Wheel Bibliography

·   Most of these entries are relevant to Tibetan Mani Wheels, the so-called Prayer Wheel, and the Mani Mantra in some significant degree. Some, not many, references to the ‘Wheel of Life’ may be included as may some references to the ‘Wheel of Dharma’ as an artistic object or kingship symbol. It does intend to include some general works on ‘wheel’ symbolism in India and Tibet. Please find it useful for every universally beneficial purpose.

Note on abbreviated catalog references: IASWR means the Stony Brook microfiche collection. Jackson, Misc., is David Jackson’s catalogue of the Tibetan collection in Patna. MHTL means Materials for a History of Tibetan Literature. SBKC means Gsung ‘bum Dkar chag, a recent listing of the title content of Collected Works of Tibetan Teachers recently published in the PRC. Unless otherwise noted, these texts are not known to be available.

I haven’t included very many of the essays that may be found exclusively online. Not everything on the internet is bad, far from it, it’s just that there are an increasing number of A.I.-generated abominations, including some with fake illustrations that tinker and toy with Tibetan culture in ways unacceptable under the light of ethical standards.

I made an attempt to find sites that grant free online access to items listed here, but I cannot report great success as I ran out of energy. Quite a few of these items are so obscure you will find yourself forced to visit a library and locate physical books and journals like folks used to do in the old days.

Most entries for Tibetan-language texts also include an English translation of the title enclosed in single quote marks.

The Rin chen Gter Mdzod, vols. 33-39, has a broad range of Avalokiteśvara works, noting that vol. 39 has fasting rites of Dpal mo Lugs. For some further bibliography and history, see The Collected Works of ‘Brug chen IV Padma dkar po, vol. 4, pp. 363 ff., but see also the Gsan yig of the Fifth Dalai Lama, vol. 1, pp. 139 ff.

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ANONYMOUS

Bka’ dang Bstan bcos las Gsungs pa’i ‘Khor lo Bskor ba’i Phan yon. Peking blockprint bought by Haenisch in 1929 in Peking. Text begins: (1v) Arya Lo gi shwa ra ya / ’phags pa spyan ras gzigs dbang gis //. Text ends (15v): ma ni’i ’khor lo mthong thos dran reg thams cad ngan song las grol nas bde ba can gyi zhing khams su padma las brdzus te skye bar the tshom med do // Ref.: Heissig, Die Pekinger lamaistischen Blockdrucke in mongolischer Sprache (1954) nos. 181, 345. Ref.: Taube no. 2465. Ref.: Listed in Schmidt & Böhtlingk, Verzeichniss der tibetischen Handschriften und Holzdrucke (a catalogue published in 1848), p. 37, entry no. 404: ma ṇi’i ’khor lo’i bskor ba’i phan yon, “Der Nutzen und das Verdienst des Umdrehens des Mani-Rades” (d.h. des Cylinders mit der Formel Om-ma-ni-pad-me-hūm). Europäische Handschrift. Compare ibid., p. 60, entry no. 19: bka’ dang bstan bcos las gsungs pa’i ’khor lo bskor ba’i phan yon, “Der Nutzen und das Verdienst des Drehens des (Gebets-)Rades, nach der Anweisung von Veordnungen und Çāstra’s”. Tibetisch-Mongolisch. Handschriften. An English translation of this particular text, based on an Indian reprint edition purchased in Nepal, was done elsewhere. I also have a photocopy of a bilingual Tibetan-Mongolian version of this from Lokesh Chandra, Multi-Lingual Buddhist Texts (New Delhi 1980), vol. 8. Endangered Archives Project File Ref: EAP031/1/351. Description: This is a Tibetan-Mongolian bilingual text on the merits of turning Prayer Wheels. ‘Benefits of Turning Wheels, as Stated in Scriptures and Treatises.’

ANONYMOUS

“Buddhist Praying Machine.” Good Words, vol. 8 (1867), p. 845.

ANONYMOUS

’Khor lo’i Phan yon. A cursive text with extreme abbreviations, found at TBRC: Work no. W3PD982, volume: I4PD155, pages: 31-62. ‘Benefits of Wheels.’

ANONYMOUS

’Khor lor Gzhug pa’i Gzungs sngags kyi Grangs tho, Peking woodblock print in 10 folios in Haenisch collection. Lists mantras and dharanis to be inserted in Wheels. It is really nothing but a list. ‘A Numbered List of Dharanis and Mantras to be Inserted in Wheels.’

ANONYMOUS

Ma ni Bsngo ba Bde chen Myur ’grub dang Smon lam. A 6-foio xylographic print purchased in Lhasa. It was printed by Dge ming Dkon mchog mdo sngags. ‘The Mani Dedication Swift Bliss Attainment and an Aspiration Prayer.’

ANONYMOUS

Ma ni ’Khor lo’i Phan yon (’Bri gung Nyi ma lcang ra blockprint). Set XIII of IASWR fiche collection. ‘Benefits of Mani Wheels.’ PDF from TBRC, but published in Gangtok in 1985 from a blockprint of ’Bri gung Nyi ma lcang ra.  BDRC no. W27609.

ANONYMOUS

Ma ni’i phan yon. A 6- fol. cursive ms. reprint (separately published). In personal possession. It’s actually about Wheels. Also have on fiche: ma ni’i phan yon. IASWR Set XIII. Library of Congress listed it like this: MA nI’I PHAN YON: ON THE BENEFITS TO BE DERIVED FROM THE REPEATED UTTERANCE OF THE Om MA nI PADME H’Um FORMULA, DH’ARAnI OF AVALOKITESHVARA. GANGTOK, SIKKIM: DZONGSAR KHYENTSE LABRANG PALACE MONASTERY, 1985. 11 P.; 8 X 38 CM. INDO TIBETAN BUDDHIST LITERATURE SERIES; V. 142 IN TIBETAN. "REPRODUCED FROM AN ANCIENT MANUSCRIPT FROM THE LIBRARY OF JOKHANG LAMA GYALTSEN OF SIKKIM.” ‘Benefits of Mani.’

