JULY 2022
His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday is on July 6. This year he will be 87 years old. As he is the highest spiritual leader and former head of state of Tibet, we would like to honor him by featuring the National Flag of Tibet in our July Newsletter.
 
With a written history of more than 2,000 years, Tibet existed as an independent sovereign state prior to Chinese rule, but having no representation in the United Nations, the world largely stood by and allowed China’s occupation and destruction to happen. China’s relentless destruction of religion in Tibet saw the razing of over 6,000 monasteries and countless religious texts and artefacts. Even today, the leadership of the Communist Party sees Tibetan religion and culture as a major threat.
 
During the reign of the seventh-century king, Songtsen Gampo, Tibet was one of the mightiest empires in Central Asia. Tibet, then, had an army of 2,860,000 men. Over the centuries, as Buddhism became a more and more dominant influence in Tibetan culture, the size of its army decreased, while its monasteries grew larger and larger. Tibet withdrew from the world until its powerful neighbor to the north realized what a strategic and easy target Tibet had become.
 
In 1912 the 13th Dalai Lama, realizing the importance of unifying the country politically under one banner, introduced the Tibetan National Flag . He took elements from the military flags of the various Tibetan provinces and combined them into one design. Historically, each regiment of the army had its own banner. The banner of the Ya-ru To regiment had a pair of snow lions facing each other, that of Ya-ru Ma, a snow lion standing upright, springing upwards towards the sky, and that of U-ru To, a white flame against a red background.
July Specials: 25% off on all sizes of Tibet National Flags
The National Flag of Tibet served as the flag of the government of Tibet at Lhasa until 1959. It remains the emblem of the government of Tibet in exile headquartered in Dharamsala, India. As a symbol of the Tibetan independence movement, it is banned by the Chinese government currently occupying Tibet. Over the past 60 years the Tibetan people, under the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, have been carrying out a non-violent movement to preserve their culture and to regain their lost freedom and dignity under the banner of the Tibetan National Flag. 

All the elements of the flag of the Tibetan nation have a symbolic significance:

·     The glorious snow mountain in the center symbolizes the land of the great
nation of Tibet.
·     Across the dark blue sky the six red rays of light symbolize the six original
tribes of ancient Tibet. 
·     At the tip of the snow mountain, the sun’s brilliant rays shine in all
directions, representing the impartial enjoyment of freedom, prosperity and
happiness by all beings in the land of Tibet.
·     On the slopes of the mountain a pair of snow lions with turquoise manes
represent fearless victory and the accomplishment of a unified spiritual and
secular life.
·     The snow lions hold above them the flaming triple gem, representing the
Tibetan people’s reverence toward the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.
·     The surrounding yellow border represents the the purified gold- like
teachings of the Buddha which spread and flourish in all directions and in
all times.
 
July Specials: Tibetan National Flag Dharma Caps - $6 each
Cotton Fabric in three colors: Red, Stone, Blue
Adjustable strap in back - One size fits all
THIS MONTH'S PRACTICE & NAGA CALENDARS
Nagas are water elemental beings that play a prominent role in all Buddhist schools and are venerated throughout Asia. Making offerings to the Nagas on the astrological days that are associated with their activity, can play an important role in establishing harmony and balance in the environment, as well as curing many kinds of diseases. Practitioners who regularly make offerings to the Nagas, turning them into their allies are often benefitted by increased health and prosperity. Some Nagas are Buddha Dharma protectors and play important roles in the establishment and continuity of the Dharma.
The Nagas are awake on certain days that are determined by calculations on the Tibetan calendar. These are the days (called "teb") on which Naga ceremonies are performed. There are 4 degrees (*) of "Naga Days." Only make Naga offerings on Naga days. The ceremonies can be performed on any of the Naga days but it's most important to do them on the 4 degree "tep" days. Also, it's important not to "wake up" the Nagas on the other days, when they're asleep.

For detailed information and a commentary by Acharya Lama Dawa Chhodak Rinpoche please refer to the "Di-Khor Be-kar" Naga Days section in Saraswati Bhawan's webstite. Lama Dawa Rinpoche's Audio teachings on Making Naga Offerings can be downloaded for free from Saraswati Bhawan.

During this 5th month, the Nagas are preparing for their summer season. If you make offerings to them on a teb day, in turn they will help you fulfill your wishes. If you make offerings to them on a dok day, your offering becomes poison, pus and blood and they will surely flee.
While there are many good days to perform offering ceremonies this month, the best day is the July 13 (full moon). The worst days are the July 5 & 6.

We appreciate feedback from our customers; encouragement ,suggestions and constructive criticism. We also enjoy getting photos of prayer flags on display, especially ones you got from us.
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