Tibetan Buddhist Hand Held Prayer Wheel, Buddhist Ritual Object, Handcrafted Tibetan Spinning Wheel,Buddhist Collectibles, Spiritual Item

TIBETAN BUDDHIST HANDHELD PRAYER WHEEL

A prayer wheel is a cylindrical wheel on a spindle made from metal, wood, stone, leather, or coarse cotton, widely used in Tibet and areas where Tibetan culture is predominant.

Traditionally, a mantra is written in Tibetan language, on the outside of the wheel. The mantra Om Mani Padme Hum is most commonly used, but other mantras may be used as well.

Also sometimes depicted are dakinis, Protectors, and very often the eight auspicious symbols (ashtamangala). At the core of the cylinder is a "life tree" often made of wood or metal with certain mantras written on or wrapped around it. Many thousands (or in the case of larger prayer wheels, Martin Babka millions) of mantras are then wrapped around this life tree.

HANDHELD PRAYER WHEEL :

The handheld prayer wheel has a cylindrical, generally, sheet-metal body (often beautifully embossed) mounted on a metal shaft or pin set into a wooden or metal handle that turns on a circular bearing commonly made of Turbinella (conch) shell. The cylinder itself is affixed with a cord or chain terminating in a small weight allowing it to be spun by a slight rotation of the wrist. The weighted chain, known as a "governor" in Western technology, stabilizes the wheel and keeps it spinning with less input from the practitioner than would otherwise be the case. When the prayer wheel is spun in prayer, the mantras inside become potent with the person's intent, allowing the practitioner to accumulate wisdom and merit.

SIGNIFICANCE OF PRACTICING MEDITATION WITH PRAYER WHEEL :

A prayer wheel is being used to accumulate wisdom and merit (good karma) and to purify negativities (bad karma). In Buddhism, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have created a variety of skillful means (upaya) to help bring practitioners ever closer to realizing enlightenment. The idea of spinning mantras relates to numerous Tantric practices whereby the Tantric practitioner visualizes mantras revolving around the nadis and especially around the meridian chakras such as the heart and crown. Therefore, prayer wheels are a visual aid for developing one's capacity for these types of Tantric visualizations.

HOW TO MEDITATE WITH PRAYER WHEELS :

The spiritual method for those practicing with a prayer wheel is very specific (with slight variations according to different Buddhist sects). The practitioner most often spins the wheel clockwise, as the direction in which the mantras are written is that of the movement of the sun across the sky.
As the practitioner turns the wheel, it is best to focus the mind and repeat the Om Mani Padme Hum mantra. Not only does this increase the merit earned by the wheel's use, but it is a mind-stabilization technique that trains the mind while the body is in motion. Intoning the mani mantra with mindfulness and the "Bodhicitta" motivation dramatically enhances the effects of the prayer wheel.


BENEFITS OF USING PRAYER WHEEL WHILE MEDITATION:

The benefits attributed to the practice of turning the wheel are vast. Not only does it help wisdom, compassion, and bodhichitta arise in the practitioner, it also enhances siddhis (spiritual powers such as clairvoyance, precognition,reading others thoughts, etc.).The practitioner can repeat the mantra as many times as possible during the turning of the wheel, stabilizing a calm, meditative mind. At the end of a practice session, there is a Tibetan Buddhist tradition of dedicating any accumulated merits that one may have gathered during practice to the benefit of all sentient beings. Then Om Ah Hum 3 times. This is customary with Tibetans upon completing any Buddhist practice, including the practice of the prayer wheel.