INSPIRING ARTS

Grandmaster JinBodhi’s Treasure Cove

Turning the Wheel of Dharma

This sacred prayer wheel is exquisitely carved of pure copper and studded with green emeralds. The beautiful coil-adorned axle adds to its elegance.

A handheld prayer wheel, also known as a Mani wheel, is a dharma tool treasured by practitioners. It consists of a cylinder mounted on a rod handle and contains a scroll printed with a mantra.The wheel is spun by a slight rotation of the wrist in a clockwise motion. Reciting the mantra aloud with a sincere spirit, and spinning the wheel with compassion and devotion, generates merit, thereby relieving one of sufferings and obstacles.

According to Guru Rinpoche, visualizing mantras radiating from the prayer wheel purifies one’s body, speech and mind. The emanation of positive energy alleviates the effects of one’s negative karmas and non-virtuous actions. As prayer wheels are believed to help those who use them to accumulate abundant merits, it is common to see Tibetans with a prayer wheel in hand.