My altar and me!

[GonzoEnder]

Lama Tsongkhapa sits on my makeshift altar in my moms garage. I have been living here for 2 months. I was couch-surfing for the last 4 months with no job. I'm waiting for the season to start at a local cannery(I have been hired). My Mala and Je Rinpoche statue were gifts from Tsem Rinpoche! I like the Mala bag that came with it, I think it was sown by Saraswati Arts and it looks amazing. Also note the Tsa-Tsa of Maitreya on the right, it was my first Buddha. I keep the pendants I'm not wearing up there. I will probably gift the Tsongkhapa one I bought away sometime because I cant wear 2 really. I keep an image of Vajrayogini and a Guru-Yoga/Migtsema rolled up in a scroll on there as well.  See if you can spot Albert Einstein in the lower right hand corner.



Me tonight! I can be quite disheveled at times. I love my ripped sweatshirt... Notice the Buddha Shakimuni pendant. It was consecrated by Tsem Rinpoche to clear obstacles/addictions and to bless everyone who sees it. Wow.



Guru Rinpoche Thanka. It was hand stitched by a monk of unknown origin residing in Portland, Oregon. Purchased at a local downtown Dharma shop which has since went out of business! I was so sad. It was the only one in town.



Living on an air mattress in the garage. My little slice of Buddha land sits next to me when I sleep amongst garage things.



My box of Dharma books/dvds and my Tibetan flag. A lot of my books were gifts from Tsem Rinpoche and he gave me DVD's! Also a couple of Christian bibles are in there. I try to keep the books circulating among others as much as possible because I don't believe we can 'own' Dharma books.

[SharpPudding]

I'm glad you put these pics up Gonzo, it will help beings in ways that might not be obvious I think. Thank you.

Ah, so many people have been having job issues. I hope more jobs open up for everyone.
 
 Very nice to see Buddha didn't end up being given away or in the trash when you were moving around. I think that says something about your priorities.

 How come Tsem Tulku Rinpoche keeps sending stuff to everyone else but not me?! I guess because I'm not a student and I confront people in careless ways,... I don't like it either but w/e, keeps the forum alive at least.

[GonzoEnder]

I should indicate that as soon as I heard that I was receiving anything, I dedicated all of it to benefiting all sentient beings and I feel responsible to act that way towards gifts like these to keep away any sense of pride toward myself.

[Ivy]

Great post Gonzo
It is nice to see other's altars and to put a face to the name

I have a Maitreya (Hotei) statue that was my first Buddha before I received a Tsongkhapa statue

I agree with pudding, the fact that you were able to keep these things together through your moves says a lot about your dedication

[GonzoEnder]

I sold some stuff, gave away some stuff. I abandoned alot of it in my old apartment too! I had a 2,000 sq. foot apartment, and there was alot of stuff left by my on/off girlfriend of 2 and 1/2 years who had moved to California after her mom convinced her to after visiting. I didn't really care much about my stuff actually I found 'stuff' to be quite a burden when moving. I decided to beat the system and just get rid of it rather than deal with it. Except for anything related to Dharma, and survival, and entertainment!

I guess I wanted to start over life in my accumulation of things. It was also interesting from a Buddhist perspective to lose most of your possessions and regular place of dwelling at the same time, with neither living parent able to take me in (once my step-father agreed 2 months later, I started staying at my moms house). I also guess I kind of wanted to see 'what I would do mentally' as a result of not having any positives at ALL for the moment.

I read Tsem Rinpoche's biography online. I read about his abusive step-parents. I read about how he crossed the US with almost nothing and how hungry he was sometimes. I read about how he had 2 jobs. How he took such great care of any Lama who accepted him. It gave me strength to see how far he has came. I clung to that a bit during some of my worst time.  I'm doing alright now. It really was temporary. I could tell you some things about your mind, though... Your mind is not your friend. Watch that sucker all the time! -Josh A.

[Joey]

you have incredible progress there Josh! its so nice to read about it. And pictures too!

[GonzoEnder]

Thanks buddy. Kechara is moving forward we all should step it up a notch really. I think Joey and Wai Meng, you guys I feel I've seen progress in you both since the last 250 days I've known you in this forum. I really could see you guys kick into high gear. I'm happy that both of you 'get it' when it comes to Dharma priorities(or at least you have to tow the line cause I'm making you look good now). I'm really just amazed to be in the company of everyone in this forum, and that's really how I feel.

