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42-399: The museum project consists of six museums based at six different locations: Firmian, Juval, Dolomites, Ortles, Ripa and Corones. MMM Firmian at Sigmundskron Castle near Bozen is the centerpiece of the museum and concentrates on man’s relationship with the mountains. The museum includes displays on the geology of the mountains, the religious significance of mountains in the lives of people, and

84-480: A cylindrical, generally sheet-metal body (often beautifully embossed) mounted on a metal shaft or pin set into a wooden or metal handle that turns on a circular bearing commonly made of Turbinella (conch) shell. The cylinder itself is affixed with a cord or chain terminating in a small weight allowing it to be spun by a slight rotation of the wrist. The weighted chain, known as a “governor” in Western technology, stabilizes

126-556: A different interpretation of mountaineering and where alpine curiosities are displayed. The fifth part of the MMM is MMM Ripa at Bruneck Castle  [ it ] ( 46°47′39″N 11°56′22″E  /  46.794299°N 11.939497°E  / 46.794299; 11.939497  ( Messner Mountain Museum Ripa ) ) above the town of Bruneck . This is planned to open in Spring 2011 and

168-468: A more wrathful protective energy. As the practitioner turns the wheel, it is best to focus the mind and repeat the Om Mani Padme Hum mantra. Not only does this increase the merit earned by the wheel's use, but it is a mind-stabilization technique that trains the mind while the body is in motion. Intoning the mani mantra with mindfulness and the "Bodhicitta" motivation dramatically enhances the effects of

210-467: A prayer wheel is very specific (with slight variations according to different Buddhist sects). The practitioner most often spins the wheel clockwise , as the direction in which the mantras are written is that of the movement of the sun across the sky. On rare occasions, advanced Tantric practitioners such as those of Senge Dongma , the Lion-Faced Dakini, spin prayer wheels counterclockwise to manifest

252-537: A variety of skillful means ( upaya ) to help bring practitioners ever closer to realizing enlightenment. The idea of spinning mantras relates to numerous Tantric practices whereby the Tantric practitioner visualizes mantras revolving around the nadis and especially around the meridian chakras such as the heart and crown. Therefore, prayer wheels are a visual aid for developing one's capacity for these types of Tantric visualizations. The spiritual method for those practicing with

294-442: A wheel will have much the same meritorious effect as orally reciting the prayers. The Tibetan term is a contraction: " mani " itself is a contraction of Sanskrit cintamani ; " chos " is Tibetan for dharma ; and " ' khor " or " 'khorlo " means chakrano . The common term, “prayer wheel” is a double misnomer. A long strip of rolled-up paper bearing printed or inscribed mantras rather than prayers, per se,

336-507: Is a collection of masks, displays on aspects of animism and mountain images in the keep . MMM Dolomites is housed in a First World War fort at a height of 2,181 metres on Monte Rite  [ it ] ( 46°23′02″N 12°15′17″E  /  46.38393°N 12.254713°E  / 46.38393; 12.254713  ( Messner Mountain Museum Dolomites ) ) between Cortina d’Ampezzo and Pieve di Cadore . This "museum in

378-502: Is a cylindrical wheel ( Tibetan : འཁོར་ལོ། , Wylie : ' khor lo , Oirat : кюрдэ ) for Buddhist recitation. The wheel is installed on a spindle made from metal , wood , stone, leather , or coarse cotton . Prayer wheels are common in Tibet and areas where Tibetan culture is predominant. Traditionally, a mantra is written in Ranjana script or Tibetan script , on the outside of

420-519: Is a physical manifestation of the phrase "turning the wheel of Dharma ", which describes the way in which the Buddha taught. Historians, such as Ferdinand D. Lessing  [ fr ; de ; sv ] , have argued that the prayer wheels developed from Chinese revolving bookcases ( Chinese : 轉輪藏 ; pinyin : zhuàn lún zàng ), popular among Buddhist monasteries. According to the Tibetan tradition,

462-403: Is inside the cylinder. The term “mantra mill”, in contrast to “prayer wheel”, is perhaps a better translation of the Tibetan 'khor-lo , since a "mill" refers to a turning process that generates a particular output, in this case generating merit . The first prayer wheels, which are driven by wind, have been used in Tibet and China since the fourth century. The concept of the prayer wheel

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504-450: Is intended as an interactive museum, which will offer a forum for various mountain peoples to exchange experiences with the local farming community. Guests from other mountain regions will spend a summer here and talk about their lives. Examples that Messner has given include the Sherpas , South American Indians , Tibetans , Mongols or Hunzas . The sixth and last museum of the MMM network,

