is often a problem, too, for people in big cities where space is scarce and expensive.

If you do have the space and the support of your family or partner, then you should think whether you want to set up a shrine. It doesn’t have to be a separate room but you should choose where you have it carefully. In this case, I have a separate and private shrine room for my daily meditation and other practices.

Where to Place the Altar

The best place for an altar is in a separate shrine room, but if you live in a small place and cannot set aside a separate room for worship, any room can be used. The size of the altar is not important, but it should be in a clean and respectful place, higher than the level of your head as you sit facing it

Traditionally, it is not supposed to be in a bedroom because we normally associate a bedroom with sleep and it is not a very respectful area. If your space is limited, however, your bedroom might be the only available area. It needs to be a place which you can comfortably sit in front of to do your meditation and your recitations. It should be a place where you can do your practice quite easily.

When you have the space, choose the altar. It should not be very high so when you sit it is easy to focus your mind, nor should it be very low, which is considered disrespectful. When you sit on the floor you should be able to focus your eyes on the objects of meditation easily without having to stretch your neck to look at them.

Choosing what goes on the shrine is also important. In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, His Holiness the Lama has commented that Buddha should be in the center. If you wish to have one, three or more statues on the altar, Buddha statue should be in the center, on the right of the Buddha statue, you can put a scripture or the prayer book that represents the speech of the enlightened ones. A stupa should put on the left of the Buddha statue; Stupa represents the mind of the enlightened ones.

The Objects and What They Represent - (When we are facing in direction)

(1) On the Right hand - A scripture or a prayer book that represents the speech of the enlightened ones.

(2) In the center - A Buddha or Bodhisattva statue that represents the Body of the enlightened ones.

(3) On the left hand - A stupa that represents the mind of the enlightened ones.

In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition it is customary to offer the followings:-

On the altar - Eight auspicious offerings and Mandala offerings 

(1)Water for drinking

(2)Water for washing

(3)Flower

(4)Incense

(5)Candle or lamp

(6)Fragrance or perfume

(7)Food

(8)Music

Making Offerings on the altar – The seven limbs practice

It is customary to offer the seven bowls of water offerings, which represent the seven limbs of practice.

Placing Offerings on the Altar

If you have the space, place the offerings a little lower than the objects of refuge on your altar. When you awaken in the morning, it is customary to wash at least your face before approaching the altar to offer prostration and then offerings-this is a sign of respect for the object represented there. One is making offerings as if one is accepting a dignitary or a great being into one's home and it is important to be gracious and respectful.                                         

Thank you for reading and may you find peace and great bliss. With your support it helps spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turning the dharma wheels in the world. 

Aspiration For Bodhichitta

May the precious Bodhichitta arise

Where it has not arisen

And where it has arisen may it not decrease

But increase further and further.

Nagarjuna's Dedication of Merit

By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.

May we liberate migrators from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

*Note*
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Pictures courtesy and credit to the rightful owners.