Tag: thread cross

Namkha at Losar

In the past few days, Tibetan Buddhist monks have been busy creating a huge namkha as part of the Tibetan New Year rituals.

Losar time, 29th day of 12th Tibetan month

 

 

Gutor is an important event that closely precedes Losar, the Tibetan New Year. I witnessed this ritual twice in Namdroling. The monks work for several days preparing for this elaborate ritual. Some prepare tormas, some practice lama dances and others prepare the namkha. The offering items are arranged in the temple and empowered by chanting and visualization practice by hundreds of monks lined up sitting in the temple. Two days before Losar, the main item, gegtor, a huge torma made of flour, is ceremoniously taken out of the temple and ushered by the monks to a nearby field outside the monastery wall. (See more photos of this on my other blog here). There, the ceremony continues with more chanting and lama dances. In the end, the offerings are thrown away or burnt. The energies of the old year thus considered cleaned away and the spirits appeased, the Losar festivities are free to begin.

Gutornamkha1

Namkha are thread cross constructions made with coloured strings. They are part of a display called dö [mdos], which includes namkha and other symbolic representations.

Gutor has been the same every year for centuries. Like any Tibetan Buddhist practice, it closely follows a prescribed step-by-step procedure written in ancient Buddhist texts called terma and no deviation is favoured. Creativity is bound by the sacred limits of the revered scriptures. The procedure for constructing of the “gutor” namkha, for example, is described in the Ratna Lingpa terma and is part of the Lü (Naga) offering ritual. The Lü are important beings to be on good terms with.

ratnalingpanamkhaparts.jpg

 

The namkha is constructed specifically as an offering to the Lü for prosperity and fortune in the coming New Year.

 

 

The shapes, colour-sequences and the whole procedure follow the description in the treasure text of Ratna Lingpa from 14th century.

ratnalingpanamkha

This is a fine example of a namkha thread cross of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, and we are fortunate to be able to see these rare photos courtesy to my dear friend, Lama Tsultrim Palyul of Namdroling monastery, who supervised the construction of this particular namkha at the Palyul Centre in the Phillipines for Gutor this year (2019). The photos are used with his kind permission.

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Brigid’s Cross

My search for Tibetan Namkha-equivalent art in world cultures takes me to Ireland today.

It’s St. Brigid’s Day, celebrated each year on 1 February in remembrance of Brigid of Kildare, a Christian patron saint of Ireland.

brigidcross

The Goddess of Brigid, her pagan festival Imbolc and the rushen cross are all old folk tradition, most probably of Celtic origin, that was incorporated into Christianity.

The cross has become a symbol of Ireland, similar to the shamrock and harp, the four-armed cross being the most recognizable, though there are regional varieties, such as the three-armed cross.

 

The materials vary from rushes, reed, straw to wood, grass, hay, goose quills, wire and fabric.

In all its variety, Brigid’s cross is very similar in design and function to the Tibetan Namkha and the Eye of God (Ojo de Dios) of the Huichol indigenous culture of Mexico.

crosses

Varieties of Brigid’s cross Source

 

 

Traditional Tibetan namkha

Tibetan namkha

The cross seems to have become no more than a mere symbol of a culture today. We’re told that, historically, the crosses were hung up in homes and animal sheds. Newlyweds and those with a new home would commonly receive a cross as a gift for protection and good luck. There’s probably a lot more depth to the tradition than what can now be recollected.

crosshanging

Source

In Ireland, the tradition is honoured today by doing the Brigid’s cross weaving.

 

feile-bride-weavingjpg

 Source

Brigid’s cross weaving tutorial:

https://youtu.be/29ZbwPRXwis

 

The featured photo pictures His Holiness the Dalai Lama with a Brigid’s cross presented to him. 

Do you know more about this tradition? Please, share!

Sources:

Wiki

National Museum of Ireland

Solas Bhríde Centre and Hermitages

Follow my blog for more interesting research on the world’s woven crosses coming up: Huichol, Bon Tibetan, Nepalese Silamsakma and more …

 

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Medicine Buddha Namkha

The Medicine Buddha Namkha is empowered by the Namkha ritual and imbued with the power of the Medicine Guru mantra.

The namkha is an endless knot, which serves as a support for the deities of the Five Elements and the Medicine Buddha blessings. The mantra’s healing power radiates from the namkha and blesses everyone who comes into contact with it.