546-443: Is the history and art of mountaineering. Messner wants to show "what effect the mountain has on people". as well as giving an understanding of mountains and mountain peoples. He demonstrates this by means of pictures, sculptures, symbolic objects and memorabilia of various expeditions, which are portrayed as part of a tour through the castle. Messner also shows the history of alpinism and the impact of alpinism and tourism on nature and

588-551: The MMM Bergvölker costs of between three and four million euros have been suggested, 80% of which will be borne by the province of South Tyrol in order to provide financial support to the municipality of Bruneck. Sigmundskron Castle Sigmundskron Castle ( German : Schloss Sigmundskron , Italian : Castel Firmiano ) is an extensive castle and set of fortifications near Bolzano in South Tyrol . Today its ruins house

630-575: The 12th century it was given to ministeriales , who from then on were named the Firmian family. Around 1473 the Prince of Tyrol , Duke Sigismund the Rich , bought the castle, renamed it Sigmundskron Castle and had it developed to withstand firearms. Of the old castle of Formigar there are only a few remnants left today, mostly located on the highest point of the site. Due to financial difficulties Sigmund had to pledge

672-714: The Arctic and the Antarctic. Visitors are able to go inside the mountain and its glacier. Also in Sulden is the museum Alpine Curiosa ( 46°31′46″N 10°35′08″E  /  46.529402°N 10.58548°E  / 46.529402; 10.58548  ( Messner Mountain Museum Ortles–Alpine Curiosa ) ) in a twelve square metre little old cottage called Flohhäusl , with portrayals of 13 legendary mountaineering stories (from Yogi Milarepa to Messner himself), which offers

714-552: The MMM corones, was built on the top of the Kronplatz mountain ( Plan de Corones in Ladin and Italian) at an altitude of 2,275 meters above sea level. Opened in July 2015, the museum, a modern structure designed by renowned British architect Zaha Hadid , has a floor area of 1,000 square meters and features a permanent exhibition dedicated to traditional climbing and mountaineering. The cost of

756-564: The Province of Bolzano. In the spring of 2003, after much controversy, Reinhold Messner was given a licence for his long-planned mountain museum. During construction work a Neolithic grave was discovered in March 2006, in which a woman's skeletal remains were found. The age of the grave is estimated to be 6,000-7,000 years. The fortress is an important political symbol in South Tyrol. In 1957, under

798-472: The Tantric practitioner visualizes the mantra revolving around his or her nadis and especially around the meridian chakras such as the heart and crown. The prayer wheels are a visual aid for developing the capacity for these types of Tantric visualizations. According to the lineage texts on prayer wheels, prayer wheels are used to accumulate wisdom and merit (good karma) and to purify negativities (bad karma). In Buddhism, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have created

840-522: The benefit of all sentient beings. Then Om Ah Hum 3 times. This is customary with Tibetans upon completing any Buddhist practice, including the practice of the prayer wheel. Thubten Zopa Rinpoche has commented that installing a prayer wheel has the capacity to completely transform a place, which becomes "...peaceful, pleasant, and conducive to the mind." Simply touching a prayer wheel is said to bring great purification to negative karmas and obscurations. The handheld prayer wheel ( mani lag 'khor ) has

882-407: The building in a clockwise direction. This type of prayer wheel is simply a prayer wheel that is turned by flowing water. The water that is touched by the wheel is said to become blessed and carries its purifying power into all life forms in the oceans and lakes that it feeds into. This wheel is turned by the heat of a candle or electric light. The light emitted from the prayer wheel then purifies

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924-475: The castle soon afterwards. As a result the site fell increasingly into disrepair. At the end of the 18th century, the castle belonged to the Count Wolkenstein , from 1807 to 1870 the counts of Sarnthein and from then until 1994 the counts of Toggenburg . In 1976, the half-ruined castle was partially restored by an innkeeper's family and opened as a restaurant. In 1996 the castle passed into the possession of

966-711: The clouds" was opened in 2002 and has the "vertical world" of the Dolomites as its theme. It covers the history of the opening up of the Dolomites as well as aspects of Alpine history and its protagonists. The fourth part of the MMM is laid out underground below the Ortler in Sulden . Since opening in 2004, subjects such as the eternal ice and the Ortler are covered in an exhibition space of 300 square metres, with exhibitions on skiing, ice climbing,

