The Benefits of Spinning a Prayer Wheel 

 

The benefits of the prayer wheel have often been spoken of before, however, these days people in samsara aren’t able to accomplish any Dharma practice at all- they don’t have the time. 

 

For those that are unable to engage in any practice, the way to accomplish the virtues of body, speech, and mind all at once is through spinning the prayer wheel. And it’s not necessary to have a have a large one; a small one can be spun at any time. 

 

When we spin a prayer wheel, the virtue of the Body is that there are many millions of mantras revolving inside. 

 

The virtue of Speech is that, from the power of that inner mantra stream and due to the special qualities contained within the prayer wheel, offerings are made to the buddhas, and at the same time, the obscurations of sentient beings are purified- these are the words of the Buddha. 

 

The virtue of Mind is that, when we spin the prayer wheel, the mind remains undistracted. The superior practice is to rest within meditation of the view—an understanding of the non- duality of self and other—while spinning the prayer wheel. And this is an extraordinary instruction! If we spin the prayer wheel with the thought to benefit all sentient beings, then we will perfectly abide single- pointedly within two- fold bodicitta. Spinning the prayer wheel for even a single moment has such vast benefit! 

 

If, while alive we have great faith in our prayer wheel—holding it sacred—then at the time of our death, if it is placed near us on the pillow, then it is said that it is not necessary to have someone perform phowa.  We’re told, Oh, your prayer wheel is right here next to you on the pillow. And we will think, Oh, my prayer wheel is so special, and now it is right here near me…! Then, it is taught, that phowa is not needed.

 

There is such great benefit in spinning a prayer wheel, and when others see someone engaged in such a virtuous activity of body, speech, and mind as spinning a prayer wheel they will think, Oh, spinning a prayer wheel is really so great!

And all who see this will be able to close the door to the lower realms, and obtain the three higher realms. The benefits such as this Liberation On Seeing are really inconceivable!

 

It is something that is easy to do, but really very meaningful. The Buddha provided the activity of the prayer wheel for all those without the fortune to engage in practice.

 

There are many sizes, but if we can spin small one like this continuously, then the mind becomes especially focused and undistracted. In this state of non- distraction —the Path of all the Buddhas — though one abides just a short time single- pointedly in the mind of love, compassion and emptiness…

 

“This mind for a single instant is greater than protecting the lives of 

all the beings in the three realms.”

 

While spinning the prayer wheel, we rest in single-pointed focus—and among the virtues of body, speech, and mind —principally the virtue of mind is inconceivable! Tashi Delek! 

 

 

 ~Garchen Rinpoche~2017

 English Translation by Dianne Mckinnon