ANONYMOUS

O rgyan Padmas mdzad pa’i Tha mi kha’i Nyes dmigs dang, Spyan ras gzigs kyi Bdag bskyed, Gsol ’debs Ma ni’i ’Khor lo’i Phan yon, ’Gyur Sngags, Bza’ byed Mkha’ ’gro’i Sbyin sregs dang, ’phrin yig bcas... Ref.: Jackson, Misc. no. 1074/1. Short prayer telling the benefits of Mani Wheels, embedded in a larger text, located in Patna museum, and therefore probably collected by Rahul Sanskrtyayana.

ANONYMOUS

’Phags pa Spyan ras gzigs kyi Gzungs Ring Thung Gnyis kyi Phan yon dang | Gzungs Ring Bod skad du Bsgyur tshul bcas. 7 folio xylograph purchased in Lhasa 1996. Woodblock printed by Ser Lho Dge bshes Byams pa chos grags. Provides translations of the shorter and longer recitations of Avalokiteshvara, with comments on their benefits. ‘Benefits of both the Long and the Short Dharanis of Noble Avalokitesvara, and How to Translate the Long Dharani into Tibetan.’ 

ANONYMOUS

“The Meaning of the Om-mani-padme-hum.” Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society [London] (1915).

ANONYMOUS

“Wheels Aid Tibetans in Saying Prayers.” Field Museum News, vol. 7, no. 8 (August 1936), p. 4. Also, “Tibetan Prayer Wheels.” Field Museum News, vol. 10, no. 1 (January 1939), p. 3. I imagine these were written by Berthold Laufer.

ARIS, MICHAEL

“Tibetan Technology and the West.” Bulletin of Tibetology, vol. 6, no. 1 (February 17, 1969), pp. 15-19.

AUBOYER, JEANNINE

“Quelques réflexions à propos du cakra, arme offensive.” Arts Asiatiques, vol. 11, no. 1 (1965), pp. 119-130. Discus, wheel (as a weapon)

AVERY, JOHN

“Notes from the Far East. The Six-syllable Prayer of the Tibetans, 1887.” The American Antiquarian Oriental Journal, vol. 9 (1886).

BATT, HERBERT J.

Tales of Tibet: Sky Burials, Prayer Wheels, and Wind Horses, Rowman & Littlefield (NY 2001).

BEGLEY, WAYNE EDISON

Visnu’s Flaming Wheel: The Iconography of the Sudarsana-Cakra, NYU Press for the College Art Association of America (New York 1973). The “Wheel” as a weapon.

BLO BZANG ’JAM DPAL

Yig Drug ’Khor lo’i Khungs dang / Phan yon Mdor bsdus Bstan pa. Contained in: Bod ljongs Nang Bstan, 1st issue for the year 1991 (9th in the general series), pp. 119-126. On the origins of the wheel of the six syllables, and a brief explanation of its benefits (also includes some instructions for their construction). Have copy of this issue. ‘Origins of the Six Syllable Wheel and a Brief Explanation of Its Benefits.’

BLO BZANG TSHUL KHRIMS CHOS ’PHEL

Library of Congress entry: BLO BZANG TSHUL KHRIMS CHOS ’PHEL, RI RDZONG SRAS SPRUL, D: 1860-1926? 10 A: THEG CHEN GSO SBYONG GI SDOM PA RTEN GYI DRUNG NAS LEN TSHUL DANG PHAN YON, MA nI’I PHAN YON, DUS CHEN NGOS ’DZIN BCAS : B: A COLLECTION OF WORKS ON THE PRACTICES OF MAHAYANA BUDDHISM / C: BY RI RDZONG SRAS SPRUL BLO BZANG TSHUL KHRIMS CHOS ’PHEL. 0 A: SASPOLA : B: [S.N.], C: 1968. A: 16 [I.E. 31] P. ; C: 10 X 30 CM. A: IN TIBETAN. A: "PRINTED FROM THE BLOCKS CARVED IN LHASA IN 1927 AND PRESERVED AT THE RIZONG MONASTERY.”

BRACE, A.J.

“The Wheel of Life or the Wheel of the Law.” Journal of the West China Branch Research Society, vol. 2 (1924-5), pp. 57-62. This is evidently not about Prayer Wheels.

BROX, TRINE

“What is the Value of a Tibetan Prayer Wheel?”  Social Compass, vol. 69, no. 2 (2022), pp. 205-222.

CAPLE, JANE

“History through a Prayer Wheel: Thiking about ‘Buddhist Objects’ on Their Own Terms.” A paper given at the 15th seminar of the International Association of Tibetan Studies (Paris 2019).

CHE SHOS BYANG CHUB BSTAN PA’I SGRON ME (1861-1935)

Gcan tsha Ma ni’i Chu ’khor Chen po’i Skor tshad dang Phan yon Mdor bsdus. 7 folios. SBKC, p. 860. ‘Brief Work on the Benefits and the Practices Performed while Circumambulating in the Environs of the Great Mani Water Wheel of Gcan tsha.’

CHLOE

“The Cultural Significance of Tibetan Prayer Wheels: Spinning Prayers and Blessings” (September 26, 2023). An essay made available online.

CUNNINGHAM, ROBERT

“Om Ma Ni Pad Me Hum.” Journal of the West China Branch Research Society, vol. 9 (1937), pp. 190-198.

DALAI LAMA V NGAG DBANG BLO BZANG RGYA MTSHO (1617‑1682)

Ma ni Ril sgrub Nyung ngu Rnam gsal. 8 folios. Ref.: Jackson, Misc. no. 1045/11. On pill-making rite connected with Mani Prayer (cf. “Mani Rimdu” as practiced in Sherpa land). ‘Minor Clarifications on the Mani Pill Rite.’

