JUNE 2023
Buddhist Holy Month
The 4th month of the Buddhist lunar calendar is the holiest month of the year. It commemorates three defining moments in the life of the historic Shakyamuni Buddha over two and a half millennia ago: His birth, His Enlightenment, and His Passing to Parinirvana.

Buddhists worldwide dedicate this month to making merit. We go on pilgrimages to holy places, refrain from eating meat, make donations to the poor and raise prayer flags. Because different Buddhist countries use different calendars, the exact month and days are not the same in every country. In many countries the month is called "Vesak." Tibetan Buddhists call the month "Saga Dawa." "Saga" is the name of a star most visible during the fourth lunar month and "Dawa" means month. The main celebration day, Saga Dawa Duchen, is on the full moon, which is on June 4 this year (2023).
Shakyamuni Buddha
This month only: 25% off color photos of Shakyamuni Buddha Thangka Painting
Sale price: 5x7 - $4.50 8x10 - $9
Shakyamuni is the Buddha of our present age. Known as Siddharta Gautama, the historical Buddha was born 2600 years ago* in the southern Himalayas; a prince of the Shakya clan. He renounced his kingdom to wander as mendicant monk seeking enlightenment. He attained complete awakening on the morning of the full moon in May, under the "Bodhi Tree" in Bodh Gaya, India. After achieving complete enlightenment, the Buddha traveled and taught for 45 years. He attained paranirvana (nirvana-after-death) at Kushinagar at age 80.

* Recent Archiological finds place birth year as 563 B.C. and his paranirvana at 483 B.C.
12"x21" print on 100% cotton fabric.
Sale price this month - $12 (normally priced at $18)

Shakyamuni is shown under the Bodhi Tree, calling the Earth to witness his liberation (Earth Touching Mudra). Above him is Vajrapani, in the form of a garuda, symbolizing the power of awakened mind. As part of Radiant Heart Studio's "Deity Print Collection, the drawing is screen printed and is suitable for interior or exterior locations.

In 1976 I produced this silk screen of Shakyamuni Buddha for a thangka painting class I was taking at Naropa Institute. It produced prints for 45 years before the screen finally wore out. During the pandemic lockdown in 2021, I cleaned up the drawing and made a new screen. (Timothy Clark, Owner of Radiant Heart Studios)
Universal Buddhist Flag
On sale this month - 25% off All Universal Buddhist Flags
Universal Buddhist Flag: 46"x35" - $31
Medium Universal Buddhist Flag: 33"x25" - $21
xSmall Universal Buddhist Flag: 27" x19" - $14
The Universal Buddhist Flag was designed by the Theosophist Colonel Olcott in 1888 to mark the revival of Buddhism in Ceylon in 1880. It was accepted as the International Buddhist Flag by the 1952 World Buddhist Congress. The flag has become quite popular and can be seen flying at many Tibetan Monasteries and homes of Dharma practitioners. Colonel Olcott designed a flag from the six colors of the aura that he believed shone around the head of the Buddha after His Enlightenment. In the past 50 years the colors of the stripes have changed, at least in the Tibetan communities. There is an explanation for this: To most Tibetans the colors of the stripes represent the different colors of Buddhist robes united in one banner. Tibetan monastic robes are maroon so the orange stripes in the original design are often replaced with maroon. That put us at Radiant Heart Studios in a bit of a quandary. We attempt to keep strictly to tradition but in this case we have deviated a little in favor of honoring the Tibetans (whose religions traditions have already suffered enough). Since our flags are made by Tibetans we couldn’t very well ask them to leave the maroon out. Anyway,whatever the exact colors, the sentiment of the Universal Buddhist flag is one of uniting and honoring the diversity of Buddhist paths.

Our Universal Buddhist Flags are fabricated from the different colors of cloth intricately sewn together. The pole edge (blue) can be attached to the pole using the 2" sleeve and/or the cloth ties.
(See our website for more information about Naga Offerings and Prayer Flag Ceremonies)
At this time, the Nagas pay particular attention to abiding by the laws of their realm. If we make offerings to them during teb days, then they will provide true support to us. If we make offerings to them on dok days, our offerings will turn to poison, so beware!
  During the fourth month, the best days to perform Naga offering ceremonies are: June 8,11, 13 (dakini day), and 18 (new moon).

The Tibetan 5h month begins June 19. During this month, the Nagas are preparing for their summer season. If you make offerings to them on a teb day, in turn they will help you fulfill your wishes. If you make offerings to them on a dok day, your offering becomes poison, pus and blood and they will surely flee.
While there are many good days to perform offering ceremonies this month. Consult the calendar below.





I really appreciate photos of prayer flags and naga shrines that I can share in the newsletters. The naga shrine in the photo is located in Western Washington.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, I appreciate those also.
Please email me at: prayerflags2@gmail.com

Thanks for reading my newsletter.
Timothy Clark
Owner of Radiant Heart Studios