BuddhaBrella
Raising money for village water pumps (chaapakal) by selling hand painted regionally sourced umbrellas
What makes a BuddhaBrella
A BuddhaBrella includes three auspicious objects in Tibetan Buddhism: the parasol, the lotus, the dharma wheel.
The parasol symbolises protection from suffering. The lotus signifies purification from earthly defilements. The Dharmachakra shows how to be liberated from suffering.
The umbrellas (chatta) are decorated in Bodhgaya providing locals with needed work.
The proceeds go to making village water pumps (chapakal) for nearby villages, where there is water scarcity.
The business is a non-profit, following the eightfold path.
BuddhaBrella -New Edition*
Silver SunBrella
The new edition BuddhaBrella – Silver SunBrella provides protection from Sunshine and Showers, as well as Suffering.
‘After extensive research using the Silver Sunbrella in 30-35 degrees over 4 weeks, I only broke into a sweat once. And that was the strap from my bag across my chest from a 2.5 hour walk in the midday sun. My head was dry without that wet feeling you get from a cap’
On the inside is the eightfold path, which acts as a moral compass to consider the right approach to any situation we encounter.
What is the connection to Buddhism?
“In Bodhgaya, I found an umbrella with beautiful cane work and… a lotus frame.
The parasol (chatta) symbolises protection from suffering. The lotus denotes purity of body, mind and spirit, reminding us that enlightenment comes from samsara, the earth. The lotus can also signify the crown chakra. Above all most umbrellas have 8 spokes, which represents the Dharmachakra, the wheel of law, or the eightfold path. The lotus also signifies the crown chakra in Tantric Buddhism. In effect, you are holding a moral compass as you navigate the sunshine and the showers.
So, you can imagine my delight to make this discovery in Bodhgaya!”
BuddhaBrella Product Range
Making the BuddhaBrella
Locals decorating the chatta to sell them online, the profits will go to alleviate suffering in the area.
BuddhaBrella – Classic Black Edition
The colour black is often associated with hatred and evil, so why have a black and gold BuddhaBrella!?
The quick answer is the umbrellas are black! However there is also a genre of Buddhist paintings called Black Thangka, which are black with gold deamons who help the meditator transform hatred into wisdom.
In the same way the auspicious eightfold buddhabrella reminds us that the eightfold path can shed light on the darkness and guide us away from greed, hatred and delusion.
