Altars

There are altars of all sorts around Lama Foundation: indoors, outdoors, and tucked into all buildings here and there, in the middle of the room or in a wall recess. Alters may be specific to one tradition, or may have sacred objects of different traditions together. Some altars switch traditions, depending on the occasion.

In fact, at Lama the whole mountain side feels like a giant altar. Walking around the land, there are statues of Quan Yin, St. Francis, Hotei (the Laughing Buddha), Mother Mary, Hanuman (Monkey God), Shiva as well as prayer flags representing various spiritual traditions flying in the wind. Lama is dotted with sacred ritual sites: the Maqbara (grave site of Murshid Samuel Lewis), Tipi Circle, Sweat Lodge, the Springhouse (water source), the Peacock (prayer flag sculpture), the Labyrinth, and a host of outdoor altars. Some of the sacred sites have been on the land for decades and have been the place where many prayers have been offered.

The little altar to Hanuman, on the path to the Springhouse miraculously did not burn in the Hondo Fire while the land was blackened all around it. The “watch” altar in the kitchen changes with each “Watch” and may reflect the Watch theme. The Dome sees altar after altar created during the summer months the different retreats come up the mountain. Finally, residents often create personal altars in their residences.

Altars help us to hold and express the many prayers at Lama, or serve as a visual reminder for a prayer’s focus. In our hearts, these altars are a connecting point between heaven and earth and also are places to put offerings of such things as fresh flowers or food, sacred books, practice implements, or gifts.

It is easy to feel prayer-full at Lama. The community is filled to the brim with numerous reminders of the Divine, in its infinite forms, and this is a source of gratitude, joy and Remembrance at Lama Foundation.