3.3 Things to watch out for - Placement of an Altar

Teaching Videos for Sutras and Mantras

Eng Audiovisual Book [Journey to Heaven & Hell]

Eng Audiovisual Book [Buddhisum in Plain Terms]

 Words of wisdom in English

Setting Up an Altar

1. Avoid setting up an altar in a couple’s room
   It’s okay if the room is used by elderly couples or someone living by themselves. Make sure the bed isn’t pointing directly at the altar. If the altar must be set up in a couple’s room, near a television or somewhere messy, it is best for the altar to have doors or a red curtain covering it. Close the cabinet door or the curtain when the incense isn’t burning.

2. Avoid setting up an altar above a TV, fridge, or directly underneath an air conditioner
   If the altar is near a TV or a messy environment, it is best to install a cabinet door for the altar. When the incense isn’t burning, close the cabinet door. Do not turn on the TV when the incense is burning. Never place a glass dome on the Bodhisattva’s image or statue.

3. Never set up an altar suspended in mid-air
   Everything on the altar including Bodhisattvas’ images, incense burners and oil lamps must not be suspended in mid-air. There must be support underneath such as a table, a cabinet or a shelf to connect them to the ground.

4. The back of an altar shouldn’t be against a glass window; it needs to be against a wall
   The best location would be next to a window where it is bright, but its back shouldn’t be against the glass. There needs to be a wall behind it. If it has to be against the window, make sure the window is closed at all times and also hang a landscape painting.

5. Avoid setting up an altar on a cantilevered balcony
   An indoor balcony or mezzanine is acceptable.

6. An altar shouldn’t be too low or too high
   The image of the Bodhisattva should be placed in a position where you have to slightly raise your head to see it. The Bodhisattva’s eyes should be at a level higher than yours. (If the images are too low, you can place a presentable box underneath to raise the images. The box shouldn’t have been used to store something non-vegetarian or dirty. Do not use shoe boxes.)

7. The back of an altar must neither be a kitchen or toilet, nor should it face a kitchen or toilet. It is best for an altar to be far away from these places

8. Do not place it next to the stairway or in the attic

9. Avoid setting up an altar behind, above or underneath a couple’s room
   When there’s intimate behaviour between a couple, it’s disrespectful to have Bodhisattvas nearby.

10. Avoid having mirrors near an altar

11. Avoid setting up an altar in the garage
    A garage is an extended area as it doesn’t belong to the primary part of a house. Therefore, it’s not a proper space for an altar, for the same reason as a cantilevered balcony.

12. The bed should never point directly at an altar
    The end of the bed shouldn’t point directly at an altar. A bedhead should not be behind an altar. It’s okay for it to be slightly towards the side of the altar.

13. The images or statues of Bodhisattvas should not be placed on different levels of a cabinet
    The images of Bodhisattvas should be placed on the same level (e.g. do not place them on different shelves in a cabinet)

14. There shouldn’t be sewage pipes, beams or a toilet above an altar