DAM CHOS

Bod kyi Ma ni ’Khor lo’i Skor Rags tsam Gleng ba. Contained in: Bod ljongs Sgyu rtsal Zhib ’jug, 2nd issue of 1998. ‘A General Discussion about the Mani Wheel of Tibet.’

DAVID-NEEL, ALEXANDRA

“Concerning Aum Mani Padme Hum Hri!” tr. by V. Sydney. Journal of the West China Branch Research Society, vol. 12 series A (1940), pp. 76-81. Om Mani Padme Hum.

“Summary of an Essay on Mani Khorlos and Tarchos in Tibet.” Journal of the West China Branch Research Society, vol. 15 series A (1944), pp. 79-82. Also on the so-called ‘Prayer Flags.’

DZA YA BLO BZANG ’PHRIN LAS

Ma ni’i Phan yon sogs Ston pa’i Byin rlabs Myur ’Jug. 22 folios. SBKC, p. 241. ‘The Benefits of the Mani: Swift Entry of the Teacher’s [Buddha’s] Blessing.’

EDGAR, JOHN HUSTON

“Om Mani Pad Me Hum: A Tibetan Prayer.” Chinese Recorder, vol. 48 (1917), pp. 440-445. Includes something on Prayer Wheels. I judge that this author’s works are often based on his observations (as a missionary in Tachienlu), but are at the same time filled with not very well informed speculations.

EKVALL, ROBERT E.

Religious Observances in Tibet, University of Chicago Press (Chicago 1964).

EUBANKS, CHARLOTTE

“Circumambulatory Reading: Revolving Sutra Libraries and Buddhist Scrolls.” Book History, vol. 13 (2010), pp. 1-24.

FRANCKE, AUGUST HERMANN

“The Meaning of the Om-mani-padme-hum Formula.” Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (1915), pp. 397-401.

“Tibetische Handschriftenfunde aus Turfan.” SPAW (1924), pt. 3. Here Francke reproduces a Turfan Tibetan ms. with several mantras on it. Here there can be no doubt that the Mani is a mantra of Avalokiteśvara.

GELLE, ZSÓKA

“Masters of the Mani Mantra.” Contained in: Béla Kelényi, ed., Demons and Protectors: Folk Religion in Tibetan and Mongolian Buddhism, Ferenc Hopp Museum of Eastern Asiatic ARt (Budapest 2003), pp. 111-119.

GHOSH, A.

“A Buddhist Tract in a Stone Inscription in the Cuttack Museum.” Epigraphia Indica, vol. 26 (1941-2), pp. 171-174. I am not sure why this is here in this bibliography. It ought to be checked.

GIORGI, A.A.

Alphabetum Tibetanum (1762), contains a Tibetan text Yi ge Drug ma’i ’Bru ’grel Mdor bsdus, composed by one Ngawang (=Ngag dbang) of Ra mo che Monastery, together with Latin translation. (This is noted in Lopez 1998: 132-3).

GOODRICH, L.C.

“The Revolving Book-case in China.” Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, vol. 7 (1942-3), pp. 130-161.

GREY-DOWNING, JOHN de

“The Lama Praying Wheel.” Buddhism [Rangoon]. vol. 1, no. 4 (November 1904), pp. 613-620.

GSER DGON SANGS RGYAS BSTAN ’DZIN

Khrom la Ma ni Bskul ba’i Thabs sbyor Dngos rjes Gsum Tshang ba Thugs rje’i Lcags kyu. A 4-folio Nepalese xylograph print in personal possession.

GUNG THANG PA III DKON MCHOG BSTAN PA’I SGRON ME (1762‑1824)

’Khor lo’i Rnam gzhag Mdor bsdus (margin: Tsa kra), a woodblock print in 4 leaves from the printery of the Mongolian monastery Bsod nams kun sdud gling. Copy located in the Chicago Field Museum’s Berthold Laufer Collection of Tibetan woodblock prints and manuscripts, catalog no. 657.05. Translated in full in Martin 1987. ‘Brief Exposition of the Wheel.’

’Khor lo Rnam gzhag. According to SBKC, p. 529, this text is embedded in the following 40-folio work entitled: Skar ma Rab rib sogs Mdo tshig Don Bkral, ’Khor lo’i Rnam gzhag, Bshes gnyen Bstan tshul...This ought to be locatable in his published Gsung ’bum. Yes. It is in fact to be found in vol. 9 of his published collected works (included under the title given as Mdo’i Tshigs bcad Gsum gyi Don Cung zad Bkral ba sogs Le’u tshan Thor bu Sna tshogs, pp. 65 144), at pp. 84.4-86.6. Here the title appears as Ka ’Khor lo’i Rnam gzhag Mdor bsdus.

GUO QINGHUA

“The Architecture of Joinery: The Form and Construction of Rotating Sutra-Case Cabinets.”  Architectural History, vol. 42 (1999), pp. 96-109.  

HILLMAN, BEN

“Shangri-La and the Curse of Xi Jinpeng.” Contained in: Jane Golley and Linda Jaivin, eds., Prosperity, ANU Press (2018), pp. 72-75. On a Chinese political appropriation of the prayer wheel idea in a place falsely identified with a fictional version of Tibet. For more, see the essay by Peter Schwieger.

HORSCH, P.

“The Wheel: An Indian Pattern of World-Interpretation.” Sino-Indian Studies, vol. 5, pts. 3/4 (1957), pp. 62-79 This issue is the W. Liebenthal Festschrift, edited by Kshitis Roy.

HUBER, DAVID

“Prayer Wheels.”  Posted at academia.edu (2015). This remarkably interesting study of a specific Prayer Wheel at a temple in Senge village in Amdo, is worth searching down.

HUMMEL, SIEGBERT

“Die tibetische Ma-ni-Mauern als megalithisches Erbe.” Internationales Archiv für Ethnographie [Leiden]. vol. 50, no. 1 (1964), pp. 116-118. One of the very few essays devoted to Mani Walls.

