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Tibetan prayer wheels (called “Mani wheels” by the Tibetans) are devices for spreading blessings and well being. Rolls of thin paper, imprinted with many copies of the mantra (prayer) Om Ma ni Pad me Hum wound around an axle in a protective container and spun around repeatedly. Typically, larger decorative versions of the syllables of the mantra are also carved on the outside of the wheel. Tibetan Buddhists believe that saying this mantra, out loud or silently to yourself invokes the powerful benevolent attention and blessings of Chenrezig, the embodiment of compassion.

Looking at a written copy of the mantra is said to have the same effect and the mantra is carved into stones left in piles near paths where travelers will see them. Spinning the written form of the mantra around a Mani wheel is also supposed to have the same effect, the more copies of the mantra, the more the benefit is.

Mani wheels are found throughout Tibet and in areas influenced by Tibetan culture. There are many types of Mani wheels, small hand-held wheels which are the most common by far. Tibetan people carry them for hours, and even on long pilgrimages, spinning them any time their hand is free.

Larger wheels are placed where they can spin by wind, by water or hand, they contain a myriad copies of mantra, and may also contain sacred texts, totaling at up to hundreds of volumes and always spin clockwise.

Chenrezig is renowned as the embodiment of the compassion of all the Buddhas, the Bodhisattva of Compassion in the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon of enlightened beings. Avalokiteshvara is the earthly manifestation of the self born, eternal Buddha, Amitabha, also known as Kuan Yin or Guan Yin in Chinese. She is the embodiment of compassionate loving kindness. As the Bodhisattva of Compassion, She hears the cries of all beings.

“Om ma ni pad me hum” is the Sanskrit mantra associated with the four-armed Avalokiteshvara, whom is also called Chenrezig in Tibetan, and “Guan Yin” in chinese. Please view the first Icon at section “Lords of The Three Enlightened Families” of Tibetan Buddhism Iconographic Guide.

“Om” is to be found in Indian religions.
“Ma ni” means “jewel” or “bead”
“Pad me” means the “lotus flower”, the Buddhist sacred flower,
“Hum” means the spirit of enlightenment.

Tibetan Buddhists believe that saying the mantra “Om Ma ni Pad me Hum” out loud or silently to oneself will invoke the powerful benevolent attention and blessings of Chenrezig, the embodiment of compassion.

In use, this 6 words are commonly carved onto rocks or written on paper which is inserted into “Prayer Wheels”, which effects the same as reciting the mantra as many times as when an individual spins the wheel.

Mani Stone in short is “Mani”, it is a stone plate, rock, inscribed with the six syllables mantra of Avalokiteshvara, whom is one of the “Eight Bodhisattvas”, ‘Om’ – ‘ma’ – ‘ni’ – ‘pad’ – ‘me’ – ‘hum’, hence the name “Mani stone”.

Sershul county, which is located in the northwest corner of Kham neighbouring Amdo, has the longest Mani Stones wall across the whole Tibetan plateau; This Mani Stones Wall is about 1750 meters long, and 3.5 meters in height; It is embedded with more than 3,000 stone statues and over 6,000 Buddhist scriptures including “Kanjur” and “Tengyur” – the two Tibetan collection of commentaries to the Buddhist teachings,

—-Photos are provided and taken by Mr. Fu Qing

Tibetan Buddhism guide on Iconographic has just been published, that when travel in Tibet, Tibetan Religious imagery can be overwhelmed. Those imagery is not only religious symbol, but also exquisite works of art However, it helps you to understand Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan history.

Today we launch the Tibetan Buddhism Iconographic guide that can be helpful to recognize the Tibetan Buddhist figures

Tibet railway 10 years, Qinghai-Tibet Railway has been run for 10 years safely. The highest speed the train can reach more than 100 km per hour. In total, it has transported ore than 115 million passengers, and 448 million tons of goods. This railway has connected Tibet plateau to the inner Land of China Closely;

7 things recommend to do when travel in Lhasa

• -1, smile to a stranger
• -2, enjoy the sunlight in the sqaure of Jortkhang temple
• -3, offer Hada
• -4, listen to one chanting
• -5, enjoy one cup of sweet Tibetan tea in local Tibetan Tea House
• -6, try one Kowtowing
• -7, Say “Ta Shi De Lek” to the people near you

“Ta Shi De Lek” is Tibetan language, means Good Luck

Katok monasteryis located at the top of the mountain in Pelyul county. It is one of the 6 great Nyingma Pa monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism.

“Katok” is Tibetan pronunciation. According to the legend that when this monastery was being built, a large rock was dig out which a naturally formed Tibetan work “Ka” was on it, and the monastery was built on this rock. So this monastery was named “Katok monastery”

Katok monastery has one great pujia “Katok Festival” annually, in 2016, its date is from 11^th to 13^th of August