Based on a personal consultation, I custom-design a namkha to tackle a particular disease, or make it connected to one particular person, for a more focused and powerful effect.

What owners have reported

I have distributed namkhas to nearly 30 countries around the world. Here are some insights from the feedback I have received.

Owners experience their namkha:

  • as a healing and protection tool against an existing or potential disease
  • easing physical and mental symptoms
  • supporting the body’s natural healing power
  • powerfully cleansing one’s karmic obscurations and clearing away obstacles, immediately and/or in long term
  • working on all levels: physical, mental, and spiritual, wherever the source of the ailment resides.

Your namkha

If your namkha has been made as a result of your request, you are the cause of your namkha’s existence. Your mind has given birth to your namkha and so the two of you share a special bond. Many owners are very excited about the prospect of having their own personal namkha made and watch with delight as their namkha becomes manifest in my hands. When their namkha finally arrives, the moment of first physical contact is very powerful, like holding your baby in your arms for the first time.

Namkha’s power can be magnified in relation to how much you choose to interact with it. If you have a strong faith in its healing potential or use it as a meditation tool, while reciting the mantra, you can have a particularly transformative experience, as has often been reported.

But even if you doesn’t process blessing through emotions, don’t worry. Namkha works just by being present in the environment. That’s why it’s such a wonderful tool for bringing blessings to places and people who do not consider themselves particularly spiritual.

For Namkha to work, no active engagement is necessary. It easily benefits a distracted mind or people who don’t practice Dharma at all, children, those who suffer with a mental or physical disability, animals, or the elderly, just by having the namkha around. It can be displayed at a public place to bless anyone who comes into contact with it.

Namkha use is so versatile. You can find your own ways of using your namkha, especially if you practice massage or energy healing. I sweep it over my kids’ sleeping bodies, and put it on the body during healing sessions, for example.

Uses and benefits of Namkha are endless. Whether you display a Medicine Buddha mandala, carry a Mini-Namkha or wear the Pendant, the blessing will work for your benefit and the benefit of the world, just as Medicine Buddha intended.

Medicine Buddha protection amulet
Medicine Buddha Mandala

Medicine Buddha Mandala and mini-namkhas (center)

Parameters:

All my namkhas are made with 100% natural wood and cotton only. No glue or chemicals are used at any stage. Authentic method of construction and blessing (more info)

  • Mandala makes a lovely display on the wall or your shrine. The mandala namkha represents the deity in the same way as a statue or painting. Roughly 10 inches across, it manifests the Medicine Buddha of Guru Rinpoche within His Mandala of the Five Buddhas. These Buddhas (represented as the central blue and one to each of the 4 cardinal directions) are energies of the mind that arise from basic space, “namkha” in Tibetan, which the object itself represents. This namkha is finished with an endless knot of 5 colours – 5 elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water – in harmonized sequence. This is a way to harmonize discordant energies of the mind and the environment. Manifesting this namkha, then, represents the creation of perfectly harmonized, pure energies, and it serves as a support for the actual energies to manifest, here in particular the healing and purifying energy. To activate this power, the namkha is consecrated by the Namkha Rite and Medicine Buddha practice and mantra on 8th day of Tibetan calendar. During this ritual, the colorful threaded parts of the namkha become seats for the sacred energies to remain and function in the specific way assigned to them. A consecrated namkha is a sacred object, a cause for blessings to manifest on our relative level of existence. Therefore, it needs to be treated with due respect.
  • Similarly, the smaller namkhas are imbued by the same power, but are made portable. A Mini-Namka is great for carrying around or to hang unassumingly. You can hang it in your office, pop it into your handbag or your kid’s school bag. It’s so versatile, and makes a great gift. It’s made of the same materials as the Mandala, the diameter is 6-8 cm, decorated with a tassel or a string of 3 wooden beads, if desired, as comes with a pouch to carry in.
  • The Pendant is a variation on the Mini-Namkha, same material, a cotton string and 3 wooden beads for decoration.

Custom design is available upon consultation.

Medicine Buddha protection amulet

What is “Guru Rinpoche manifesting as Medicine Buddha”?

Medicine Buddha
Medicine Guru Rinpoche

I received the full Medicine Buddha empowerment by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Sera monastery in southern India in 2009. The mantra has been a practice of mine for many years.

