Create a Buddhist prayer flag

You’ll need

Devices with access to the internet (optional)
Tracing paper
Pencils
Lino
Lino cutters
Paint trays
Ink rollers
Printing ink
Fabric
Marker pens
String
Wooden spoons (optional)

Scouts is open to everyone. We don’t identify exclusively with one faith, and we welcome people of all faiths and of none.

We know it’s important for people to learn about each other, including understanding different faiths and beliefs. Scouts always respects people’s beliefs, faiths and cultures, and everyone should be open to learn.

As an inclusive and values based movement, we support our members to engage and learn about different faiths and beliefs in an exciting and meaningful way, even if they don’t have a faith themselves.

Celebrating and understanding differences, including differences in faiths and beliefs, is an important part of our Scout values, which are:

Integrity: We act with integrity; we are honest, trustworthy and loyal.
Respect: We have self-respect and respect for others.
Care: We support others and take care of the world in which we live.
Belief: We explore our faiths, beliefs and attitudes.
Co-operation: We make a positive difference; we co-operate with others and make friends.

Our value of Belief and its exploration helps Scouts to learn from other faiths and beliefs. This encourages them to develop or build their personal beliefs and understand their shared values, whether faith-based on not.

We know that learning about faiths, beliefs and different attitudes can help to break down barriers, helps us all to recognise what we have in common, and teaches us to value and respect other people. It also helps us to build up respect, acceptance and knowledge for each other, leading to a more co-operative and inclusive society.

In our diverse society, people can sometimes feel cautious talking about this sensitive subject. However, it's important that Scouts offers young people safe, exciting and open spaces to explore faiths and beliefs. They should be able to engage in personal reflection, as they question and develop their opinions and understanding of the world around them.

Making time for personal reflection and developing our beliefs means exploring the places, people, communities, celebrations or stories which hold meaning for us, and it may not necessarily mean exploring a faith.

For example, someone’s shared values may be their Scout Values and that person may choose to reflect on them at important times, such as when they make their Promise. Others may choose to reflect at certain times of the year, such as a faith-based festival, birthdays, meaningful events or at New Year. Some people may still celebrate events, such as Christmas, but use it as a time to celebrate family, friends and loved ones, as well as for charity and giving.

Discover more about Faiths and Beliefs in Scouts.

Buddhism is the name of the religion, and its followers are known as Buddhists.
Today there are around 376 million Buddhists living around the world, with approximately 180,000 living in the UK.

Who is Buddha?

Buddhists follow the teachings of the Buddha, which means 'enlightened one'. The Buddha was a man called Siddhartha Gautama, who is said to have lived nearly 2,500 years ago in India.
Buddhists don’t believe that the Buddha was a god, but they hold a deep respect for him and show their devotion to him by following his teachings.

What did Buddha teach?

Buddhism focuses on personal spiritual development, and Buddhists try to live a good life by following the Buddha's teachings, which are called the Dharma.
In the Four Noble Truths, the Buddha taught that life is full of suffering. Suffering is caused by desire and wanting things, and attachment to possessions. The way to stop suffering is to stop wanting things by following the Eightfold Path.

What’s the symbol of Buddhism?

The dharmachakra, also known as wheel of dharma, is widely used as the symbol of Buddhism. It shows a wheel with eight spokes, representing the Noble Eightfold Path and the teachings of the Buddha. The Four Noble Truths are the basis of the Buddha’s teachings, and they explain why people suffer and how they can end that suffering.

What are Buddhist scriptures?

The Buddhist scriptures are known as the Tripitaka which means 'three baskets'. This is because the original writings were made on palm leaves and stored in baskets.
The Tripitaka contains the teachings of the Buddha and his companions, comments on those teachings, as well as rules for monks. Buddhists call the teachings of the Buddha 'dharma', which means ‘truth’.

How do Buddhists worship?

Buddhists don’t worship in the traditional sense.
They show their devotion by a ritual called puja, either at home, in a temple or a vihara.
A vihara is a Buddhist monastery, which is open to the community for study, meditation and worship.
In Buddhist countries, there are many temples. People bring flowers and incense for the shrine and food for the monks.
When entering a temple or vihara, Buddhists will take off their shoes, put their hands together and bow to the image of the Buddha. They may also use prayer beads called malas.

