Prayer Wheels: Addictive, compulsive, mesmerizing, beautiful

There is something addictive about turning a prayer wheel and watching it spin. The beautiful colors and text blend together, creating an ever changing piece of artwork. You feel like you are accomplishing something, like you have purpose.

Prayer wheels come in all types of colors and sizes.

The gold color and decorative framework can be captivating

When there is a row of wheels, it feels necessary to put each of them in motion, one at time. When they slow, there is an urge to spin it again. I can’t explain it.

This gentleman is taking the time to spin each wheel as he walks clockwise around the Dzong.

Observe the meditational journey of this senior. She is getting both a mental and physical workout. There are dozens, if not hundreds of prayer wheels to spin, and this is just one corner of this Dzong.

I think the earlier Tibetan monks were onto something. When there are prayer wheels along a the wall of a Dzong or a stupa, many people walk around them in a clockwise movement. One hand spins the prayer wheel, while the other hand is counting and meditating on the prayer beads. The repetition and movement is soothing. 

A Dzong is a fortress-monastery which is a unique architectural and cultural complex that serves as both a defensive stronghold and a religious center. A Stupa is a dome-shaped structure that serves as a Buddhist shrine, often housing relics or sacred objects. Buddhists walk clockwise around a stupa as a form of devotional practice known as “circumambulation” or “pradakshina.” This act symbolizes the path of the sun across the sky, representing the natural order of the universe and harmony with cosmic energy. Walking clockwise mirrors the movement of the earth and celestial bodies, and it is believed to generate positive karma and blessings.

Prayer Wheels: What are they?

Prayer wheels are unique to Tibetan Buddhism and can be traced to 4th century Tibet. There are several types and they come in all sizes. They are used by the young and the old.

Buddhist texts speak of “turning the wheel of dharma” which led to the concept of the prayer wheel, a mechanical device that consists of an embossed hollow cylinder and a rod that runs through its height. Inside the rod is a tightly rolled-up scroll of mantras. Mantras are short Buddhist invocations of several syllables.

At the entrance to a Dzong complex, a prayer wheel stands ready for the monks and any other individual who wants to take a moment to turn it.

Types of Prayer Wheels: Wind, Water, Hand

In the course of our visit, we observed small prayer wheels embedded in the walls of temples and stupas, large prayer wheels at the entrances to Dzongs and often large prayer wheels were present in local parks. We also saw prayer wheels driven by the “wind” or by a running stream. There were also personal ones that could be held in your hand and spun with the aid of a small weight attached to the cylinder. 

On these wind prayer wheels, no hand turning needed, the wind takes care of releasing the merits and prayers into the world.

Along the road and housed inside this small building (middle front) is a prayer wheel turned by the flow of the water. Again, no hand of man is needed to release the good will and prayers.

Personal prayer wheel, where the attached weight helps spin the wheel with a gentle motion of the hand.

Prayer Wheels: How are they used?

Spinning the prayer wheel is equivalent to reciting mantras. Each spin of the wheel is as effective as reciting the mantras orally, multiplied by the number of times the mantra is printed on the scroll. It is also believed that the spinning of the prayer wheels releases these prayers and blessings into the universe. 

Young novice monk takes a moment to reflect.

According to ancient Buddhist traditions, spinning the wheel brings you merit and purifies your soul. The more you spin, the more merits you gain. You can quickly see how one good turn does indeed deserve another., and another and another.