How to set up a Tibetan Buddhist shrine at home

[@Ballerina-Girl]

My boyfriend is into Buddhism and learning different schools of Buddhism. I find it fascinating.

[@ClaireVillarreal]

Hi, Gen X Lex, it's a fascinating tradition -- and so many different branches on the Buddhist tree have grown in different directions. Good luck to him on his dharma journey. 💜🙏

[@nathangrady8128]

Thanks been meaning to set up my own shrine so loved the inspiration !!

[@ClaireVillarreal]

I'm so glad to hear that, Nathan, and good luck setting yours up! I hope you get a lot of great practice time there. 🙏💜

[@kirkbest3238]

I’d like to know about vodren and bell please

[@ClaireVillarreal]

Hi, @kirkbest3238, I'll add that to my list of future video topics. Thanks for the "vote" for that topic. 🙏

[@kirkbest3238]

🙏🏻

[@learningspirituality5152]

so amazing! thanks for sharing :) stay blessed !

[@ClaireVillarreal]

Thank you, learning spirituality 💜🙏🏻

[@juanconstan7402]

Beatiful shrine! I could meditate in front of it all day! I want to see more books you read about your practise! Blessings from Argentina

[@ClaireVillarreal]

Thank you, Juan. 🙏 Sounds like a video with book recommendations would be good, then. I've been thinking about doing that. And Argentina is so beautiful! I hope I can visit one day. 💜

[@juanconstan7402]

@@ClaireVillarreal yes! Your are welcome!

[@ClaireVillarreal]

@@juanconstan7402 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

[@phyllishume810]

You are a cool lady. Thank you.

[@ClaireVillarreal]

Lol, thank you Phyllis! 🙏

[@ChenXiuMei1619]

Thank you for sharing this 😊

[@ClaireVillarreal]

My pleasure 😊🙏💜

[@wbkevzoo6188]

Love it ! Thanks for sharing.

[@ClaireVillarreal]

Thanks, Wb KevZoo! 🙏

[@primomezzo]

This video is so awesome! I'm looking for statues for my shrine, but I want to make sure they are high quality. Do you have any recommendations on how and where to buy shrine objects, specifically statues of Buddha, etc.?

[@ClaireVillarreal]

Thank you! The question of buying Buddha statues is interesting. There are a couple of online stores that sell shrine objects (Dharma Shop comes to mind, but there are lots of others). If you can get a metal Buddha statue blessed and filled, which some Tibetan lamas will do, then that statue becomes like the actual presence of that buddha. But realistically, if you choose a statue that inspires you and then treat it with respect -- not putting it on the floor, keeping it clean, etc. -- that's quite sufficient. Statues and buddha images, IMO, serve to lift your spirits and remind you of the buddha within, so you can just choose one you like. :)

[@geertjanjanssen5983]

Hi Claire thank you very much for this awesome tutorial about your shrine. The explanation of setting up the shrine was really interesting and helpful. Namaste Geertjan 🙏🏻

[@kirkbest3238]

Can you still get that book

[@ClaireVillarreal]

Yes, if you search for Longchenpa on Amazon, you'll see a lot of translations of his works. :)

[@jom.a.md.s.h.2206]

Great🙏🙏🙏

[@ClaireVillarreal]

Thank you, Jom. 🙏💜

[@WillThorpe73]

💜🙏🙏

[@ClaireVillarreal]

🙏

[@BortendErlik]

I think it would be cool if you treated The Christian God as a local spirit, since you live in Quebec

[@kirkbest3238]

Some people have limited space so a small shrine is good yes true

[@ClaireVillarreal]

Yes! A shrine is more about creating a space that feels sacred to you, which doesn't have to be very big. :)

[@gotenosente]

Thank you for this video. Inspiring to bring more intention to my own practice space. By the way, I would love it if you posted a video on the bell and dorje.. I have watched a few videos on them, but they tend to be very technical - and even though I have received teachings on sadhana practice, it’s still not always clear how i should be using them!

[@ClaireVillarreal]

Hi, Gotenosente, thanks for this suggestion -- and for sharing that you want to know how to use them in a sadhana. I'm putting this on my list of ideas for future videos.