Geschichte der tibetischen Kunst, Otto Harrassowitz (Leipzig 1953), abb. 111, illustration of prayer-wheels.

HUNTER, ALVIN

“Tibetan Praying Wheels.” Arts of Asia, vol. 15, no. 1 (January-February 1985), pp. 74-81.

IMAEDA YOSHIRO

“Note préliminaire sur la formule Oṃ Maṇi Padme Hūṃ dans les manuscrits tibétains de Touen-Houang.” Contributions aux études sur Touen-houang (Geneva/Paris 1979), pp. 71-76.

’JAM DBYANGS BZHAD PA I NGAG DBANG BRTSON ’GRUS (1648‑1721/2)

Chos ’khor gyi Rnam gzhag Zur du Bkod pa. 9 folios. See SBKC, p. 247. ‘An Extracted Treatise on Dharma Wheel.’

’JIGS MED GLING PA (1729/30‑1798)

’Khor los Mtshon pa’i Gsung Rten Spyi khyab la Rab gnas Bya ba’i Cho ga Phyag rgya Bzhi ldan. 5 folios in vol. /CA/ of the author’s collected works. ‘Having the Four Mudrās: A Consecration Ritual for Speech Receptacles in General, but Particularly Devoted to the Wheel.’

JOHNSON, LUKE

“Salvation Without Spin: How the Gospel of Christ Subversively Fulfills the Prayer Wheels of Tibetan Buddhism.” Themelios, vol. 49, no. 1 (2024), pp. 173-190. A South Carolina Baptist pastor confidently tackles Tibetan Buddhism. Made available online.

KHAL KHA DAM TSHIG RDO RJE (1781‑1855)

Ma ni ’Don thabs dang Phan yon. Contained in vol. THA of his collected works, according to SBTD I 177. See also SBTD I 362 for a Lo rgyus in the works of Ngag dbang blo gros (19th cent.). ‘Method of Reciting Mani and Its Benefits.’

KHAL KHA NO MON HAN NGAG DBANG BLO BZANG MKHAS GRUB (1779-1837)

Ma ni ’Khor lo Bzhengs pa dang Bskor ba’i Dge rtsa Bsngo ba’i Smon tshig, in 3 folios, in vol. gi (i.e., 2). See SBKC, p. 604. ‘An Aspiration Prayer Dedicating the Virtuous Roots of Turning and Erecting the Mani Wheel.’

KHANGKAR TSULTRIM KELSANG

Bod kyi Ma chos Yig drug ’Byung khungs Mdo sde Za ma tog Dang po. Contained in Bod kyi Ma chos Zab mo dang Yon tan Gzhi Gyur ma’i Snga ’Grel, Tibetan Buddhist Culture Association (Kyoto 1992), pp. 1-8. ‘The Dharma of Tibetan Mothers: The Source of the Six Syllables in the Karandavyūha Sūtra.’

KHENCHOGPALMO, GELONGMA KARMA

“Mantras on the Prayer Flag.” Kailash, vol. 1, no. 2 (1973), pp. 168-169.

KHRO RU TSHE RNAM

Gzungs mchog Yi ge Drug ma’i Go don Rags tsam Brjod pa. Contained in: Bod ljongs Nang Bstan, first issue of 1992 (12th in the general series), pp. 99-103. ‘A General Talk on the Meaning of the Supreme Recitation Six Syllables.’

KIRCHER, ATHANASIUS (1602-1680)

See under Wessels.

KLAPROTH, HENRI-JULES

“Explication et origine de la formule bouddhique Om mani padmè hoūm.” Journal Asiatique7 (1831) 185-206. Om mani padme hum.

KONOW, STEN

“Om Mani Padme Hum.” Journal of the Bihar (and Orissa) Research Society, vol. 11, no. 1 (1925), pp. 1-13.

KYAI RDOR MKHAN PO NGAG DBANG MKHAS GRUB (1779-1838)

Ma ni’i ’Khor lo Bzhengs pa dang Bskor ba’i Dge rtsa Bsngo ba’i Smon tshig. Contained in: The Collected Works of Ngag dbang mkhas grub, Kyai rdor Mkhan po of Urga (Leh 1974), vol. 3, pp. 533-537. Dedication of the merit for erecting and revolving the Mani Wheel. Ref.: MHTL, no. 5647. ‘Aspiration Prayer for Dedicating the Roots of Virtue of Turning and Erecting Mani Wheels.’ This has been translated in Lorne Ladner’s Wheel of Great Compassion, pp. 81-84.

LADNER, L.

et al., Wheel of Great Compassion: The Practice of the Prayer Wheel in Tibetan Buddhism, Wisdom (Boston 2001).

LAROCCA, DONALD J.

“Recent Acquisitions of Tibetan and Mongolian Arms and Armor in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Part 2.”  Notice the example of a Prayer Wheel that manages to incorporate both a cigarette holder and an archer’s ring.

LCANG SKYA NGAG DBANG BLO BZANG CHOS LDAN

Ma ni Ril sgrub kyi Cho ga Khyer bde. 6 folios. Ref.: SBKC, p. 235.

LOPEZ, DONALD S. Jr.

Prisoners of Shangri-la: Tibetan Buddhism and the West, University of Chicago Press (Chicago 1998/2018). Particularly, “Chapter Four: The Spell.”

LOVEDAY, HELEN

“La Bibliothèque tournante en Chine: Quelques Remarques sur son rôle et son évolution.” T’oung Pao, 2nd series, vol. 86, nos. 4-5 (2000), pp. 225-279.

MACDONALD, DAVID

The Land of the Lama, J.B. Lippincott Co. (Philadelphia), pp. 78, 201.

MARTIN, DAN

“On the Origin and Significance of ‘Prayer Wheels’ according to Two Nineteenth-Century Tibetan Literary Sources.” The Journal of the Tibet Society, vol. 7 (1987), pp. 13-29.

