Did Buddha ask people to donate flags to monks?

[SarathW]

Did Buddha ask people to donate flags to monks?
I heard of a monk talking about donating flags.
What is the reason of donating flags?

[confusedlayman]

There are so many monks who have national flag of different country... are they blessing the entire country?

[Ontheway]

What flag we are talking about? National flag? Buddhist flag?

[confusedlayman]

What flag we are talking about? National flag? Buddhist flag?

National for me need explaination

[Gwi II]

Very nice!

In the The Great Chronicles of Buddhas, it is
called "rūpa-dāna". Main point: rūpa-dāna to
obtain a beautiful body color. Someone gives
a "Buddhist flag," with the hope: "I'll give colour
dāna, this is my colour dāna.”


Bodhisatto Gotama gave rūpa-dāna to obtain "aura"
which continued continuously for as far as eighty
arms that surround The Buddha's body even in the
darkness, in the wilderness, in the middle of the night,
no moon, and clouds darkness covered the sky.
[The Great Chronicles of Buddhas].


Giving the Buddhist flag will make us have beautiful
bodies or at least get beautiful things according to our
favorite colour. Give to Sanggho! OFFER A BUDDHIST
FLAG, IT'S NOT EXPENSIVE. Sanggho, the unsurpassed
field of merit for the world.

Because I'm Theravādin, I (always) suggest to Sanggha Theravādo.

[mario92]

Very nice!

In the The Great Chronicles of Buddhas, it is
called "rūpa-dāna". Main point: rūpa-dāna to
obtain a beautiful body color. Someone gives
a "Buddhist flag," with the hope: "I'll give colour
dāna, this is my colour dāna.”


Bodhisatto Gotama gave rūpa-dāna to obtain "aura"
which continued continuously for as far as eighty
arms that surround The Buddha's body even in the
darkness, in the wilderness, in the middle of the night,
no moon, and clouds darkness covered the sky.
[The Great Chronicles of Buddhas].


Giving the Buddhist flag will make us have beautiful
bodies or at least get beautiful things according to our
favorite colour. Give to Sanggho! OFFER A BUDDHIST
FLAG, IT'S NOT EXPENSIVE. Sanggho, the unsurpassed
field of merit for the world.

Because I'm Theravādin, I (always) suggest to Sanggha Theravādo.

Very nice stories on the Buddhavamsa

[AgarikaJ]

Did Buddha ask people to donate flags to monks?
I heard of a monk talking about donating flags.
What is the reason of donating flags?

Is this a local Sri Lankan custom, as in my quote below? Or are you referring to prayer flags, as in Tibet (which is obviously a Vajrayana concept)?

Sometimes it would help, if it was clearly noted, where something creating a question has occured, as it might create the needed context.

From my perspective: I have never, ever donated a flag to a Thai temple, have never been asked to by anybody, have never seen any flags in Thai temples, nor do I know of an instance in the Tipitaka, where the Buddha might have talked about something which could be construed as a 'flag'.

It is customary for many Sri Lankan Buddhists to visit a devalaya of one of the deities and make a vow that if the problem at hand (i.e., illness, enemies, etc.) is solved, they will make an offering to the deity concerned. Offerings are made even without such a special request. Whatever the case may be, this practice has become a ritual of propitiation through the kapuralas.

The main duties of the kapuralas are to look after the devalayas in their charge, to perform the prescribed rituals, and to offer in the inner shrine the offerings brought by devotees. The kapurala is given a fee for his services. Once the ritual is over, a part of the offerings is given back to the devotee for him to take home and partake of as having a sacramental value. The offerings normally consist of milk-rice, coconuts, betel, camphor, joss-sticks, fruits, along with flowers, garlands, flags, etc. All these are arranged in an orderly manner in a basket or tray and handed over respectfully to the kapurala, who takes it inside and offers it at the statue of the main deity inside the inner room. The devotees wait outside with clasped hands while the kapurala makes his pleadings on their behalf.

The statement he recites, called yatikava in Sinhala, is a panegyric of the deity concerned and it constitutes a humble and respectful request to bring succour to the devotee in his particular predicament. After this the kapurala emerges from the inner shrine room and blesses the devotees by using his thumb to place on their forehead a mark of a paste made from saffron, sandalwood, and other ingredients. This mark, the symbol of sanctification, is known as the tilaka.

This form of ritualistic propitiation of deities is a clear adaptation of the Hindu system where the very same method is followed, though more elaborately.

Buddhist Ceremonies and Rituals of Sri Lanka

[SarathW]

Yes, I have seen some people hang flags in Bodhi trees as an expression of their gratuity for fulfilling their prayers.