What would you buy?

[Tenma]

If one were given a chance to receive a Buddhist item, what should one get (that's affordable and not some exotic relic)? A mala? A prayer wheel? A damaru? A bell? Or what? Especially for teena and young adults.

[Johnny Dangerous]

If one were given a chance to receive a Buddhist item, what should one get (that's affordable and not some exotic relic)? A mala? A prayer wheel? A damaru? A bell? Or what? Especially for teena and young adults.

It depends on you. One of the most important Dharma items I is own is a relatively non-fancy Thangka that my wife bought for me years before I had any kind of active practice. It's significance grew over time.

If you can't decide, one solution is just to visit yard sales etc. and look around for Dharma items. Being that they are decor these days, you can find some amazing things (I have a small hand painted Chenrezig Thangka I found this way) for cheap, and the usually the people selling them have no spiritual connection to the items in particular. Sometimes it's like the items find you!

[shaunc]

A small Buddha statue or pendant/necklace.

[seva]

I would buy nothing.

[Vasana]

Go for something that either helps or encourages your practice and that you will actually use.

[PadmaVonSamba]

When my son was born, someone gave him a Buddha statue. It's always been in his room.

He was a very active toddler, I basically had to put all my buddhsit "stuff", the incense and candles and offering bowls away for a while. I had no time for rituals, very little time for meditation. I kept a mala ( beads) with me, and I read various dharma books or related stuff (history of Tibet) at night. But beyond that, all that "external" stuff I'd always thought of as "dharma practice" was out of the picture for now.
And actually, that was a very good thing for me, because
it forced me to really internalize everything that I'd had been practicing outwardly for many years.
Anyway, there's a lot of buddhist "stuff" out there.
But since a Buddha statue represents one's true nature, that, or a picture of a Buddha, would be my suggestion as a gift.
A nice one, if possible.
.
.
.

[seeker242]

Meditation cushions

[Kim O'Hara]

I'm in favour of a small Buddha statue, too, or a picture.
Either way, it is a constant but gentle reminder of the dharma. More generally, it's a work of art and a reminder that not everything is measure in $ values.


Kim

[Könchok Thrinley]

You can print a picture and put it into a frame for few bucks. I'd suggest investing it into teachings with a teacher. That is something no statue can give ya.

[steveb1]

If one were given a chance to receive a Buddhist item, what should one get (that's affordable and not some exotic relic)? A mala? A prayer wheel? A damaru? A bell? Or what? Especially for teena and young adults.

A nice (walnut?) mala.

A nice wrap-around (sturdy!) wrist mala.

A nice (sturdy!) bead necklace.

A fine, nuanced, gently aromatic incense.

[Könchok Thrinley]

But if you want some thing, then probably some mala, or a prayer wheel could be of good use.

[Tenma]

But if you want some thing, then probably some mala, or a prayer wheel could be of good use.

Do you know any good places where I can personalize my prayer wheel? For example, utilizing Manjushri (Lord of Speech whose mantra is not the "om ara...") mantras, Tara mantras (not just "om tare tuttare...", but also other Tara mantras I've received by lung), Vajrasattva, the Song of the Vajra, and other mantras of other deities I have been given that are not usually found in prayer wheels?

[Könchok Thrinley]

But if you want some thing, then probably some mala, or a prayer wheel could be of good use.

Do you know any good places where I can personalize my prayer wheel? For example, utilizing Manjushri (Lord of Speech whose mantra is not the "om ara...") mantras, Tara mantras (not just "om tare tuttare...", but also other Tara mantras I've received by lung), Vajrasattva, the Song of the Vajra, and other mantras of other deities I have been given that are not usually found in prayer wheels?

You can either print the mantras yourself and fill it or ask a lama to fill it and bless it or you can get a personalized prayerwheel from one of the western shops where they make lovely wooden prayer wheels such as this place https://prayerwheelshop.com (where Garchen Rinpoche got his prayer wheel if I am correct). But! Those are expensive as heck. Soo unless you have like 300usd I'd suggest the first route. I don't know if you can have a song of vajra in a prayerwheel, but then again I do not know many things. I'd better ask if I were you.

Anyway you can get a prayer wheel on an ebay for like 2 dollars (which I did, I ordered it yesterday, so if ya wan't I can let you know how it went when it arrives) and fill it yourself. FPMT has some instructions how to do it.

[javier.espinoza.t]

If one were given a chance to receive a Buddhist item, what should one get (that's affordable and not some exotic relic)? A mala? A prayer wheel? A damaru? A bell? Or what? Especially for teena and young adults.

A -chod- Damaru, definitely that. Other items you can find easily or make yourself.

Being young and doing Chöd is the best thing i did. totally recommended!

[PeterC]

If one were given a chance to receive a Buddhist item, what should one get (that's affordable and not some exotic relic)? A mala? A prayer wheel? A damaru? A bell? Or what? Especially for teena and young adults.

That depends on whether the person giving it knows what they're doing. If it's a ritual item there could be all sorts of specifications for it, even something simple like a mala, and the recipient would be much better advised to procure it for him/herself. If the person giving was insisting on some sort of gift, asking them to donate to a Buddhist charity or use the money to sponsor a puja, life release or recitation of sutras would be good alternatives.

[Tenma]

If one were given a chance to receive a Buddhist item, what should one get (that's affordable and not some exotic relic)? A mala? A prayer wheel? A damaru? A bell? Or what? Especially for teena and young adults.

A -chod- Damaru, definitely that. Other items you can find easily or make yourself.

Being young and doing Chöd is the best thing i did. totally recommended!

Glad to hear that!

[weitsicht]

I don't know about that kid, how could I

but from teen-age on usually the tendency is to detach from what is advised. Hence I suggest to only give what is being wished for.
If she is into petticoats, the petticoats, if he wants a new mobile phone then so.

If that kid shows interest then do not only give the object (e.g. damaru) but also see for the availability of the necessary empowerment. Otherwise that object becomes a religious/spiritual projection.

For small kids there is this "My First Buddha doll" - not sure you have heard of this.

[Jesse]

Personally, I would like a small cutting to clone from the official Bodhi Tree. (The one Buddha sat under). I believe the one currently in india is a clone, of a clone from the original tree.

I imagine that isn't something they'd just let someone have though eh?

[WesleyP]

Real Buddhist necklace with Bodhi seeds.

[ford_truckin]

A book on the fundamental teachings.