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.
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.
your home altar/shrine
- Hickersonia
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Re: your home altar/shrine
Hickersonia
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"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of
throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned."
http://hickersonia.wordpress.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of
throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned."
Re: your home altar/shrine
What's with the Catholic rosaries in the background, if I may ask...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)
Re: your home altar/shrine
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
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."
Iti 26
Iti 26
- Bonsai Doug
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Re: your home altar/shrine
Great thread. This is the place in my home-office where I meditate.
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Now having obtained a precious human body,
I do not have the luxury of remaining on a distracted path.
~ Tibetan Book of the Dead
I do not have the luxury of remaining on a distracted path.
~ Tibetan Book of the Dead
- Cittasanto
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Re: your home altar/shrine
its known as a mala, they are used to count recitations, I have one made of bone!plwk wrote:What's with the Catholic rosaries in the background, if I may ask...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)
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
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
Re: your home altar/shrine
Except if you look closely at the picture in question you can see Jesus hanging from the cross.Cittasanto wrote:its known as a mala, they are used to count recitations, I have one made of bone!plwk wrote:What's with the Catholic rosaries in the background, if I may ask...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)
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
- BB
- Cittasanto
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Re: your home altar/shrine
HAHA @ MEbodom wrote:Except if you look closely at the picture in question you can see Jesus hanging from the cross.Cittasanto wrote: 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.
John Stuart Mill
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
Re: your home altar/shrine
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!Coyote wrote:Where do you guys get your Buddha statues (I live in UK)?
Metta
Re: your home altar/shrine
Beautiful shrines! Very inspiring!
Here is mine:
Here is mine:
Last edited by Caldorian on Sat Jan 12, 2013 8:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: your home altar/shrine
Hello -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.
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.
Re: your home altar/shrine
I was raised catholic, and have many catholic items in my home.plwk wrote:What's with the Catholic rosaries in the background, if I may ask...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)
- Hickersonia
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Re: your home altar/shrine
I know this might sound a little silly, but did anyone else decorate for Christmas?
My son seemed to appreciate it, and my wife got a laught out of it (which makes it all worthwhile).
My son seemed to appreciate it, and my wife got a laught out of it (which makes it all worthwhile).
Hickersonia
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"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of
throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned."
http://hickersonia.wordpress.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of
throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned."
- DNS
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Re: your home altar/shrine
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.
Re: your home altar/shrine
Nice photos, Hickersonia.
I often think that Christmas is tailor made for Buddhist holiday.
kind regards,
Ben
I often think that Christmas is tailor made for Buddhist holiday.
kind regards,
Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..