Flagged wisdom

So, I was at Barnes & Noble today when I saw a pack of Tibetan prayer flags on sale. They have reminded me of my involvement with the Tibetan cause....yeah that was some time back though! Back in the 90s, I was quite involved in the whole Tibetan movement for autonomy. I, along with my sister started the Delhi chapter of the Indo Tibet Friendship Forum and also took part in many rallies to protest Chinese possession of the small Himalayan country.

My mind wanders back to those days today...of meeting The Dalai Lama, making posters over night at the Tibetan Youth Hostel in Delhi and organizing debates on the topic across the Delhi University. And with that, all the delicious Tibetan food that I hogged on while doing all that.

Yeah, I am still sitting at the book store while I write this.

Coming back to the prayer flags, it was the first time I visited Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, when I saw these prayer flags flying high in the sky. The White, Red, Green, Blue and Yellow flags... attached to a rope, cris-crossed the streets. They not only added color but also gave the place an instant Tibetan character.

The Tibetan prayer flags are considered extremely sacred and you may find them at every Tibetan, home, temple, restaurant, shop... or any other place you are able to think. Why so important? They have many Tibetan Mantras, prayers and chantings printed on them and considered an important part of the temples.

Often, they are put up in the airy and open spaces. Tibetans believe that wind will carry the sacred mantras and chantings and their goodwill across the world, which would touch the lives of every human being!