Geo Travel Blog

A traditional religious item inscribed with teachings of Buddhism and decorated with exquisite Tibetan art patterns, prayer wheels are a spinning device used by Buddhists to help them reach a state of enlightenment, and assist their effort to spread blessings to the world. Considered an effective meditation tool even for non-Buddhists, they are said to help people accumulate good karma, wisdom, and compassion with each revolution of their wheels. In Tibet, such objects can be seen everywhere: pilgrim and monks spin large items placed around monasteries, and men and women on the street rotate small items to pray in private. Beijing tour guides can take you on a Beijing city tour to find unique Tibetan prayer wheels in the city?s spectacular local 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.

Both large and small prayer wheels have a similar composition: a cylindrical body, a spindle mounted on a handle, and a bell attached to the body by a rope or a chain. More often than not, over one scroll of thin paper written with Buddhist mantra is placed inside the body. Since one revolution of the wheel equals orally reciting all the mantras once, it is a common practice for Buddhists to put as many scrolls as possible inside the body to multiply the effect of their prayers. Though a variety of things are used to create prayer wheels, the majority of items have a metal body and a handle made of leather, stone, and wood.

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.

According to Buddhist tradition, the mantras both printed on the surface of a prayer wheel and written on the scrolls of paper placed inside the wheel are Om Mani Padme Hum, a six syllable Sanskrit line that can be roughly translated as ?Behold! The jewel in the lotus!? This mantra is said to be given to the world by Avalokatishvara, or the bodhisattva of compassion, to help human beings find their path towards 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 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.

A large variety of prayer wheels are in use by Tibetans and people around the world. Some of the most used are: Mani wheel, water wheel, fire wheel, stationery wheel, Samurai wheel, electric Dharma wheel, digital wheel, and Internet-operated wheel.

In Beijing, don?t forget that there are many great local shops with unique, beautiful Tibetan prayer wheels from Tibet. Take a city tour with a personal shopper to shop for these amazing products.

A. Lao writes about Chinese arts and crafts. He now works with a Beijing personal shopper. Sometimes he personally tailors Beijing Tour Guide.