Intro to Tibetan Flags

You may have seen colorful rectangular pieces of cloth hung near doorways or between trees. The block-printed flags are tied vertically or horizontally aligned on ropes, poles, or walls. These are Tibetan prayer flags with a specific purpose: to usher compassion, prosperity, kindness, and goodwill with the wholesome intention to all.

Must you be an ordained Buddhist monk or nun to hang the prayer flags? No, non-Buddhists and Buddhists are welcome to display the prayer flags. The intention behind hanging the flags means everything.

Inscribed on the block-printed flags, typically handmade and a fair-trade good from Nepal, includes mantras, imagery, and sutras seeped in the Buddhist tradition. If Buddhism is a religion filled with ceremony and rituals unbeknownst to you, fear not: you do not need to shave your head and give away all your possessions to live meaningfully or be mindful.

What do the colors represent?

The flags’ colors have a specific meaning, circling to Tibetan medicinal texts and oral traditions. Here is a breakdown of what the colors represent in nature and how they interrelate to the body-mind:

Yellow

Yellow harnesses the highest vibration in the Buddhist tradition, as it stands for grounding, humility, an aversion to attachments, and overcoming obstacles. All suffering is rooted in an attachment — what you want and what you hold onto (physically or emotionally).