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The Tibetan prayer wheel
is a fascinating religious item. It is an
instrument that uses the power of the unspoken
word to help Tibetan Buddhists attain the
goals of enlightenment. It is a wonderful
icon, and is used to this day by practitioners
of Tibetan Buddhism Tibet.
To fully understand the meaning of the prayer
wheel, it is important to first know a little
about Tibetan Buddhism.
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhists practice
a form of Buddhism called Mahayana, or the
great wheel. This form of Buddhism is a broad
form of Buddhism which attempts to bring all
of its practitioners on the road to its ultimate
goal, enlightenment. This goal is rather different
from the original teachings of Buddhism, where
salvation is found within the individual in
a solitary way, through meditation and isolation.
Mahayana Buddhism in contrast, teaches a universalism,
which uses teachers, study and devotion to
help every practitioner attain enlightenment.
A key precept for Tibetan Buddhism is compassion.
It is the one of the religion's core values
and leads directly its ultimate goal: To eliminate
suffering. In fact, many learned monks prevent
themselves from attaining enlightenment in
order to help others to reach the same goal.
Compassion
Prayer is one method
of generating compassion. In Buddhism, mantras
are the form of prayer most commonly used.
The most powerful mantra is Om Mani Padme
Hum, known as the mantra of Avalokiteshvara.
This ancient mantra is believed to be a call
for the blessings of Chenrezig, the embodiment
of compassion. For centuries, these words
have been used as a way of calling on Chenrezig
to help awaken the love and compassion inherent
in the human mind. When the prayer is recited,
the practitioner is able to increase her passion
and journey a little farther on the road to
enlightenment.
The Power of the Word
In Tibetan Buddhism,
mantras do not necessarily need to be spoken
to be effective. Some mantras are carved into
rocks, and only need to be seen in order to
be effective. Others are written on flags,
which flutter their meaning onto the passing
breeze.
Prayer wheels are another example of the use
of the unspoken word. A traditional Tibetan
prayer wheel is essentially a vessel of prayers.
The outside of most prayer wheels is written
the Avalokiteshvara mantra, either in Tibetan
script or in Indian Rajana script. On the
inside of the prayer wheel is a scroll containing
thousands mantras or religious texts. These
combined prayers are sent off into the air
as the prayer wheel is spun (clockwise, so
that it the prayers spin in the direction
they can be read).
Tibetan Buddhists believe that the effect
of spinning a prayer wheel is quite powerful.
It is believed that the act of spinning promotes
the compassion held within the practitioner,
thereby assisting them towards their goal
of enlightenment. It is also believed that
the action can promote healing, bless the
environment and even generate love.
So whether you are looking for an icon of
love and compassion, something to help promote
peace of mind or are looking for a symbol
of health and purification, a Tibetan prayer
wheel is perfect vehicle for your wish.
 Click
here to see Eastern Summerhill's prayer wheels
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