It is stated in the Tantras that during the degenerate times, the sutra mantras need to be recited more times in order to get the same effect as used to be necessary in the past. That’s why in 8th century, Guru Rinpoche spread tantric practices that were going to be more efficient in the future and hid them to be revealed at future times, when most needed.

These terma (hidden treasures) have more recently been revealed and taught by destined masters, some in the living memory. Since the 1980s, for example, Dudjom Rinpoche propagated in the West the revealed treasure Dudjom Tersar, which contains the practice of Orgyen Menla. I received this practice from Kamala Rinpoche, Dudjom’s disciple. Medicine Buddha Namkha is consecrated with this practice as a way to spread the blessings, especially at these times of a global pandemic, for which this practice was particularly intended. The namkha is a simple yet powerful way to bring the Orgyen Menla Medicine Buddha healing and protection to your home and environment.

The mantras

Manjusri, if you come across any person suffering illness, you should single-mindedly recite this mantra 108 times on his behalf. If the patient has a particular wish and single-mindedly recites this mantra, his wish will be fulfilled. He will be free of disease, enjoy longer life and, at death, be born in the Medicine Buddha’s paradise. He will then not fall back, but eventually realize Supreme Enlightenment.“

∼The Buddha’s words in the Medicine Buddha Sutra

Tathagata of the Lapis Lazuli Light (the Healing Buddha) mantra:

oṃ bhaiśajye bhaiśajye mahābhaiśajye bhaiśajyarāje samudgate svāhā

Orgyen Menla (Guru Rinpoche Medicine Buddha) mantra:

OM BHEKANDZE BHEKANDZE MAHA BHEKANDZE BHEKANDZE RADZA SAMUDGATE SOHA

Get in touch

If you feel drawn to the namkhas or are thinking of someone who might need them, don’t hesitate to contact me for more information or a consultation.

Namkhas

Other namkhas: Tara and personilized protection and activity custom-made namkha (right), available upon consultation. Enquire here

Links ->

General information about Namkha and the different types I make

How to care for your namkha

Home page

Contact

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Saga Dawa Namkha Retreat

I am grateful to all those who have allowed me to carry out the Saga Dawa Namkha semi-retreat by ordering a namkha in the last month. The Saga Dawa is the holiest month for Buddhists and within my worldly daily duties I have been able to devote several hours each day engrossed in meditation on the five elements, and my manual skills have also very much improved. The holy beings were close and gave clear signs that the Namkha is a powerful practice that creates much benefit and merit quickly. I will therefore remain devoted to this practice in my lifetime.

Why Saga Dawa

Saga Dawa Düchen, the most important Buddhist festival, took place on Tuesday, 29 May 2018, this year. It commemorates the life and enlightenment of the Buddha. On that holy day, I consecrated the namkhas I had prepared that month. They’ll be just as powerful as any of my namkhas, yet the merit that’s been accumulated this time is greatly multiplied by having done the practice during Saga Dawa. I dedicate it with gratitude to the special beings, who have ordered the namkhas and so allowed me to make progress in my namkha practice. The namkhas will be finding their rightful owners in the coming week or so. Two will be going to France, three to Germany and the remainder will be dispatched personally here in the Czech Republic.

There are still a few custom namkha orders to carry out, which will be authenticated next month. After that, I would like to focus on bringing to life the namkhas that have entered my mind in meditation, inspired by traditional designs.

How it started

The idea for the Namkha Retreat came when I received several orders for custom-made namkhas in April. I devoted a few weeks purely to the namkha practice. During that time, I experienced signs and inspiration of a force that I have experienced in other practice retreats before. This has completely dispelled any doubts whether the Namkha practice is authentic or not and I can safely accept it amongst my close practices.

Do you want to practise?

This is a Buddhist practice. If you’d like to do this practice, it’s absolutely necessary to have Refuge and receive transmission from a qualified master, which these days will be Chogyal Namkhai Norbu, best have completed the preliminary practices of Tibetan Buddhism, and have an understanding of Emptiness and the Five Elements philosophy, in order to get some results. Otherwise it’s just a child’s play with sticks and yarn, which might give you some worldly pleasure, but which without Wisdom and the motivation of Bodhicitta will not be of much benefit or a cause of spiritual realization and Enlightenment.

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