The Journey of a Prayerwheel Maker: A Humble Calling

Understanding the Path of Crafting a Prayerwheel

Maybe you never thought about what it means to do this for a living. How does it affect your daily life and choices? After all, crafting the prayerwheel is a holy vocation. It deserves to be addressed with humility.

To truly understand what this journey means for us, let's take a moment to reflect on how we arrived at this point. Most prayerwheel makers have a master or teacher who guided them, telling them, "You should make a prayerwheel." However, our journey was different.

Our Unique Story

Many of you have probably heard about our story. If you haven’t, there’s a post somewhere that shares how we became prayerwheel makers. But for those familiar with our tale, it’s important to note that we were not directed by anyone to embark on this path. Our inspiration came when we first met H.E. Garchen Rinpoche. In that moment, we knew this was what we wanted to do for the rest of our lives.

One of the most remarkable individuals I've encountered is Jim McCann. Although we never met in person, we exchanged countless emails. Jim kindly introduced us to the world of prayerwheel making and its intricacies.

An Unexpected Connection

Recently, I had a challenging day filled with intense emotions. During this time, I recalled an email from Jim, sent to me 16 years ago on the same date as my emotional upheaval. The synchronicity blew my mind! In that email, Jim shared essential advice:

"It's great that you would like to build a prayerwheel! The more the better. The best advice I can give you is, if possible, in the beginning – work closely with a Lama as you can.

I know this can often be difficult since many travel and it's hard sometimes just to get an interview, but it should be said despite this.

Lama Zopa has told me that it takes an extraordinary amount of merit just to spin a prayerwheel. Therefore, it could be surmised that it may take even more to create them. Keep in mind that creating a large prayerwheel is an extreme form of purification for the creators. Therefore, karma ripening is like an egg that is cooking. You cannot uncook an egg, and you are calling for karmic obscurations to clear. In other words, be ready for obstacles, and as long as you approach them with loving kindness, humility, and non-aggression, you should be all right."

Reading his words again after all these years was truly impactful. Jim hit the nail on the head; we must be prepared for a significant "Karma clearing," which is not easy but ultimately beneficial for our growth.

The Reality of Being a Prayerwheel Maker

Now, let's return to the core of this vocation. Being a prayerwheel maker is not what many may think. It is not just a "job" where you show up even if you feel low. When karma manifests, sometimes life takes unexpected turns. On those days, crafting might not be possible.

Creating the prayerwheel demands the right mindset and motivation. We must be present and energized to serve you all effectively.

The Rising Costs of Living

As we navigate our mission of crafting the prayerwheel, we are also facing rising living costs. The prices of everything in our location continue to skyrocket. This situation presents a constant struggle regarding how to sustain our craft.

Recently, we had lunch with a friend who travels the globe for work. His news left us speechless. He shared that Israel is the second most expensive country to live in, coming in right after Switzerland. This revelation might explain why everything has become so pricey!

Our dream is to find a more affordable location for crafting the prayerwheel. We hope that one day, if our karma allows, we can create them at lower prices, making them accessible to more people.

A Dream Worth Pursuing

Ideally, we wish to be blessed with enough resources to craft the prayerwheel freely and share it with anyone who desires one, without the pressure of making a living from sales. Perhaps someday that dream could become a reality.

When you spin your prayerwheel, know that it was crafted with the utmost attention and love. It comes from two people deeply passionate about creating the best prayerwheel possible. By embracing the role of prayerwheel makers, we willingly accept the waves of karma that accompany this calling. Trust me, it’s been quite the journey so far!

Reflecting and Re-evaluating Our Path

As we prepare to head to the USA for a well-deserved vacation, we aim to reconnect with nature and gain perspective on our lives. This time away will allow us to evaluate our journey and see if any changes are necessary. Our goal is to enhance our efficiency as prayerwheel makers for all of you.

Ultimately, we chose this path to serve you until we can no longer. Who knows when that time will come? But until then, we commit to this beautiful journey of crafting the prayerwheel.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our journey as prayerwheel makers is more than just a job; it's a calling rooted in love and dedication. Each prayerwheel we craft holds the energy of our passion, and we are grateful to share this sacred art with you. Thank you for supporting us on this remarkable path, and we look forward to continuing to serve for many years to come!

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