[Joey]

Thanks buddy. Kechara is moving forward we all should step it up a notch really. I think Joey and Wai Meng, you guys I feel I've seen progress in you both since the last 250 days I've known you in this forum. I really could see you guys kick into high gear. I'm happy that both of you 'get it' when it comes to Dharma priorities(or at least you have to tow the line cause I'm making you look good now). I'm really just amazed to be in the company of everyone in this forum, and that's really how I feel.

we have to because everything else is moving up. even the attendance in this forum.

[Zenji]

Finally getting around to checking out the new posts since my absence.  Saw this post.  Love that statue of Lama Tsongkhapa GE.  And that thangka is simply divine as well.

Here's what I'm working with:



This is the whole setup.  The main cabinet is recycled through someone in my building who didn't want it any more.  I simply removed some sliding glass panels from the upper portion.  I feel good that I have diverted a little bit of waste from our otherwise full landfills.  Now for the grand tour, starting from the bottom:



My table with my Vajra/dorje, malas (in the brocade bag), incense canoe, lamp, table top prayer wheel, and singing bowl.  Pictures of HH Dalai Lama and Rinpoche.



Next step up, and inside the actual altar space, are the Hotei/Maitreya statues that have been given to me/I've come across.  In front is a book of a couple of the shorter sutras and a lot of mantras as my representation of the dharma.



The main altar space consists of my largest Buddha statue (made of wood, not sure if it's been filled with consecrating items or not, don't wanna pull it apart to find out.  My suspicion is that it isn't, but I digress), a picture of 4 Armed Chenrezig, and a small Japanese style hanging picture of one of the Wisdom Kings (not certain on this point, if someone could clarify who it is, and whether or not it should be displayed alongside the Buddha, it would be most appreciated.)  I have offered the bell to the Buddha, so that bell is not used by me for any rituals.  I'm seeking a same sized dorje to offer with it, but it's hard to find things like that around here.



And at the very top of the altar I've placed a statue of the parinirvana form of Buddha Shakyamuni, also known as the reclining Buddha.  That statue was given to me by my adoptive father after his trip to Japan.


So, there you have it.  I haven't been able to locate a suitable set of offering bowls for the space yet.  Not sure whether or not I have the space to do sensory offerings as well as the 7 water bowls.  Will have to wait till I find a suitable set of bowls I suppose.

[Guardian of the Gate]

Zenji,

The Wisdom King is Fudo Myoo, a representation of the Imovable Mind.  A very powerful force indeed and popular among the Shingon of Japan.  I have provided a link that gives more information:

www.onmarkproductions.com/html/fudo.html

You are fortunate to have a hanging of him.  I have searched far and wide for one to no avail.  Treasure it and use it to help propel you towards fudoshin (Japanese for immovable mind).

[Zenji]

Thanks GG,  that information was quite informative.  I've bookmarked that OnMark productions website, seems like it has a lot of useful information.  I am eager to see more members' meditative spaces, so y'all better take some pictures 

[GonzoEnder]

I like yours... Mine is strictly for practice I cannot afford to lug around heavy wood or to have much space set aside. I'm still couch hopping right now sleeping on the floor. I do have a job though... part time... right now I'm getting about US$500 per month, just enough to save up for now...

PS:
I "Borrowed" a dollar from my altar, where I normally offer up cash... So I took it right off my altar and spend it directly on myself... On a beer. BUT HOLD ON... I wrote up a contract with lots of Buddha's names on it saying I'll pay back 50 or 100 bucks per dollar I took.

Bad Karma or Good Karma?

One more thing... when I was walking home with the beer I bought from Buddha for 50$, I ran into a new group of entirely new friends and began to regain my social life. So that was good. Anyway... Off on a tangent I went... But you know me I like to make discussions out of negative scenarios and see the good in them.

[SharpPudding]

Awh, I want a bell & dorje like that. Even more so the practice it's for.


Gonzo, lol,.. took money offering back to buy a beer,.. but it's okay because I'll pay him back $50! Buddha is now a loan shark!

[Ivy]

I recently took some photos of my altar etc. for a friend who is doing a project on me, and the role of Buddhism in my life, for a sociology class (weird huh?) 
Anyhow, I thought some of them came out pretty cool, so I thought I'd share: 
My altar setup:
I really enjoy flower offerings...
The Tsongkhapa and Setrap are from Rinpoche of course 


My big Thangka book... it is about 2' x 3', I have it displayed on an easel opposite my alltar...  My mom found it at Costco of all places: 


A random shot of my entryway.  You can see my favorite Maitreya is in the top of that cabinet...there is a Kuan Yin up there too.  Also my eight auspicious symbol curtain.


And last but not least, my daughter's Maitreya hiding in the plants... she likes to take him down and give him hugs (she is two):

[Ayla]

Here is my alter



Sorry if the picture is huge.. I don't know how to resize it.