MKHAN ZUR CHOS RJE NGAG DBANG BLO BZANG DON GRUB (20th century)

Bka’ ’gyur Rin po che’i ’Khor lo Bzhengs pa’i Smon tshig Don Gnyis Lhun grub. A 9-folio text in section nya of the author’s collected works. MHTL, no. 6286. A prayer for erecting Wheels.

MODI, JIVANJI JAMSHEDJI

“The Prayer-wheels.” Contained in: J.J. Modi, Anthropological Papers, Part II: Papers Read before the Anthropological Society of Bombay, British India Press (Bombay 1918), pp. 85-109.

MUSÉUM NATIONAL D’HISTOIRE NATURELLE

Trésors du Tibet, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (Paris 1987), plates 61, 62. ’Wheels of the Law’ on stands.

O ROL BLO BZANG LUNG RIGS RGYA MTSHO (1805-1888)

’Phags pa Spyan ras gzigs kyis Bod Kha ba can Rjes su Bzung Tshul dang Mtshan dang Yig Drug Brjod pa’i Phan yon Mdor bsdus. In 5 folios. SBKC, p. 672. ‘How Noble Avalokiteshvara Took Snowy Tibet under His Care and the Benefits of Pronouncing His Name and the Six Syllables in Brief.’

OLSEN, ELEANOR

Catalogue of the Tibetan Collection and Other Lamaist Articles in the Newark Museum: Volume II, The Newark Museum (Newark 1950, reprint 1973). Mani stones, Prayer Wheels, etc., pp. 1-9, plus pp. 30-32 on the ‘Wheel of the Law.’

PAṆ CHEN BLA MA III BLO BZANG DPAL LDAN YE SHES (1738‑1780)

’Phags pa Spyan ras gzigs la Brten pa’i Ma ni Ril sgrub Bya ba’i Cho ga. 7 folios. SBKC, p. 107. On pill making rite.

PAṆ CHEN BLA MA IV BLO BZANG DPAL LDAN BSTAN PA’I NYI MA PHYOGS LAS RNAM RGYAL (1781-1852)

He composed a work on Prayer Wheels that has been translated by students of Lama Yeshe. The original work was composed at the behest of Che shos Ngag dbang bshad sgrub bstan pa’i nyi ma (1787-1859). It has now been published in Lorne Ladner, Wheel of Great Compassion, pp. 41-51. I couldn’t locate it in the list of his works, but it may be inside of his Gsung Thor bu (I believe I don’t have access to this Gsung ’bum, in any case). It has been published (try a search in BDRC).

PLEYDELL-BOUVERIE, JASPER

“On a Wheel and a Prayer.” Geographical Magazine (May 1992), pp. 12-15. Not really relevant, except that the ‘Pundits’ who worked as British agents in Tibet hid their spy equipment inside of Prayer Wheels.

RAB ’BYAMS PA NGAG DBANG THUB BSTAN (b. 19th cent.)

’Phags pa Thugs rje chen po’i Snying po Ma ni Padmo’i Sngags ’Don pa dang Phan yon Bcas Mdo tsam Brjod pa Gru ’dzin Zhing gi Sgo ’byed. ‘Opening the Door to the Field of the Potala, a Brief Talk, Including the Benefits, on the Recitation of the Mani Padmo Mantra, Heart of Noble Great Compassion.’ Ref.: SBKC, p. 823.

Rgya gar ’Phags pa’i Yul du Spyan ras gzigs kyi Snying po Ma ni Yi ge Drug pa la Brten nas Grub pa Thob pa ’Ga’ zhig gi Lo rgyus. A text in 7 folios. ‘Stories of Several Who Gained Spiritual Accomplishment by Using the Six Syllable Mani, the Heart of Avalokiteśvara who Resides in Noble India.’

RAJAGOPAL, DORIS

& Elizabeth Mackenzie, Christine Bailey, Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, “The Effectiveness of a Spiritually-Based Intervention to Alleviate Subsyndromal Anxiety and Minor Depression among Older Adults.” Journal of Religion and Health, vol. 41, no. 2 (Summer 2002), pp. 153-166. This study would seem to argue that Prayer Wheel use can be effective in dealing with minor psychological problems associated with age. It is a little surprising to see that no Tibetan name is included among the co-authors. I think Tibetan culture knew about this long before they did. But upon closer inspection it becomes clear that the term “Prayer” as it is used here means something quite different, and there is nothing specifically Tibetan about it. Sorry I mentioned it.

RAMBELLI, FABIO

“Dharma Devices, Non-Hermeneutical Libraries, and Robot-Monks: Prayer Machines in Japanese Buddhism.” Journal of Asian Humanities at Kyushu Univeersity, vol. 3 (2018), pp. 57-75.

RASÉ KONCHOK GYATSO (Ra-se Dkon-mchog-rgya-mtsho)

“Ma ṇi ’Khor lo dang Lag ’khor Rigs kyi Byung tshul Dpyad gleng,” contained in the same author’s Bod Rig pa’i Dpyad rtsom Brgya dang Brgyad cu ma, Bod Rang skyong Ljongs Dpe skrun Do dam Khru’u (Lhasa 2016), at pp. 1381-1390. ‘Report on Research into the Origins of the Types of Mani Wheels and Hand Wheels.’

RIN CHEN RNAM PAR RGYAL BA

’Khor lo’i Phan yon (title on fol. 1v: Pad skor gyi Phan yon Tshigs su Bcad pa). A xylographic print in 30 folios. Colophon reads: thes dā’i ching ba dur gyi bka’ phebs pa’i lan rin chen rnam par rgyal bas so. This has been translated in Lorne Ladner, Wheel of Great Compassion, pp. 63-75. ‘Benefits of Wheels.’

ROCKHILL, W.W.

