[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.12,0:00:10.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Dr. Steven Zucker] We're in the McMullen Museum of Art, at a special
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.52,0:00:15.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,exhibition with objects from the collection of the Rubin Museum of Art.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.78,0:00:21.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it contains this beautiful, fairly large handheld prayer wheel.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.61,0:00:24.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Dr. Elena Pakhoutova] This specific example is quite impressive because it's
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.88,0:00:30.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,rather large for a handheld device. What you see in this prayer wheel is
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.02,0:00:36.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the standard elements, which are the cylinder handle, and this little counterweight,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.64,0:00:41.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which helps the cylinder to spin around the axis. The cylinder is also
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.78,0:00:48.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,called reliquary, and the reason being is that inside are tightly bound
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.90,0:00:53.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,paper rolls filled with mantras. [Dr. Steven Zucker] Text that has
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.40,0:00:57.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,been written out by a scribe, very likely in a monastery.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.71,0:01:01.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Dr. Elena Pakhoutova] And the texts are the mantras repeated multiple
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.32,0:01:06.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,times over and over again for the maximum accumulation of religious merit.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.71,0:01:10.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Dr. Steven Zucker] And merit is crucial for Buddhist practice.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.31,0:01:13.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Dr. Elena Pakhoutova] I call merit an investment in the future
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.00,0:01:17.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,life. Because during this life, we have the opportunity to accumulate as
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.02,0:01:21.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,much merit as possible so you can reap benefits in this life,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.16,0:01:24.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but most importantly in the next life. [Dr. Steven Zucker] And in
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.88,0:01:29.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that way, move closer to the ultimate goal, which would be enlightenment.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.53,0:01:31.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Dr. Elena Pakhoutova] Yes, enlightenment or awakening.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.64,0:01:35.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Dr. Steven Zucker] That is, breaking the cycle of death and rebirth,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.06,0:01:37.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what is known in Buddhism as samsara. [Dr. Elena Pakhoutova] And
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.76,0:01:43.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,these two registers of mantras written in two different scripts are of the
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.72,0:01:49.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,same mantra, "Om mani padme hum," which directly relates to Bodhisattva
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.12,0:01:52.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Avalokiteshvara, the embodiment of compassion and a very popular deity in
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.60,0:01:57.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tibetan Buddhist culture. On the top register we see the mantras written
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.90,0:02:03.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the Lantsa or Ranjana script, and on the bottom they're written in Tibetan
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.62,0:02:10.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,script. And each syllable is in this little arch or mandorla, if you
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.20,0:02:15.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,will, which reflects the respect for the syllables themselves.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.15,0:02:19.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Dr. Steven Zucker] And surrounding the mandorla and the text are these beautiful,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.80,0:02:24.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,intricate floral decorations. A lot of care was taken in the production
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.76,0:02:27.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of this object. [Dr. Elena Pakhoutova] And you can also see that
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.02,0:02:31.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there are semi precious stones in this band that holds the cylinder together.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.70,0:02:36.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The top of the prayer wheel has a finial, which is shaped as
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.32,0:02:42.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a lotus bud. And it also directly references Avalokiteshvara because Avalokiteshvara
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.28,0:02:47.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is usually shown holding a lotus, and he's also part of the Lotus
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.38,0:02:53.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Family of the Buddha Amitabha. The top of this cylinder is also decorated
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.68,0:02:56.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with the wheel. [Dr. Steven Zucker] And the wheel is a very common
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.98,0:03:00.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,iconographic form in Buddhist art. [Dr. Elena Pakhoutova] This specific
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.62,0:03:05.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wheel represents the Dharmachakra, or the wheel of the Buddha's teachings,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.45,0:03:10.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the dharma, and directly relates to the content of the cylinder,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.70,0:03:13.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which contains the mantras, which are the dharma.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.94,0:03:17.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Dr. Steven Zucker] But there's even more. If we look at the bottom of this cylinder,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.38,0:03:20.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's another circular form. [Dr. Elena Pakhoutova] And this form
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.44,0:03:26.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is a crossed vajra. Vajra, sometimes translated as a thunderbolt scepter,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.48,0:03:31.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,refers to the quality of being indestructible. The counterweight is actually
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.92,0:03:36.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a very interesting invention. When you hold it, it really helps the wheel
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.81,0:03:38.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to turn. [Dr. Steven Zucker] So the wheel that we're seeing here
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.58,0:03:42.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in this case in the museum is divorced from its use.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.74,0:03:46.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And to really understand this object is to understand it within the hand
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.26,0:03:48.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of a practitioner. [Dr. Elena Pakhoutova] What usually happens in
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.29,0:03:53.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tibetan culture is that people would go around sacred sites or stupas,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.14,0:03:58.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,having in one hand a prayer wheel and another hand a string of
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.53,0:04:03.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,prayer beads. And they would recite mantras, counting them on their beads,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.54,0:04:07.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the same time turning the wheel, and at the same time walking
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.04,0:04:12.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,around the sacred object and sacred site in a practice called circumambulation.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.38,0:04:17.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And all of these three actions of the speech through reciting mantras,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.42,0:04:21.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the body through turning the wheel and walking around, and the right
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.24,0:04:26.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,intention are creating positive karma in body, speech, and mind. Tibetan
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.84,0:04:31.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,prayer wheels come in many shapes and sizes. In this case,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.80,0:04:36.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the action is powered by the hand. But prayer wheels can also be
Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.72,0:04:42.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,activated by the elements: By wind, water, sometimes fire.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.20,0:04:45.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Dr. Steven Zucker] So really, any technology can be used to turn these objects.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.91,0:04:48.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Dr. Elena Pakhoutova] These days you can get a prayer wheel with
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.44,0:04:52.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a solar panel and you can put it on a dashboard and it'll be
Dialogue: 0,0:04:52.26,0:04:57.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,working, accumulating merit on your behalf. But you have to have a good
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.14,0:05:01.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,intention, of course. And there are also gigantic prayer wheels that are
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.88,0:05:08.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,filled with millions of mantras. And the way to turn it is only
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.44,0:05:10.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through working together with other people.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.92,0:05:13.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Dr. Steven Zucker] The origins of prayer wheels are not fully understood.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.79,0:05:18.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Dr. Elena Pakhoutova] We don't really know definitively where the idea of prayer wheels
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.54,0:05:23.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,comes from. Consensus seems to be that having something revolving around
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.88,0:05:30.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the axis that contains Buddhist text comes from the so called revolving
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.26,0:05:35.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,scripture depositories in Chinese monasteries. So when the person is walking
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.70,0:05:40.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,around a stupa or a temple, turning the prayer wheel and reciting mantras,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.12,0:05:45.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and also counting these mantras that they recite on their prayer beads,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.60,0:05:50.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they are committing these actions of body, speech, and mind to accumulate
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.52,0:05:55.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,good karma, increase their merit. Very often it's actually also a social
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.18,0:06:00.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,event, where some Tibetan women or families would do the same practice together.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:00.72,0:06:03.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They would go for a walk around a gompa or a temple,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.64,0:06:08.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it's a social occasion, and it's also accumulation of merit at the
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.08,0:06:12.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,same time. Especially for people who have to work and provide for their
Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.94,0:06:19.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,families and earn their livelihood, this is one of the best religious devices
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.14,0:06:21.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to increase the amount of merit they can generate, I think.