What rules do Buddhists follow?

Buddhists follow rules known as the Five Precepts. The first rule is not to kill any living being, so many Buddhists choose not to eat any meat in their diet. The fifth rule forbids intoxication so Buddhists may also choose to abstain from drinking alcohol.

Before you begin

Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Take a look at our guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples.
Make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help if you’re short on helpers.

Planning and setting up this activity

Cut the lino into squares for everyone. Ideally, you’ll want blue, white, red, green, and yellow fabric, all cut into squares.
You could invite a local Buddhist faith leader along to your session.
If you’re not able to arrange a visit from a faith leader as part of the session, we’ve included some information about Buddhism on this page.
If they’re able to, you may want to ask the group to do their own research and share what you find out at the session.

Running this activity

Gather everyone together and tell them you’re going to learn more about Buddhism and prayer flags.
Ask if anyone knows anything about Buddhism or prayer flags. Explain that prayer flags are colourful cotton cloth squares, with images, mantras and prayers printed on them. Prayer flags are usually inscribed with prayers and mantras to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. The flags don’t carry prayers to gods, which is a common misconception. Instead, when the wind blows the prayers are carried through all parts of the universe.
Everyone should think of an image or symbol to print onto their prayer flag.
When they’re ready, people can copy their design onto a piece of tracing paper using a pencil. Place the tracing paper onto the lino with the design face-down. Scribble on the back of the tracing paper to transfer the design to the lino.
People can also draw straight onto the lino, but remember that the image will be reversed when it’s printed.
Next, carefully, with adult supervision, people should carve out the negative space between the lines of your design. Only the raised, uncarved parts will print onto the fabric. Everyone should be careful to keep their fingers away from the blade – hold the lino away from the direction you’re cutting. Make sure there are enough adults to supervise.
When the image has been cut into the lino, squeeze a blob of ink onto a paint tray. Use a roller to spread the ink out until it’s tacky, then use the roller to apply the ink to the lino. Cover the whole image in ink.
Place a piece of fabric over the top of the lino. Press it down with your hands or run a clean roller over it, applying pressure.
Carefully peel back the fabric in one corner to check the ink is transferring. If not, press down a bit more.
When you’re done, remove the fabric and leave it to dry. You could continue printing the design onto the other coloured fabrics to make bunting.
Once the fabric’s dry, you could use a marker pen to add some meaningful text or positive quotes and words to your flag.
When the prayer flags are dry, use string to hang them up. From left to right, the flags should be placed blue, white, red, green, yellow.
Once everyone has finished printing their prayer flag, everyone should gather back together. If anyone’s happy and comfortable to, they could show their flag and tell the group what their design represents. They may wish to explain what they like about it and why they chose it.
Ask everyone to think about how Buddhists beliefs compare to their values or beliefs. Is there one similarity and one difference between their values or beliefs and what Buddhists believe?
You could use the flags to decorate your meeting place. Prayer flags are often hung horizontally and tied with one end near the ground and the other high up.

Reflection

This activity was a chance to reflect on and develop beliefs and values. Think about the similarities and differences between Buddhists’ beliefs and others. Ask everyone to think about their own beliefs and values. If they made a prayer flag to show their own values, what symbols, images or words might it include? Ask anyone who’s comfortable to share their thoughts with the group. Think about the values you have in common as a whole group.

This activity was also about being an international citizen and connecting with people from other faiths and parts of the world. Everybody has learned more about Buddhist practices. Was there anything surprising that they learned about Buddhism, prayer flags or mantras?

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

Sharp objects: Teach young people how to use sharp objects safely. Supervise them appropriately throughout. Store all sharp objects securely, out of the reach of young people.
Online safety: Supervise young people when they’re online and give them advice about staying safe. Take a look at our online safety or bullying guidance. The NSPCC offers more advice and guidance, too. If you want to know more about specific social networks and games, Childnet has information and safety tips for apps. You can also report anything that’s worried you online to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command. As always, if you’ve got concerns about a young person’s welfare, including their online experiences, follow the Yellow Card to make a report.