“Notes on the Ethnology of Tibet: Based on the Collections in the United States National Museum.” Annual Report: United States National Museum (1893), pp. 665-747, 52 plates. On Prayer Wheels, see pp. 738-739, plus illus. On Mani Stones, Mani walls, and stone piles, see pp. 734-735.

SCHOPEN, GREGORY

“A Note on the ‘Technology of Prayer’ and a Reference to a ‘Revolving Book-case’ in an 11th Century Indian Inscription.” Unpublished paper.

“The Text on the ‘Dhāraṇī Stones from Abhayagiriya’: A Minor Contribution to the Study of Mahāyāna Literature in Ceylon.” Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, vol. 5 (1982), pp. 100-108.

SCHWIEGER, PETER

“Dynamic of Shangri-La, or Turning the Prayer Wheel for the Protection of the Multiethnic Society.” Contained in: Jean-Luc Achard, ed., Études tibétaines en l'honneur d'Anne Chayet, Librairie Droz (Geneva 2010), pp. 269-278. See also the brief essay by Ben Hillman.

SENG CHEN RDO RJE ’CHANG

Ma ni Lag skor sogs kyi Lag len dang Phan yon Bshad pa Dad ldan Dga’ skyed. Contained in: The Collected Works (Gsung ’bum) of Seng chen Rdo rje ’chang Blo bzang bstan ’dzin dpal ’byor (1784-1843), Don ’grub rdo rje (Delhi 1977), pp. 485-495. See also SBKC, p. 635. Contents summarized in Martin 1987. See also Ladner.

SER KONG THUB BSTAN STOBS ’BYOR PA

Ma ni Ril sgrub kyi Chog sgrig Ci ’dod Yid bzhin ’Jo ba’i Rin chen Bum bzang. 24 fols. Colophon: ’phags mchog spyan ras gzigs kyi bdag bskyed dang ’brel ba’i ma ni ril sgrub kyi chog sgrib ci ’dod yid bzhin ’jo ba’i rin chen bum bzang. By Mtshan zhabs Ser kong Sprul sku Dge slong Thub bstan stobs ’byor pa, based on works by Lcang skya and Pan chen Dpal ldan ye shes. Short format. Lhasa purchase, 1993. On pill-making rite.

SIMPSON, WILLIAM

The Buddhist Praying-Wheel, a Collection of Material Bearing upon the Symbolism of the Wheel and Circular Movements in Custom and Religious Ritual, Macmillan (London 1896). This book was reviewed by M. Mauss and Goblet d’Alviella.

SRONG BTSAN SGAM PO (first half of 7th century CE)

Chos rgyal Srong btsan sgam pos Gsungs pa’i Rgyal po Lugs kyi Spyan ras gzigs Phyag stong Spyan stong gi Bstod pa dang Ma ni’i Phan yon. 6 fols. Purchased in Lhasa. ‘On the Benefits of the Mani and a Praise of the Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed Avalokiteśvara, according to the King System, as Pronounced by the Dharma King Srong btsan the Wise.”

THAPLYAL, KIRAN KUMAR

“Transformation of Symbols: A Case Study of Wheel-and-Deer Device.” Contained in: Buddhist Iconography, Tibet House (Delhi 1989), pp. 47-51. Another paper on this same subject, "Genesis of Wheel and Deer Device” in A Ghosh Volume (in press).

THOMAS, F.W.

“Om Mani Padme Hūm.” Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal (1835) 464.

THUB BSTAN RGYA MTSHO

Spyan rags gzigs Bcu gcig zhal gyi Bsgom bzlas Bya tshul Mdor bsdus ’Dod don Lhun ’grub. A 5-fol. xylographic print purchased in Lhasa. ‘Naturally Arriving at the Desired Aims: A Brief Treatment on Performing the Visualization and Recitation of Eleven-Headed Avalokiteśvara.’

TRIJANG DORJE CHANG

“Significance of the Six Syllable Mantra Om ma ni pad me hum.” Translated by Tsepak Rigzin and Jeremy Russell. Tibet Journal [Dharamsala], vol. 7, no. 4 (Winter 1982), pp. 3-10.

TRUNGPA TULKU

“Om Mani Padme Hūm Hrīh.” Kalpa: Journal of the Cambridge University Buddhist Society (2510/1967), pp. 10-15.

VERHAGEN, PIETER CORNELIS

“The Mantra Om Mani-padme Hūm in an Early Tibetan Grammatical Treatise.” Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, vol. 13, no. 2 (1990), pp. 133-138.

WANG, RICHARD G.

“Four Steles at the Monastery of Sublime Mystery (Xuanmiao guan): A Study of Daoism and Society on the Ming Frontier.” Asia Major, 3rd series, vol. 13, no. 2 (2000), pp. 37-82. An account of a 12th-century Daoist Prayer Wheel

WESSELS S.J., C.

Early Jesuit Travellers in Central Asia, 1603-1721, Martinus Nijhoff (The Hague 1924), p. 191. Here Wessels says that the first western mention and illustration (a drawing) of the Prayer Wheel is to be found in Athanasius Kircher, China Illustrata, p. 68 and plate 67.

WHITE, LYNN Jr.

“Tibet, India and Malaya as Sources of Western Medieval Technology.” The American Historical Review, vol. 65, no. 3 (April 1960), pp. 515-526. See the same author’s book, Medieval Religion and Technology, Collected Essays, University of California Press (Berkeley 1978).

WIJESEKHARA, A.

“Wheel Symbolism in Chakravartin Concept.” Contained in: A.S. Altekar et al., eds., S.K. Belvalkar Felicitation Volume Motilal Banarsidass (Benaras 1957) 262-267.

WINDER, MARIANNE

“Aspects of the History of the Prayer Wheel.” Bulletin of Tibetology (Gangtok) n.s. vol. 1 (1992), pp. 25-33.

