It’s thought prayer wheels were first written in the area now known as Jammu and Kashmir in Northern India. The city of Ladakh, sometimes called “Little Tibet”, was once a Buddhist kingdom and is still partly ethnically Tibetan. Scholars believe the earliest prayer wheel found was written by a Chinese pilgrim around 400 CE.

The handmade wooden prayer wheel shown above is made from wood and is beautifully decorated with a multitude of colors. These include blue, green, saffron and gold. An ornately carved and intricately painted frame holds the wheel in place.

This wooden prayer wheel is in many ways similar to the wheels found in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries across the region. These are set side by side in long rows which visitors and pilgrims to the temples and monasteries turn by sliding their hands over the prayer wheels. It’s also similar in style to the Mani Wheel which people hold in their hands and turn whilst in meditative prayer.

Prayer wheels in Tibet are spun clockwise in the direction the sun takes across the sky. Tibetans spin the wheel to accumulate wisdom, merit and good karma and also to purify the negatives that produce bad karma. The use of the mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum” helps in mindfulness which is all important during the meditative prayer session. In a similar way, the prayer wheel is considered a visual aid in Tantric visualizations, which are particular to the practices of the area.

If you are interested in Buddhism and even have a meditation or prayer room, then this beautifully ornate handmade wooden prayer wheel made in Tibet will make an ideal addition. You can use it as both a decorative feature and as a perfectly functioning prayer wheel just like Tibetans do.

You can buy this particular wheel from here: Wood Prayer Wheel.

It’s priced at $120.

The teachings of the Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hahn and the German-Jewish convert nun Ayya Khema gave my young self a sense of contentment and strength. As well as these guiding figures, the most important teacher of all in Buddhism became an object of focus during the attempt to gain enlightenment. Siddhattha Gotama, better known as the Buddha.

I could write and write for hours in the subject of Buddhism but that’s not what I want to do in this post. This wonderful Buddha in Lotus Position Statue is a remarkable sculpture that I came across by the American artist Joe Famulari. Many of Joe’s amazing art works have been snapped up by prestigious retailers such as Bergdorf Goodmans, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. As well as this he has been nominated three consecutive times for the ARTS Award for Decorative Accessories.

This Buddha statue is made from Durastone and will make a great addition to a home study, library or living room. If you practice Buddhism yourself then you will most likely have a small shrine or prayer room set aside already where this can be placed. As you can see from the picture, the statue has a secure and strong base so will be safe even with young children about.

I particularly like the structure and positioning of the Buddha’s hands. There are various ways to connect the fingers during meditation but this way as shown, is my favourite. The two thumbs meet together to create a circular symmetry. Joe Famulari has really created a wonderful sculpture here that will greatly aid in the hard work of concentrating on the present moment.

The current price is $382.

You can find more details by checking this page: Buddha in Lotus Position Statue