What is a Tibetan altar and how do you set one up?
An altar is not a piece of furniture and not a decorative element. It is a deliberately made place that invites practice and interrupts the everyday. In Tibetan households an altar is part of the basic furnishing of the home, as ordinary as a dining table or a bed. It is the place where the day begins and ends, where prayers are said, candles lit and offerings made.
A Tibetan altar does not have to be large. A small shelf or a single board can be a strong altar if it is arranged with awareness. What matters is not the size but the intention. An altar comes into being at the moment a place is consciously given over to the sacred.
The traditional arrangement of a Tibetan altar has a Buddha statue or an image of a deity as its central element. In front of it stand seven offering bowls, filled with water, flowers, incense, light, perfume, food and music, represented symbolically by small objects. A butter lamp or candle gives light. A dorje and a bell lie ready for practice. Incense sticks or loose incense clear the atmosphere.
Tibetan altar cabinets in wood offer a fitting setting for all these objects. They are often painted or carved in detail, with lotus flowers, dragons and Tibetan auspicious signs. Some have doors that close the altar when it is not in use, a gesture of respect towards the sacred.
At tibet-markets.ch we are glad to advise you personally on setting up your altar. Whether you are arranging a first small altar or extending an existing one, we will help you find the right pieces.