WU, J. CECILIA

& Nathan Weitzner, Yoo Hsiu Yeb, Jonathan Abel, Romain Michon, Matthew Wright, “Tibetan Singing Prayer Wheel: A Hybrid Musical-Spiritual Instrument Using Gestural Control,” International Conference on New Interfaces and Musical Expression [NIME-15] (Baton Rouge, May 2015). Posted at HAL Open Science website. I hesitated to list it, but here you go, an innovative electronically augmented Prayer Wheel that produces electronic music in tandem with your laptop depending on motions of your arm and your wheel. Enjoy.

WRIGHT, A.R.

“Tibetan Prayer-Wheels.” Folk-Lore: A Quarterly Review, vol. 15 (1904), pp. 332-333. In the same issue is a piece by the same author entitled “Tibetan Trumpet.”

ZABOROWSKI, M.

“Moulin à prière du Tibet. Coran de l’Afganistan.” Bulletins et Mémoires de la Société d[’anthropologie de Paris, vol. 2 (1901), pp. 345-346. Prayer Wheels.

ZHABS DRUNG CHOS RJE NGAG DBANG TSHE RING (fl. 1840)

Ma ni’i Sgrub thabs Zab mo’i Don. MHTL, no. 6370. ‘The Profound Significance of the Mani Practice.’

Ma ni’i Sgrub thabs Zab mo Dus ’khor Lugs su Nyams su Len Tshul Nor bu’i Dga’ ’khyil. 18 folios. MHTL, no. 6371. ‘Joy Swirl of the Jewel: How to Put into Practice The Profound Mani Sādhana according to the Kālacakra System.’

ZHABS DRUNG CHOS RJE NGAG DBANG TSHE RING (=WA GHIN DA, fl. 1840)

Bsrung ba Rab gnas Bya tshul, Rlung ’khor Bskor tshul bcas. 10 folios. SBKC, p. 744. MHTL, no. 6421. "How to Do the Protection Consecration. Together with Directions on Revolving Wind Wheels." See also the later title Jo bo rje’i Man ngag las Byung ba’i ’Byung ba Chu dang Rlung Lam du Byed tshul gyi Man ngag. ‘Precepts on how to Make the Elements Water and Wind into the Path [to Enlightenment], Originating in the Precepts of Atisha.’ Perhaps his collected works are those listed in Library of Congress:

NGAG DBANG TSHE RING, C: SNGAGS RAMS PA. 10 A: WORKS. F: 1985 14 A: THE COLLECTED WORKS (GSUNG ’BUM) OF SNGAGS RAMS PA NGAG DBANG TSHE RING. 0 A: NEW DELHI : B: MONGOLIAN LAMA GURUDEVA, C: 1985- A: V. <1 > ; C: 11 X 45 CM. A: IN TIBETAN. A: TITLE ON BOARDS: DRIN CAN BLA MA SNGAGS RAM PA NGAG DBANG TSHE RING KYIS BSGRIGS PA’I BRJED THO. A: "REPRODUCED FROM A COLLECTION OF PRINTS FROM THE MONGOLIAN BLOCKS BY VEN. MONGOLIAN LAMA GURUDEVA."

Ngag dbang tshe ring, Sngags ram pa. The Collected works (gsung ’bum) of Sngags rams pa Ngag dbang tshe ring. Vols. 1-2. IASWR microfiche. Set XII.

ZIMMER, H.

“Der Name Avalokiteśvara.” Zeitschrift für Indologie und Iranistik, vol. 1 (1922), pp. 73-88. PDF available online.

*•°•*•°•*•°•*•°•*

Source of the remainder of this file: Asian Classics Input Project’s St. Petersburg Tibetica catalog (on disk). I haven’t integrated these entries into my bibliography yet, although I may do this at some later date.

S:03228

N:PLG-147/1

T:*, ,YIG DRUG GI ’KHOR LO’I KHUNGS DANG BSKOR TSHUL GYI GNAD DMIGS PA BYA TSHUL PHAN YON DANG BCAS PA BZHUGS SO, ,

K:N

E:MW

X:N

B:N

A:SH’AKYA’I DGE SLONG BLO BZANG DPAL LDAN BSTAN PA’I NYI MA PHYOGS LAS RNAM RGYAL (the 4th Panchen Lama, this text has been translated in Ladner).

Y:N

F:XYL

M:R

H:W,W

G:G

R:G

V:N

P:1A-17B

Q:6

O:9.0 x 44.5

I:7.2 x 37.4

L:N

D:N

C:ces yig drug gi ’khor lo’i khungs dang bskor tshul gyi gnad dmigs pa bya tsul phan yon dang bcas ’di lta bu zhig dgos zhes sku ’bum khri zur ba che shos sprul pa’i sku ngag dbang bshad sgrub bstan pa’i nyi ma dang, sman pa bla zur bstan ’dzin rgya mtso gnyis nas bskul ma mdzad ngor, ^ sh’akya’i dge slong blo bzang dpal ldan bstan pa’i nyi ma phyogs las rnam rgyal dpal bzang pos gzims chung bka’ gdams pho brang du sbyar ba ’dis kyang lus can kun la phan bde dpag tu med pa ’byung bar gyur cig, ,,

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S:37562

N:B6435/19

T:*, ,MA nI’I ’KHOR LO BZHENGS PA DANG BSKOR BA’I DGE RTSA BSNGO BA’I SMON TSHIG CES BYA BA BZHUGS SO,,

K:N

E:N

X:8

B:N

A:BTSUN PA WA G’INDRA PA tU SIDDHI

Y:N

F:XYL

M:T

H:W,W

G:G

R:G

V:N

P:1A-3A

Q:6

O:9.9 x 61.2

I:6.8 x 51.4

L:N

D:N

C:CES PA ’DI NI DAD STOBS KYI DBANG PHYUG T’A THU SHE YE GUNG GSOD NAMS DBANG PHYUG GIS, KHU RE CHEN MOR MA nI DUNG PHYUR GYI CHOS ’KHOR SNGA PHYIR TSHAR GNYIS BZHENGS PA’I DGE RTSA DANG, BSKOR BA’I DGE RTSA BSNGO BA’I SMON TSHIG DGOS SHES BSKUL MA MDZAD PA LTAR, MKHAN THOG BCU GNYIS PA ^ WA G’INDRA SU tU SIDDHIS BSDEBS PA YI GE PA NI PRADZNY’A SA GA RAS BGYIS PA DGE LEGS ’PHEL,,

