Prayer Wheel Project

SAKYA MONASTERY 2010

Presentation by Mia Juntara

Introduction
y 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.

y 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 Siddhi
Hung pressed clearly into the copper. Inside each Prayer
Wheel, there are 100,000 Tibetan script reiterations of the same
Padmasambhava mantra.

About Prayer Wheels

y 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.
y 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

y 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 Nagarjuna
had 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

y According to the 4th Panchen Lama, both Amitabha

Buddha 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.

y Mantras are powerful and protect the practitioners

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:
y The Meditational Deities, Dakinis, and Dharma Protectors automatically

help us when we turn a Prayer Wheel.

y 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, vowbreakers, 80,000 ghosts, 360 evil spirits, 18 untimely deaths, averts all
obstacles; and will guard you.

y The Prayer Wheel is like a precious jewel: whatever you wish for, it will

accomplish all the supreme and ordinary attainments.

y 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

y 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.

y Any man or woman who turns the wheel will obtain whatever they wish for

that is in harmony with the Dharma.

y 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.

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

Sakya Monastery
y HH Jigdal Dagchen Sakya saw the virtuous benefit of expanding the

Monasterys 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.

y 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.

y 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.

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.

Phases of Installation

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.

Phases of Installation

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.

Phases of Installation

After the retaining wall

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

Phases of Installation

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

Phases of Installation

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.

Phases of Installation

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.

Phases of Installation

Every aspect of building

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

Phases of Installation

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.

Phases of Installation

The wooden roof that

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

Phases of Installation

Phases of Installation

The 32 Prayer Wheels

with the mantra Om Ah
Hung Vajra Guru Padma
Siddhi Hung which,
when spun, radiates
blessings and prayers for
removing obstacles,
accumulating merit, and
for generating peace and
happiness.

Final Stages of Installation

Consecration Ceremony
led by H.H. Jigdal
Dagchen 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).

Consecration Ceremony
July 3, 2010

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
y Dont miss this chance to offer your support for the

project. Contact information for donations can be

found on your handout.
y 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