prayer wheel project - sakya monastery of tibetan buddhism · ythe prayer wheel is like a precious...

SAKYA MONASTERY 2010

Prayer Wheel Project

Presentation by Mia Juntara

Introduction

Prayer wheels in Tibet were made in a variety of sizes, styles, and materials. The larger ones often surround monasteries and stupas. Prayer wheels must be made under the guidance and direction of a Lama and are then blessed and consecrated. HH Jigdal Dagchen Sakya has guided this project definitively from start to finish.

Our new Prayer Wheels, were made by Tibetan artisans from Kathmandu, Nepal. They are made of copper with the mantra of Padmasambhava, “Om Ah Hung Vajra Guru Padma SiddhiHung” pressed clearly into the copper. Inside each Prayer Wheel, there are 100,000 Tibetan script reiterations of the samePadmasambhava mantra.

About Prayer Wheels

According to ancient texts, the Prayer Wheel was originally brought to Earth from the realms of the Nagas by the great Bodhisattva Nagarjuna, Founder of the Middle Way school of Buddhist philosophy during the 1st Century BCE, in India.

Nagarjuna popularized the use of the Prayer Wheel throughout Asia, wherever the Mahayana Buddhist path was practiced. Nagarjuna once had a vision in which he was told by Avalokiteshvara,“The benefits of Prayer Wheels to living beings will be enormous”.

About Prayer Wheels

In the 8th Century AD, Padmasambhava brought the Prayer Wheel lineage to Tibet after he had received it from the Lion Face Dakini, with whom Nagarjunahad entrusted it. Since that time, the Prayer Wheel lineage has been passed down to many renowned teachers, including His Holiness Jigdal Dagchen Sakya.

Note: art copyright Nick Dudka, 2002; www.thangka.ru

About Prayer Wheels

According to the 4th Panchen Lama, both AmitabhaBuddha and Shakyamuni Buddha state that spinning the Prayer Wheels and reciting mantras creates a “powerful merit field”, which results in the accumulation of immense merit and the purification of obstacles.

Mantras are powerful and protect the practitioner’s mind from ordinary appearances, conceptions inherent in samsara. By reciting them one affirms that enlightenment is within our grasp, is here and now, and will release all beings from suffering.

Prayer Wheel Benefits

Using the Prayer Wheel produces extraordinary benefits:

The Meditational Deities, Dakinis, and Dharma Protectors automatically help us when we turn a Prayer Wheel.

Turning the Prayer Wheel has the power to quickly bless; it has the vastness of great skill in means; its actions are quick; the power of turning the wheel brings freedom from demons/obstacles, anti-Buddhists, vow-breakers, 80,000 ghosts, 360 evil spirits, 18 untimely deaths, averts all obstacles; and will guard you.

The Prayer Wheel is like a precious jewel: whatever you wish for, it will accomplish all the supreme and ordinary attainments.

Turning this wheel with great remorse and confession will eliminate the five actions of immediate retribution, the four heavy (bad deeds), the eight wrong views, and the ten non-virtues.

Prayer Wheel Benefits

If you turn the wheel by hand, whoever sees you turning the wheel, touches you or the wheel, remembers you or the wheel, is struck by the shadow of you or the wheel will never go to the three lower realms and will be established on the stage of Buddhahood.

Any man or woman who turns the wheel will obtain whatever they wish for that is in harmony with the Dharma.

Whoever turns the Prayer Wheel will not be born as a householder with wrong views, as a cripple, blind, deaf, mute, or as a pauper.

You will get an impartial enlightened mind acting for the benefit of beings.

Sakya Monastery

HH Jigdal Dagchen Sakya saw the virtuous benefit of expanding the Monastery’s Prayer Wheel assembly to allow more people to spin them and expand the merit field. Given that the lineage of the Prayer Wheel is original and unbroken, the benefit is enormous.

Sakya Board of Advisors is giving members and non-members the opportunity to donate funds to defer the costs of the Prayer Wheels. You may also donate on behalf of or in memory of a loved one. Donating is not only a way to increase merit, but is also a way to help preserve the art, culture, and teachings of Ancient Tibet.

If you offer $150 or more, you will be listed as a Patron on a plaque outside. For less than a $150, you will be listed as a Donor. Contributions may be anonymous as well. All are welcome!

The 2010 Prayer Wheel project at Sakya Monastery was installed by a crew of volunteers lead by one of His Holiness’ longtime practitioners, John Vichorek(Karma Lodro Zangpo).

John is our construction manager and is responsible for the craftsmanship and metal work that has gone into this and many other projects onsite.

Phases of Installation

In the first stages of the project the garden bed was removed and relocated. Rebar and pouring frames were carefully built for the foundation and a work crew poured several tons of concrete into the forms.


The concrete arrived in a truck that churns and mixes it as it is poured by the crew. This is to ensure that it is the right consistency when it is put into the forms.


The concrete filled in the gaps between the composite materials placed within the soil and becomes a permanent structure that will stand the test of time.


After the retaining wall was poured the foundation for the railings and housing structure for the Prayer Wheels was prepped and poured.


Sakya Monastery is fortunate enough to have many knowledgeable volunteers to assist with projects and project development.


The Prayer Wheels arrived and were stored in the temple. Knowing that they were there kept the project moving urgently along as we all anxiously awaited the moment at which they would finally be unveiled.


The Monastery has been through many changes over the years, each project building upon the last, aligning with His Holiness’ ultimate vision for the temple.


Every aspect of building for the gonpa is a meritorious activity, involves skill, precision, mindfulness of other sentient beings, and meditative concentration.


John used a high voltage tig welder to fabricate the railings that would eventually surround the retaining wall and make up the structure for the housing unit designed to cover the Prayer Wheels. Each weld required heavy gear and several hours under tarps.


The wooden roof that covers the wheels will eventually be covered in rolled copper. This serves for protection from the elements.

Final Stages of Installation

The 32 Prayer Wheels with the mantra “Om Ah Hung Vajra Guru PadmaSiddhi Hung” which, when spun, radiates blessings and prayers for removing obstacles, accumulating merit, and for generating peace and happiness.

Consecration CeremonyJuly 3, 2010

Consecration Ceremony led by H.H. JigdalDagchen Sakya (seated in front) and assisted by Lama Migmar Tsering, Tulku Yeshi Gyatso, H.E. Kathog Rinpoche, H.E. Dagmo Kusho Sakya, Khenpo Jampa Tenphel, and Lama Tashi Rinpoche (left to right, standing).

The immeasurable benefits of the Prayer Wheel are best summed up in the words of Shakyamuni Buddha who said, “Turning the prayer wheel is better than listening, reflecting, and meditating for eons.”

Sakya Monastery

Don’t miss this chance to offer your support for the project. Contact information for donations can be found on your handout.

The Monastery is always looking for volunteers for construction, gardening, and services. Volunteering is a great way to practice generosity, generate merit, and learn more about Buddhism.

Sakya Monastery

Written by

David Spiekerman and Chuck Pettis

Editions, Photography, and Montage, by

Mia Juntara

prayer wheel project - sakya monastery of tibetan buddhism · ythe prayer wheel is like a precious...

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