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S:00240

N:B6549/8 (COPY FROM B6541)

T:*, ,BSTAN PA’I NYI MA RJE BTSUN DAM PAS MDZAD PA’I MA nI’I SGRUB THABS ZAB MO’I ’GREL PA ZAB MO SNANG BA ZHES BYA BA BZHUGS

SO, ,

K:N

E:N

X:10

B:ZAB SNANG

A:DKON MCHOG BSTAN PA’I SGRON ME

Y:N

F:XYL

M:T

H:W,Y

G:G

R:G

V:NYA PA

P:1A-48A

Q:6

O:8.0 x 51.8

I:6.4 x 48.4

L:N

D:N

C:CES BYANG PHYOGS BSTAN PA’I NYI MA GCIG PU THUGS RJE’I BDAG NYID RJE BTSUN DAM PA BLO BZANG BSTAN PA’I RGYAL MTSHAN DPAL BZANG POS MDZAD PA’I MA nI’I SGRUB THABS ZAB MO’I ’GREL PA ZAB MO SNANG BA ZHES BYA BA ’DI NI, RJE BTSUN DAM PA’I KHU RE CHEN MO NAS DAD BRTSON RNAM DPYOD LDAN PA DGE SLONG BLO BZANG BSTAN ’DZIN GYIS SKU GSUNG THUGS RTEN, GSER DNGUL, GOS SPRUGS, SPOS SMAN SOGS KYI MAndAL BCAS NAN TAN CHEN POS BSKUL BA’I NGOR, MDO DANG SNGAGS KYIS BSDUS PA’I RGYAL BA’I BSTAN PA YONGS SU RDZOGS PA ’DZIN SKYONG SPEL BAR BYED PA LA SNYIGS MA’I DUS ’DIR SA’I STENG NA ’GRAN PA’I ZLA DANG BRAL BA KHAMS GSUM CHOS KYI RGYAL PO ^ RJE BTSUN DKON MCHOG ’JIGS MED DBANG PO’I ZHAL SNGA NAS KYI ZHABS RDUL SPYI BOR BSTEN PA’I BKA’ DRIN LAS GSUNG RAB KYI DGONGS PA ’GREL PA LA BLO GROS KYI SNANG BA CUNG ZAD TSAM THOB PA’I ^ SH’AKYA’I BTSUN PA DKON MCHOG BSTAN PA’I SGRON MES, RGYAL BA’I LUNG GIS ZIN PA’I CHOS GRVA CHEN PO BSHAD SGRUB BSTAN PA’I ’BYUNG GNAS BKRA SHIS ’KHYIL GYI NYE ’DABS DBEN GNAS YID DGA’ CHOS ’DZIN DU SBYAR BA’I YI GE PA NI BLO DANG LDAN PA DGE SLONG DKON MCHOG KUN DGAS BGYIS PA ’DIS KYANG ’JAM MGON BSTAN PA’I SNYING PO DRI MA MED PA PHYOGS DUS KUN TU RGYAS PAR GYUR CIG, ,,

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S:05681

N:B6845/6

T:*, ,’PHAGS PA THUGS RJE CHEN PO’I GZUNGS SNGAGS ZAB MO’I PHAN YON BRJOD PA DRANG SRONG BDEN TSHIG GRUB PA’I DBYANGS SNYAN ZHES BYA BA BZHUGS SO, ,

K:N

E:N

X:7-65

B:MA nI’I PHAN YON

A:RGYAL MKHAN PO GRAGS PA RGYAL MTSHAN (1762-1835)

F:XYL

V:CA PA

P:1A-10A

O:8.8 x 52.6

I:6.0 x 47.4

C:CES MA nI’I ’KHOR LO’I KHUNGS DANG PHAN YON DMIGS PA BYED TSHUL ’DI LTA BU ZHIG DGOS ZHES DAD BRTSON BLO GROS MCHOG DANG LDAN PA DKON MCHOG YAR ’PHEL GYIS BSKUL NGOR, ^ RGYAL MKHAN PO GRAGS PA RGYAL MTSHAN GYIS SBYAR BA’I YI GE PA NI DGE SLONG SHES RAB RGYA MTSHO’O, NOTE: Have photocopy of this.

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S:43634

N:B9293/1

T:*, ,MA nI’I ’KHOR LO’I BSKOR BA’I PHAN YON BZHUGS SO, ,

K:N

E:N

X:N

B:’KHOOR’I PHANON {’khor lo’i phan yon}

A:{?}

Y:N

F:MS

M:R

H:W,W

G:G

R:G

V:N

P:1A-6A

Q:7

O:7.3 x 53.7 {?}

I:9.7 x 43.0 {?}

L:N

D:N

C:ZHES PA ’DI NI BLO DMAN PA, ,BAN RGAN DON GRUB BZANG PO YIS, ,MKHAS MCHOG DAM PA’I MDZAD PA RNAMS, ,GZHI BYAS RANG ZHING TSHOD TSAM GYIS, ,TSHIGS SU BCAD NAS SBYAR BA YIN, ,’DI LA NONGS PA GANG MCHIS PA, ,MKHAS RNAMS LA YANG BZOD PAR GSOL, ,CUS MDZAD DON DANG MTHUN PA’I DGES, ,RGYAL BSTAN DAR ZHING ’GRO BA KUN, ,MA RIG NYON MONGS DANG BRAL TE, ,DAG PA’I ZHING DU SKYES NAS KYANG, ,’GRO KUN PHAN BDE MCHOG STSOL SHOG ,

Have xerox of this.

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