[@kirkbest3238]

I’m wearing a rayon red top now

[@nocturnalwolf7559]

Shouldn't the shrine be higher than you are when kneeling down?

[@ClaireVillarreal]

Hi, @Nocturnal Wolf, that's a great question. And the answer is yes, actually, a shrine would ideally be above waist level, and mine is much shorter than that. But the reason I went with a shorter shrine is that (a) in a large temple, you're far enough away, as you sit and meditate, that you can see the shrine from anywhere. But (b) when I'm sitting at home, I want to have the images on the shrine at eye level so I can gaze at them. And I can't really do that if they're at the "proper" level. 😜 Thanks for pointing that out for anyone who's wondering the same thing!

[@radiobiologist]

Quebec sounds like tibet

[@ClaireVillarreal]

It does! I've accidentally said "Tibet" instead of "Quebec" before, lol! And they could both accurately be called "the land of snow, " which is one nickname for Tibet. ❄️💜

[@butterflymagicwithhottea9291]

Hello Claire, I am interested in knowing more about the different Buddas. When you named the "founder", it was not Siddhartha Gautama. Is there a different lineage between India and Tibet? What exactly are the differences? Oh, and a female buddha, the green one? Could you enlighten me about her, please? Thank you. BTW, I "liked" your video and am #108, like the number of beads in a mala. Sweet.

[@ClaireVillarreal]

Hi, Butterfly Magic! These are great questions, and the short answers are: Guru Rinpoche (aka Padmasambhava) is considered the first person to bring Buddhism to Tibet, and the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism (which I follow) considers him a "second buddha." But everyone acknowledges Gautama Buddha (aka Sakyamuni Buddha -- everyone has multiple names, lol) as the actual founder of Buddhism in our time and in this world system. As for the second question, I made a whole series of videos about different types of Buddhism: their history, some beliefs and practices, etc. Here's that playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLQbOTrK3wpP7FE2NmIJu5lMJAd2r5Sqpd I also made a video about Green Tara, the female buddha I mentioned: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWjSemypqq6Yjsk I hope this is helpful!

[@user-yh7br7oo4z]

Is there any similar step table on amazon?? Can u provide link 🙏🏼

[@ClaireVillarreal]

Good question... my husband made the one in the video, and I'm sure Amazon must have some similar. Here's one I quickly found on dharmacrafts.com: dharmacrafts.com/products/small-sushi-stand Not super expensive, but it looks small. :P

[@vajramagic]

Will there or is there a video of how you meet the dalai Lama

[@ClaireVillarreal]

Hi, Sole Survivor, sadly that's hard to do these days. But there are still opportunities to join him for live events like this one that I'm planning to attend: www.colorado.edu/crowninstitute/2021/09/21/compassion-and-dignity-conversation-his-holiness-dalai-lama-and-educators (There's a button at the bottom of that page where you can register for free.) I hope that's helpful.

[@quicodlp]

Just loved this video. So informative!

[@ClaireVillarreal]

Thank you, Gabe, I'm glad it was helpful. 🙏💜

[@daniellesigouin3934]

Merci

[@ClaireVillarreal]

Bienvenue 🙏💜

[@vajramagic]

What's the shelf Dimensions

[@ClaireVillarreal]

Great question -- and I'm actually away from home now, so I can't answer precisely. But it's probably about 30" wide and about 15" deep. A shrine can fit whatever dimensions you have available, though. I've even used a shelf that I put a Buddha statue on when I want to practice and then take it apart after my practice is over. The important thing is to feel inspired when you spend time with your shrine. 💜

[@vajramagic]

@@ClaireVillarreal just cause I too like a three tier one but none online seem to grab my attention so might build one

[@ClaireVillarreal]

@@vajramagic I think building your own is a great way to go! Sort of like a Jedi building their own light saber, lol -- but seriously, it lets you create the right shrine for your space.

[@stanbewick2685]

Absolutely beautiful video...thank you and may Buddha be always with you.

[@ClaireVillarreal]

Thank you, Stan. 🙏💜