How to set up an alter or shrine: A peek at mine Part 1

March 19, 11:17 AMNew England Fitness ExaminerJo Levy

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Adapted from How to Setup an Altar or Shrine by Ven. Tenzin Yignyen of Namgyal Monastery.

I set up my alter several months back after - actually I have no idea what the trigger was. My alter may not be the "perfectly" traditional idea of an alter i.e. I may have some items that others wouldn't have or vice versa.

The reason to set up an alter is to reduce the problems of your mind and look to being able to help all beings.   The best place for an alter or shrine is in a room of its own but most of us can't do that. So use any room you can. I put mine as you can see in a corner so it is set apart from the other areas of living. The size isn't important but it should be a clean and respectful place. It should be higher than the level of your head when sitting in front of it.

It should be put near the head of your bed if it's in your bedroom and higher than the bed. It shouldn't be part of a table used for your clothes, telephone and change. An authentic Buddhist alter has symbols of enlightened body, speech and mind which would be reflected in a statue or picture of Buddha Shakyamuni. Your Buddha should be the central figure. You can see on my second shelf the gold (Not real gold and any material is fine. It does not have to be expensive.) You can use a photograph in fact.  You can put as many items as you want on your alter especially those that represent the five senses. In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition the custom is to offer seven bowls of water (see my lowest shelf) which represent the seven limbs of prayer - prostrating, offering, confession, rejoicing in the good qualities of oneself and others, requesting the Buddhas to remain in this world, beseeching them to teach others, and dedicating the merits.

• You can put candles and incense for example.
• It is also the custom to put part of every meal on the alter before eating and a portion of tea before drinking.  For more information on building a shrine go to kkandro.net.
  
• Symbols and images of Gods, like animals will also have varying meanings depending on the God or Goddess used and the particular attribute wanted or needed. You can see what I have in my slide shows. I have a couple of turtles for good fortune and protection.
  
• I have Dragon and Phoenix Health Balls which are used to activate pressure points in the hands, leading to a multitude of health benefits. The balls are hollow and have chiming sounding plates inside. The chiming creates vibrations that help to activate acupressure points and reduce stress  
• A shrine is meaningless until we regard it as sacred. I put seashells in one of my bowls because I love seashells.
• We collect bells from all the places to which we have been; however, my angel bell was a gift and is special to me.
• I love rocks and gemstones which I put on an Oriental type dish.
• Shiva is very very special. It is sometimes referred to as Shiva Nataraj (Lord of the dance) and is often portrayed as a dancing figure.He dances on a dwarf, who represents ignorance. By treading the dwarf underfoot, he is attempting to overcome ignorance in the world.The circle of flames in which he dances represents the cycle of time with no beginning and no end.The dancing figure of Shiva represents the eternal energy which flows through the world.
   

All photos: Jo Levy

Part 2