Tibetan Prayer Wheels, which are also called "Mani Wheels" by the Tibetans and Buddhists worldwide, are spiritual devices for widely distributing blessings and positive wishes for all beings. Padmasambhava or "Guru Rinpoche" as he is so often called, says that using a prayer wheel brings great blessings, and creates enormous and powerful karma. Many lamas, monks and lay practitioners use the prayer wheel daily as an adjunct to using a Mala. The reason is simply that all of the thousands of prayers written inside the prayer wheel exponentially increase the blessings. A short teaching by Lama Zopa, Rinpoche: "Just touching and turning a prayer wheel brings incredible purification and accumulates unbelievable merit."
"One idea I have is to use them for healing. Anyone with a disease such as AIDS or cancer, whether or not they have any understanding of Dharma, can use the prayer wheel for meditation and healing."
Traditionally, hand written Om Mani Padme Hum text was whiten on rolls of thin paper, which were then carefully wrapped, placed inside the prayer wheel. The Om Mani Pémé Hung, is printed in an ancient Indian script or in Tibetan script, is wound around an axle in a protective container. Once filled the prayer wheel was then sealed. It was then ready to be spun, and spun and spun around and around continuously.
Om Mani Padme Hum cannot be accurately translated into English. All such attempts at translation are very misleading. Think of it as a phrase which awakens compassion and loving-kindness for welfare of all beings.
Usually, the larger decorative versions of the syllables of the mantra are also carved on the outside cover of the wheel to enhance the beauty and magnetism.
Tibetan Buddhists believe that saying this mantra, out loud or silently to oneself, invokes the powerful benevolent attention and blessings of Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva and embodiment of compassion.
In English,Om Mani Padme Hum, can be roughly translated to mean "the jewel in the lotus of the heart. This is a reference to the inner Buddha nature or hidden spark of divinity within each of us. The six syllables of the mantra, Om, Ma-Ni, Pad-Me, Hum, which are believed to purify the six negative emotions: anger, pride, greed, jealousy, desire/lust, ignorance while simultaneously engendering the six qualities of the enlightened heart: generosity, harmonious conduct, endurance, enthusiasm, concentration, and insight.
Seeing the script of the mantra, Om Mani Padme Hum, is believed to have the impact on our hearts and minds the mantra is often seen carved into rocks, cliffs, walls and stones everywhere so that all beings will see it and gain benefit.
Spinning the written form of the mantra around in a Mani wheel has the same effect. If one increases the number of copies of the mantra, then one increase the benefit. Also, your intention or motivation to benefit others has unmeasurable value of how the prayers reach out to all beings.
The earliest known mention of prayer wheels is in an account written by a Chinese pilgrim, in 400 AD, while traveling through the area now known as Ladakh. The idea is said to have originated as a play on the phrase "turn the wheel of the Dharma," a classical metaphor for Buddha's teaching activity. Mani wheels are found all over Tibet and in areas influenced by Tibetan culture.
There are many types of Mani wheels, but small hand-held wheels, like the one shown here, are the most common. Tibetan people carry them around for hours, and even on long pilgrimages, spinning them any time they have a hand free. Larger wheels, which may be several yards (meters) high and one or two yards (meters) in diameter, can contain millions of the mantra, and may also contain sacred texts, up to hundreds of volumes.
How to use the hand held prayer wheel:
Hand held prayer wheels are spun clockwise with one hand using a hola-hoop motion with the wrist and forearm. Generally, they are constructed of a cylindrical body of metal (sometimes of wood), penetrated along its axis by a metal axle mounted in wooden or metal handle. The cylinder, along with the mantra roll it contains, can be kept turning with a slight rotation of the wrist, thanks to a weighted cord or chain. The cord and chain are a key element to adding enough weight to make the rotation smooth and easy.
This image shows the wheel leaning on a wooden rest while being stored. The mantra roll has been removed from the protective case so that you can clearly see the contents. In the case of a small hand-held wheel like this one the scroll can be a dozens or more yards long.
Inside all of our prayer wheels are hand written scrolls of all the complete mantras. When turning clockwise you are activating the prayer and generating positive karma.
Our prayer wheel are made by Tibetan refugees.
