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A 'prayer wheel' (called 'mani chos-'khor' or 'Mani wheel' by the Tibetans) is a wheel on a spindle made from metal, wood, leather, or even coarse cotton. On the wheel are written or encapsulated prayers or mantras. According to the Tibetan Buddhist belief, spinning such a wheel will have much the same effect as orally reciting the prayers.

Contents

Origins

Practice

Om Mani Padme Hum

Types

Mani Wheel

Water Wheels

Fire Wheel

Wind Wheel

Stationary Prayer Wheels

Electric Dharma Wheels

Digital Prayer Wheels

References

Gallery

See also

External links

Origins

The earliest recorded mentioning of prayer wheels is noted to be written by a Chinese pilgrim around 400 A.D. in Ladka. The concept of the prayer wheel is a physical manifestation of the phrase "turning the wheel of Dharma," which describes the way in which the Buddha taught.

Practice

The rules surrounding the prayer wheels are very specific. The practitioner must spin the wheel clockwise. This was determined because this is the direction the mantras are written. Before and after the practitioner turns the wheel, he or she must repeat the mantra, or no merit will be incurred by the wheels use. The faster ones spins the wheel the better because each revolution is considered as meritous as reading the inscription aloud as many times as it is written on the scroll. The practitioner should also repeat the mantra as many times as possible during the turning of the wheel, and keep a calm meditative mind.
Thubten Zopa Rinpoche has commented that installing a prayer wheel has the capacity to completely transform a place "...peaceful, pleasant, and conducive to the mind."
Simply touching a prayer wheel is said to bring great purification to negative kharmas and obscurations.

Om Mani Padme Hum

The most commonly used mantra in prayer wheels is Om Mani Padme Hum. This mantra is prayer that invites the compassion of Chenrezig the embodiment of compassion.

Types

Mani Wheel

The Mani wheel, or the hand prayer wheel, is a cylindrical body mounted on a wooden or metal handle. The cylinder itself is weighted down with a cord or chain allowing it to be spun by a slight rotation of the wrist along with the mantra it contains.

Water Wheels

This type of prayer wheel is simply a very large prayer wheel that is turned by flowing water. The water that is touched by the wheel is said to become blessed, and carries it purifying power into all life forms in the oceans and lakes that it feeds into.

Fire Wheel

This wheel is turned by the heat of a candle or electric light. The light emitted from the prayer wheel then purifies the negative karmas of the living beings it touches.

Wind Wheel

This type of wheel is turned by wind. The wind that touches the prayer wheel alleviates the negative karmas of those it touches.

Stationary Prayer Wheels

Many monasteries around Tibet have large fixed metal wheels set side by side in a row. Passersby can turn the entire row of wheels simply by sliding their hands over each one.

Electric Dharma Wheels

There are currently prayer wheels powered by electric motors. "Thardo Khorlo," as these electric wheels are sometimes known, contain one thousand copies of the mantra of Chenrezig, as well as many other copies of other mantras. The Thardo Khorlo can accompanied by lights and music if one so chooses. The Thardo Khorlo is also said to provide much more benefit than a Mani wheel, because it contains a much more complete representation of the Buddha Dharma.

Digital Prayer Wheels

The Dalai Lama has commented that animated GIF's on websites work just as well as other prayer wheels. As the GIF image turns, waves of compassion in all directions in the surrounding area.

References

★ Buddhism in Tibet, Schlagintweit L.L.D., Emil, , , Kelley publishers, 1863,

★ Tibetan Prayer wheels, Wright, A.R., , , folklore enterprises, 1904,

★ ALL ABOUT THE ... Prayer Wheel

★ The Prayer Wheel

★ Prayer Wheel Making and Dharma Study

Gallery

See also

★ Prayer beads

★ Stupa

★ Tibetan prayer flag

External links

★ http://www.dharma-haven.org/tibetan/prayer-wheel.htm

★ Picture of prayer wheel at Muktinath, plus backgrounds

★ prayer wheels