Question asked by JC
I have been looking through prayer wheels, but have a question on them. I get that for peaceful deities like Chenrezig, the wheel is rotated clockwise. But I have read that for some deities like Simhamukha, the prayer wheel is spun backwards to give off negative energy. Would this be the same for Dorje Shugden's mantra of the Akshobhya family, Palden Lhamo, Mahakala, and etc.? Also, for visualizing these mantras of the deities, how is it visualized at the heart? For example, for Dorje Shugden, do we visualize Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha written like that while counter clockwise around "Hung" or does it have to be ahoS anatiB ikiW azneB mO going clockwise? As for the use of the mala, when using dharmapala mantras, does the bead go towards the practitioner or away? And what does spinning the prayer wheel with Om Mani Padme Hum counter clockwise do if counterclockwise makes negative energy?
Dear JC,
Thank you for your interesting questions. Within our tradition, prayer wheels are always rotated clockwise. This is because the mantras are written in a normal manner, hence when rotated in a clockwise manner, if you were to view the syllables of the mantra, you would be reading them in a normal manner. If however, you rotated the prayer wheel counter-clockwise, the mantra would be backwards. Now, when we recite mantras, we do not recite them backwards, so similarly prayer wheels should be rotated clockwise as well.
The practice of the Buddhas would never give off negative energies. The Buddhas, or their sacred mantras giving off negative energies does not make sense from the Buddhist perspective of logic. This is because the Buddhas operate from enlightened compassion, therefore everything they do, and anything associated with them, would necessarily be compassionate and positive. There is no way that it could be negative, or give off negative energy at all.
This may come about from a misunderstanding of tantric practice. In some tantric practices, a certain mantra may be visualised as rotating in a counter-clockwise direction within a larger mantra circle. This is rare but would be done for specific meditational purpose, it is not arbitrary, or negative in any way shape or form.
Therefore, in regards to mantra circles, most mantras of deities would be represented in a clockwise direction, it has nothing to do with if the practice is wrathful or not. If a mantra is visualised in a counter-clockwise direction, it is due to the actual practice itself.
Therefore, when engaged in the practice of Dharma protectors such as Dorje Shugden, or Palden Lhamo, or Mahakala, the mantra circle within the heart of the deity is visualised according the particular practice. This is usually in a clockwise direction. Even if, according to the particular practice, the mantra is visualised in a counter-clockwise direction, it does not give off negative energy, since these Dharma protectors are the emanations of the enlightened Buddhas.
This is the same with mantra recitation using a mala. The mantras are counted in the same manner as all other Buddhist practices, in that the beads of the mala are pulled towards you for each count of the mantra. We pull the beads towards us because we are inviting the energies of the deities into our lives. The energies of the wrathful deities are not something negative but are positive in aiding us to transform our minds on the path to enlightenment.
Since spinning a prayer wheel counter-clockwise does not create negative energy, because the enlightened beings cannot be harmful or negative, there is nothing wrong in doing so. However, since there is way and method of rotating the prayer wheel clockwise, to ensure that the energies from the syllables of the mantra are projected into the environment in its correct order, you should train yourself to be more mindful of rotating the wheel in the correct manner. This is also an effort in mindfulness as it is a personal practice to benefit others.
Therefore the Chenrezig mantra prayer wheels give off compassionate and beneficial energy into the environment when rotated in the correct manner they are supposed to be. Rotating in a counter-clockwise direction is not a negative action in any way, but you should be more mindful to rotate it in the correct manner. This will aid your practice in two ways, to develop both compassion and mindfulness. I hope these answers help.
Thank you.