Prayer Flags

Tibetans have an age-old tradition of printing prayers from hand-carved wood blocks onto colored squares of cotton. These flags are then strung together and hung at mountain passes, over homes and temples, or anywhere the wind will blow their prayers to the universe, to appease the local spirit powers and grant the wishes of the person who hung the flags. (The most fervent wish of nearly all Tibetans is that every being of any sort, in whatever realms of existence they may reside, should be happy and free from suffering, and that the individual making the wish should have the good fortune to be allowed to assist in the liberation of all beings, without exception.) It is said that hanging prayer flags is certain to yield greater peace, happiness, and health for oneself, for ones loved ones and neighbors, for strangers in the area, and even for ones enemies.