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.
Small, hand-held prayer wheels are one of the most popular items in Tibetan shops. Though a tool used by Buddhists to assist their meditative practice, they are also viewed as a beautiful, unique Tibetan artwork. People are usually mesmerized by their mysterious, gorgeous Tibetan art patterns. Bright colors, shiny objects, and precious metal and stones are often seen on exquisitely made items.
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.
Good Karma, merit, wisdom, and compassion are the things Buddhists believe can be brought to them by spinning a prayer wheel, while their negative energy and bad karma can be cleared at the same time. For common people, simply spinning the wheel can help them achieve this end. But for Buddhists of certain sects, a specific rule should be followed concerning how they use it to help them visualize. In use, a prayer wheel is spun clockwise, following the direction of the sun moving across the sky. People practicing meditation often visualize the rotating of the wheel as the rotating of energy inside their body, especially around their different chakra points.
Most prayer wheels used by Buddhists are engraved with the mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" on the surface, with the scroll of papers placed inside them written with the same phrase. It is a six syllable Sanskrit line with a profound meaning regarded as beyond interpretation, which can be roughly translated as "Behold! The jewel in the lotus!" Avalokatishvara, or bodhisattva of compassion, is said to have given this mantra to human beings to lead them to enlightenment.
Prayer wheels play an important role in Tibetans' life. People traveling to Tibet often see old people walking on the street with a prayer wheel held in their hands or stuck in their belts. Around a Tibetan temple, pilgrim and monks can be seen spinning large prayer wheels placed outside the temple again and again. The bright and shiny surfaces of these wheel attest to the fact that they have been touched and spun for millions of times by countless people.
Prayer wheels probably originated in the Han area of China. Historians found a record from China's Song dynasty that stated a monk called Fu created a revolving eight-side bookcase during the Northern and Southern Dynasties period. It is believed this device was brought to Tibet during the Song dynasty where it later evolved into prayer wheel. Some scholars think the phrase, "turning the wheel of Dharma", a teaching of Buddhism, inspired the idea 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.
Small, hand-held prayer wheels are one of the most popular items in Tibetan shops. Though a tool used by Buddhists to assist their meditative practice, they are also viewed as a beautiful, unique Tibetan artwork. People are usually mesmerized by their mysterious, gorgeous Tibetan art patterns. Bright colors, shiny objects, and precious metal and stones are often seen on exquisitely made items.
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.
Good Karma, merit, wisdom, and compassion are the things Buddhists believe can be brought to them by spinning a prayer wheel, while their negative energy and bad karma can be cleared at the same time. For common people, simply spinning the wheel can help them achieve this end. But for Buddhists of certain sects, a specific rule should be followed concerning how they use it to help them visualize. In use, a prayer wheel is spun clockwise, following the direction of the sun moving across the sky. People practicing meditation often visualize the rotating of the wheel as the rotating of energy inside their body, especially around their different chakra points.
Most prayer wheels used by Buddhists are engraved with the mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" on the surface, with the scroll of papers placed inside them written with the same phrase. It is a six syllable Sanskrit line with a profound meaning regarded as beyond interpretation, which can be roughly translated as "Behold! The jewel in the lotus!" Avalokatishvara, or bodhisattva of compassion, is said to have given this mantra to human beings to lead them to enlightenment.
Prayer wheels play an important role in Tibetans' life. People traveling to Tibet often see old people walking on the street with a prayer wheel held in their hands or stuck in their belts. Around a Tibetan temple, pilgrim and monks can be seen spinning large prayer wheels placed outside the temple again and again. The bright and shiny surfaces of these wheel attest to the fact that they have been touched and spun for millions of times by countless people.
Prayer wheels probably originated in the Han area of China. Historians found a record from China's Song dynasty that stated a monk called Fu created a revolving eight-side bookcase during the Northern and Southern Dynasties period. It is believed this device was brought to Tibet during the Song dynasty where it later evolved into prayer wheel. Some scholars think the phrase, "turning the wheel of Dharma", a teaching of Buddhism, inspired the idea 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 arts and crafts. He now works with a Beijing personal shopper who helps tourists find unique Chinese items. Sometimes he personally tailors Beijing tours.
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