Six Inspirational Objects You’ll Find in a Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room

The Rubin Museum’s Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room opened to the public in 2010, when it debuted as part of the Gateway to Himalayan Art exhibition. Attracting a passionate fan base ever since its unveiling, the Shrine Room encompasses over 130 objects that represent the devotional and ritual objects usually found in Buddhist households throughout Tibet.

Portable incense vessels are typically used in pairs, and whether they hold burning incense or are used merely symbolically, they represent purification. They are used in ceremonial processions, prior to a ritual, or to welcome someone.

Stupas were originally burial mounds housing relics of the Buddha. They symbolize the “mind of the buddha,” or dharmakaya, which is attained at complete enlightenment.

These five objects represent symbolic offerings that gratify the five senses: a mirror (sight), lute (hearing), perfume (smell), ritual cake (torma) (taste), and  scarf (touch). The highest offering to the sixth sense, or the mind, is said to be formless and refers to the understanding of ultimate reality.

The hand drum is an implement used in tantric practices, in which two halves symbolize the oneness of the two aspects of enlightenment. Its drumming is the sound of the bliss of realizing the true nature of reality. Large hand drums are also used in the Tibetan practice of “cutting the ego.” Their sound represents impermanence.

Conch shells are considered auspicious by Tibetan Buddhists, and they’re used to make prayer beads, water containers used during rituals, and wind instruments, like this trumpet. The sound from a conch shell horn is considered an offering and symbolizes the voice of the Buddha or his teachings (dharma).

Butter lamps are an essential element in the offering practices of Tibetan Buddhism and represent the offering of light to enlightened beings. Butter lamps are called “the Dharma light” (Tibetan: chome) and can be of various sizes.