Reflection: Tibetan Wind Horse Prayer

"As Wind carries our prayers for Earth and All Life, may respect and love light our way. May our hearts be filled with compassion for others and for ourselves. May peace increase on Earth. May it begin with me."

The New Year begins with new beginnings and hope for peace and joy for everyone. In Tibet, prayer flags are hung on Mountain peaks to bless the surrounding countryside, to bring peace and joy. The prayer flags are colorful rectangular pieces of cloth, often found strung along trails and high mountain peaks in the Himalayas. The five colors represent the five elements (sky, air, fire, water, earth) and their corresponding spiritual aspects, connecting the physical and spiritual realms.

Printed on the prayer flags are 'Sutras' and a picture of a 'Wind Horse'. Sutras, aphoristic Sanskrit texts that act as foundational guidelines, originally written on cloth banners, were transmitted to other regions of the world as prayer flags. Some legends refer to the origin of prayer flags to Gautama Buddha, whose prayers were written on battle flags used by Gods against their adversaries, the asuras. The legend may have given monks a reason for carrying the heavenly banners as a way of signifying their commitment to peace and non-violence. The prayer flags were probably introduced after 1040 CE, when Indian monks introduced the Indian practice of printing on cloth prayer flags to Tibet and Nepal.

The wind horse is a flying horse that is the symbol of the human soul in the shamanistic tradition of East Asia and Central Asia. In Tibetan Buddhism, it is sometimes included as the core element in symbolizing the idea of peace, well-being or good fortune.

"Tibetan prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. Tibetans believe the prayers and mantras printed on the flags will be spread by the wind and bring goodwill and compassion to benefit all beings."(https://tnp.org/5-things-to-know-about-tibetan-prayer-flags/)

May your new year be filled with peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom, may the winds always carry our prayers of harmony, goodwill and compassion to benefit all.

IPC wishes you a joyful and peaceful New Year!

-Meenal Harankhedkar (Executive Director, IPC)