your home altar/shrine

Pictures of revered teachers, places, rupas, temples, bhikkhus, shrine rooms etc. that bring inspiration to our members. Pilgrimage advice, devotion etc.
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Hickersonia
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Re: your home altar/shrine

Post by Hickersonia »

My home shrine has, for six or seven months, resided in a small bookcase in our living room (next to my desk). Anyone looking back can see it on page 4 of this thread. Anyway, I've always felt that it's location was somewhat inadequate, but I've been very cautious to not "shock" my wife with anything she might consider "crazy." I guess you could say I've been breaking her into the idea of my being Buddhist slowly and deliberately so as to not cause too much friction in the home.

Keeping the story to a minimum (to keep the thread on topic), she has been fairly supportive of me, or at least not restrictive / prohibitive. She sees my spirituality as important, and maybe even valid (she hasn't said that specifically, but through her actions thus far it can be inferred). As such, I've decided to claim some space in our classroom for my quiet space and established my shrine there.

This entailed a new table and a lot of cleaning, but offers me a place to read, and possibly meditate if I so choose, something into which I'm only barely starting to venture. I figured I could share this change with friends here, maybe as a testament to the fact that multi-faith families can be made to work if both parties are fair and willing to work together.

Image

Image

I carried over most of the items from the original shrine area but may make further changes eventually... I don't have a cushion, for instance, so I'm borrowing one from our couch when I need one. Fact is, ultimately, that I'm limited to a budget of about $15 per week and have usually been inclined to buy books before anything else. As I'm in the middle of the 1,400 page Majjhima Nikaya, I don't imagine needing any new books for a few... months at least.
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plwk
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Re: your home altar/shrine

Post by plwk »

Bhavana wrote:a little girly, I know, but I like it that way. I use what i have. (no, I am not a believer in the mystical powers of crystals. I just think they are pretty)
What's with the Catholic rosaries in the background, if I may ask...
Coyote
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Re: your home altar/shrine

Post by Coyote »

Hi,

Love all the pictures of shrines, they give me so much inspiration because I have been meaning to make one for myself soon, although I don't have a lot of room being a student and all.
Where do you guys get your Buddha statues (I live in UK)? I have looked on ebay and there are some really nice ones, but I also want to make sure there are no rules such as being a certain shape, or having to be blessed.

Thanks,

Coyote
"If beings knew, as I know, the results of giving & sharing, they would not eat without having given, nor would the stain of miserliness overcome their minds. Even if it were their last bite, their last mouthful, they would not eat without having shared."
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Bonsai Doug
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Re: your home altar/shrine

Post by Bonsai Doug »

Great thread. This is the place in my home-office where I meditate.
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Cittasanto
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Re: your home altar/shrine

Post by Cittasanto »

plwk wrote:
Bhavana wrote:a little girly, I know, but I like it that way. I use what i have. (no, I am not a believer in the mystical powers of crystals. I just think they are pretty)
What's with the Catholic rosaries in the background, if I may ask...
its known as a mala, they are used to count recitations, I have one made of bone!
Blog, Suttas, Aj Chah, Facebook.

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
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bodom
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Re: your home altar/shrine

Post by bodom »

Cittasanto wrote:
plwk wrote:
Bhavana wrote:a little girly, I know, but I like it that way. I use what i have. (no, I am not a believer in the mystical powers of crystals. I just think they are pretty)
What's with the Catholic rosaries in the background, if I may ask...
its known as a mala, they are used to count recitations, I have one made of bone!
Except if you look closely at the picture in question you can see Jesus hanging from the cross.

:anjali:
Liberation is the inevitable fruit of the path and is bound to blossom forth when there is steady and persistent practice. The only requirements for reaching the final goal are two: to start and to continue. If these requirements are met there is no doubt the goal will be attained. This is the Dhamma, the undeviating law.

- BB
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Cittasanto
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Re: your home altar/shrine

Post by Cittasanto »

bodom wrote:
Cittasanto wrote: its known as a mala, they are used to count recitations, I have one made of bone!
Except if you look closely at the picture in question you can see Jesus hanging from the cross.

:anjali:
HAHA @ ME
Blog, Suttas, Aj Chah, Facebook.

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
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Kokoro
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Re: your home altar/shrine

Post by Kokoro »

Coyote wrote:Where do you guys get your Buddha statues (I live in UK)?
I got my Rupa at a flea market one weekend a couple years ago. I live in an area that is 99.9% Christian so I was very surprised to see this Rupa there, and for such a good price. You never know when or where you may find a Rupa for yourself. I have seen some nice Rupas on Ebay, so you never know!

:anjali:
Metta
Caldorian
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Re: your home altar/shrine

Post by Caldorian »

Beautiful shrines! Very inspiring! :clap:

Here is mine:

Image
Last edited by Caldorian on Sat Jan 12, 2013 8:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Bhavana
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Re: your home altar/shrine

Post by Bhavana »

VictoryInTruth wrote:I like your altar it is very beautiful. I especially like your Buddha statue... If you don´t mind me asking...where did you buy your crystals...online or at a local store? I am looking to buy some crystals myself but am leary of buying them online and then they end up not being genuine. Thanks.

:buddha1:
Hello -

so sorry that I missed your question, i have not been here for a while.

I get crystals in different places - but one that is really good and has a huge selection is in Cherry Hill, in south Jersey. It's on Route 70, about 1 mile from interstate 295 exit - 36, I think? It's actually a jewelry store, gem and rock shop - more of a collectors type of store, not a spiritual store...so prices tend to be a little lower. The selection is amazing. It's called Gary's Gem Garden. You can look them up online, they have a site. Let me know if you need better directions, it's worth the trip.
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Bhavana
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Re: your home altar/shrine

Post by Bhavana »

plwk wrote:
Bhavana wrote:a little girly, I know, but I like it that way. I use what i have. (no, I am not a believer in the mystical powers of crystals. I just think they are pretty)
What's with the Catholic rosaries in the background, if I may ask...
I was raised catholic, and have many catholic items in my home.
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Hickersonia
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Re: your home altar/shrine

Post by Hickersonia »

I know this might sound a little silly, but did anyone else decorate for Christmas?

Image

Image

My son seemed to appreciate it, and my wife got a laught out of it (which makes it all worthwhile).
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DNS
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Re: your home altar/shrine

Post by DNS »

:thumbsup:

I like it! We always put a tree up (artificial) for Christmas. The Buddha was enlightened under a tree and so were all the previous Buddhas, so I like the symbol of the tree both for Buddhism and for the holiday.
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Ben
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Re: your home altar/shrine

Post by Ben »

Nice photos, Hickersonia.
I often think that Christmas is tailor made for Buddhist holiday.
kind regards,

Ben
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Benjamin
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Re: your home altar/shrine

Post by Benjamin »

This isn't the best picture quality, but you get the idea! (Click for a larger picture)

Image

:anjali:

Benjamin
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