A famous religious object written with sacred words from Buddhist teaching and usually decorated with gorgeous Tibetan patterns, prayer wheels are a unique tool used by Buddhists to help them reach a state of enlightenment and spread well-being to the entire world. Effectively used by even non-Buddhists to aid meditation, they are believed to bring wisdom, compassion, and good karma to people with each turning of their wheels. Such objects can be seen everywhere in Tibet: large items are placed in near monasteries for monks and passerby to touch and spin, and small items are held by men and women alike to say prayers on the street. Beijing has many amazing local shops with gorgeous prayer wheels, go on a Beijing city tour with a Beijing guide to visit these shops.
A commonly seen item in most Tibetan shops, small, hand-held prayer wheels is also one of the most popular. Though such wheels are usually used by Buddhists to aid their meditation, they are also regarded as a incredibly unique, beautiful Tibetan artwork. With mesmerizing, mysterious Tibetan art patterns, exquisitely made items are often decorated with dazzling, multi-color metal pieces and stones that are incredibly expensive.
Almost all prayer wheels have a basic physical composition: a cylindrical body, an axle placed above a handle, and a bell attached to the body with a chain or a rope. Buddhists often put over one scrolls of thin paper printed with mantras inside the body. Since one turning of the wheel represents reciting all the mantras in a wheel once, the more scrolls placed inside a wheel, the more effective the spinning can be. Though a number of materials are used to make prayer wheels, most items consist of a body made of metal and a handle made of wood, stone, or leather.
Buddhists believe spinning a prayer wheel one can accumulate good karma, merit, wisdom, and compassion, and rid of bad karma and negative energy. While common people can simply spin a wheel to achieve this purpose, there is a specific rule concerning how it should be used as a visual aid by Buddhists of certain sects. When used, a prayer wheel is often spun clockwise, following the movement of sun across the sky. Practicing meditation, one can visualize the turning of the wheel as the turning of energy inside one's body, usually around one's chakra points.
"Om Mani Padme Hum", a six syllable Sanskrit line said to have been given to the world by Avalokatishvara, or the bodhisattva of compassion, is the most often used phrase on prayer wheels and the scroll of paper placed inside them. Buddhists believe Avalokatishvara offered this mantra to human beings to help them find their correct ways toward enlightenment.
For Tibetans, spinning prayer wheels is an important part of their everyday life. Tourists traveling to Tibet often see old people standing on a corner of a street spinning a prayer wheel in their hands. Around a Tibetan temple, monks and pilgrims can be seen rotating large prayer wheels for multiple times until they feel satisfied. These large wheels have been touched and spun for so many times by so many people, their surfaces have become incredibly shiny and smooth.
Prayer wheels are thought to have their origin in the Han area of China. According to a historical record written in China's Song dynasty, a monk called Fu invented a revolving octagonal bookcase during the Northern and Southern Dynasties period. Some experts believe this device was introduced to Tibet during the Song dynasty and later evolved into prayer wheel. Still others believe, the phrase, "turning the wheel of Dharma", a teaching of Buddhism, is what gives birth to the concept of prayer wheel.
In Tibet and around the world, there are a variety of prayer wheels in use. Some of them are: Mani wheel, water wheel, fire wheel, stationery wheel, Samurai wheel, electric Dharma wheel, digital wheel, and most recently, Internet-operated wheel.
Some of the fantastic local shops in Beijing offer unique Tibetan prayer wheels in different designs. Go on a Beijing tour with a personal shopper to discover these wonderful products.
Almost all prayer wheels have a basic physical composition: a cylindrical body, an axle placed above a handle, and a bell attached to the body with a chain or a rope. Buddhists often put over one scrolls of thin paper printed with mantras inside the body. Since one turning of the wheel represents reciting all the mantras in a wheel once, the more scrolls placed inside a wheel, the more effective the spinning can be. Though a number of materials are used to make prayer wheels, most items consist of a body made of metal and a handle made of wood, stone, or leather.
Buddhists believe spinning a prayer wheel one can accumulate good karma, merit, wisdom, and compassion, and rid of bad karma and negative energy. While common people can simply spin a wheel to achieve this purpose, there is a specific rule concerning how it should be used as a visual aid by Buddhists of certain sects. When used, a prayer wheel is often spun clockwise, following the movement of sun across the sky. Practicing meditation, one can visualize the turning of the wheel as the turning of energy inside one's body, usually around one's chakra points.
"Om Mani Padme Hum", a six syllable Sanskrit line said to have been given to the world by Avalokatishvara, or the bodhisattva of compassion, is the most often used phrase on prayer wheels and the scroll of paper placed inside them. Buddhists believe Avalokatishvara offered this mantra to human beings to help them find their correct ways toward enlightenment.
For Tibetans, spinning prayer wheels is an important part of their everyday life. Tourists traveling to Tibet often see old people standing on a corner of a street spinning a prayer wheel in their hands. Around a Tibetan temple, monks and pilgrims can be seen rotating large prayer wheels for multiple times until they feel satisfied. These large wheels have been touched and spun for so many times by so many people, their surfaces have become incredibly shiny and smooth.
Prayer wheels are thought to have their origin in the Han area of China. According to a historical record written in China's Song dynasty, a monk called Fu invented a revolving octagonal bookcase during the Northern and Southern Dynasties period. Some experts believe this device was introduced to Tibet during the Song dynasty and later evolved into prayer wheel. Still others believe, the phrase, "turning the wheel of Dharma", a teaching of Buddhism, is what gives birth to the concept of prayer wheel.
In Tibet and around the world, there are a variety of prayer wheels in use. Some of them are: Mani wheel, water wheel, fire wheel, stationery wheel, Samurai wheel, electric Dharma wheel, digital wheel, and most recently, Internet-operated wheel.
Some of the fantastic local shops in Beijing offer unique Tibetan prayer wheels in different designs. Go on a Beijing tour with a personal shopper to discover these wonderful products.
About the Author:
A. Lao writes about Chinese culture and history. He now works with a personal shopping assistant who brings visitors to great Chinese shops. From time to time, he personally tailors Beijing China tours.
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