mani wheels
altoids tin
Tibetan prayer wheels contain mantras written on strips of paper. Spinning the prayer wheel is like saying the mantra repeatedly. Traditional prayer wheels contain hundreds, thousands, even millions of copies of the mantra "Om mani padme hum." evoking Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of compassion (Avalokitesvara).
Smaller prayer wheels are turned by hand. Others are powered by water wheels, hot air raising from candles, or the wind. Prayer wheels are spun clockwise when looking down on them.
Turning a prayer wheel is like chanting the mantra "Om mani padme hum" (Jewel in the Lotus of the Heart). Reciting this powerful mantra builds positive karma by evoking the Buddha of Compassion.
Basic background material can be found here and here.
The Sakya Monestary here in Seattle make prayer wheels containing 1.3 trillion (with a "t") mantras and sutras on a set of DVD’s. Read more here. I visit this monastery to turn the wheels outside fairly regularly.
The Nyingma Institute makes more tradional prayer wheels in a modern manner. Other prayer wheels are built using microfilm.
Read about how I make Tibetan prayer wheels out of Altoids tins...
homemade prayer wheels
om mani padme hum
buddhism
i take vows
meditation
om
heart sutra
black buddhists
buddhist tattoos
sand mandalas
eightfold noble path
endless knot
jell-o
dropbox