1008-593: The environment. A separate exhibition on the history of the castle and the region is in a tower. This part of the MMM is housed within Juval Castle ( 46°39′06″N 10°58′05″E  /  46.651531°N 10.968019°E  / 46.651531; 10.968019  ( Messner Mountain Museum Juval ) ) near Naturns , a late-medieval castle, and was opened in 1995. This castle is privately owned by Messner and he uses it as his summer residence. This MMM deals with

1050-408: The exhibitions. The appearance of the castle has not been destroyed by modern alterations. The architect, Werner Tscholl, paid attention to the fact that the historical building had to retain its originality; for example, the new glass roof structures and pipes or cables of any kind are not visible from the outside. The MMM Firmian itself covers an area of 1,100 square metres. The theme of the museum

1092-677: The fourth mountain museum established by the South Tyrolean mountaineer, Reinhold Messner . On 9 June 2006 the MMM ( Messner Mountain Museum Firmian ) was opened in this fortified castle dating to the Late Middle Ages . The first historical mention of the castle, under the name Formicaria (later Formigar ), dates back to AD 945. In 1027 Emperor Conrad II transferred it to the Bishop of Trent . In

1134-471: The help of a small bell the number of revolutions can be counted. The cylinders of fixed prayer wheels are often inscribed with the formula “ Om mani padme hum ” (meaning “jewel in the lotus”) in ornamental Lantsa ( Ranjana ) letters. Many monasteries around Tibet have large, fixed, metal wheels set side by side in a row. Passersby can turn the entire row of wheels simply by sliding their hands over each one. They are set in motion by pilgrims who circumambulate

1176-586: The history of mountaineering and alpine tourism. MMM Juval at Juval Castle in the Burggrafenamt in Vinschgau is dedicated to the "magic of the mountains", with an emphasis on mystical mountains and their religious significance. MMM Dolomites at the Cibiana Pass at Monte Rite  [ it ] , housed in an old fort, is dedicated to the subject of rocks, particularly in the Dolomites, with exhibits focusing on

1218-517: The history of the formation of the Dolomites. This museum contains a summit observation platform that offers a 360° panorama of the surrounding Dolomites. MMM Ortles at Sulden on the Ortler is dedicated to the history of mountaineering on ice and the great glaciers of the world. MMM Ripa at Bruneck Castle  [ it ] in South Tyrol is dedicated to the mountain peoples from Asia, Africa, South America and Europe, with emphasis on their cultures, religions, and tourism activities. MMM Corones on

1260-506: The leadership of Silvius Magnago , the largest protest rally in the history of South Tyrol was held here. More than 30,000 gathered in the castle to protest against the failure of the Paris Convention to protest and demand freedom for South Tyrol ("Freedom from Trent"). 46°28′49″N 11°18′19″E  /  46.48028°N 11.30528°E  / 46.48028; 11.30528 Prayer wheel A prayer wheel , or mani wheel ,

1302-429: The more powerful it is. It is best to turn the wheel with a gentle rhythm and not too fast or frantically. While turning smoothly, one keeps in mind the motivation and spirit of compassion and bodhichitta (the noble mind that aspires to full enlightenment for the benefit of all beings). The benefits attributed to the practice of turning the wheel are vast. Not only does it help wisdom, compassion and bodhichitta arise in

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1344-400: The mountains as places of mystery and spirituality. Its main focus is the sacred mountains of the world such as Kailash , Mount Fuji or Ayers Rock . In addition, Tibetan exhibits such as precious Buddha sculptures and a giant prayer wheel are displayed. There is also an exhibition on Gesar Ling , an epic Tibetan king, a tantric room and an expedition room in the basement. Finally there

1386-409: The mountains. The castle dates to the Late Middle Ages and houses the museum's headquarters, administration and event facilities. There is a rock theatre that seats 200 people. The museum was opened on 11 June 2006 after three years of restoration to the virtually ruined castle. The concept at MMM Firmian , as this hub of the museum is known, is based on three strands: the castle, the restoration and

1428-534: The negative karmas of the living beings it touches. This type of wheel is turned by wind. The wind that touches the prayer wheel helps alleviate the negative karma of those it touches. Some prayer wheels are powered by electric motors. Thardo 'khorlo , as these electric wheels are sometimes known, contain one thousand copies of the mantra of Chenrezig and many copies of other mantras. The thardo 'khorlo can be accompanied by lights and music if one so chooses. Electricity can certainly be considered similar to

1470-431: The place for worship, use the knowledge to propagate the dharma to common people, should there be any man or woman who are illiterate and unable to read the sutra, they should then set up the prayer wheel to facilitate those illiterate to chant the sutra, and the effect is the same as reading the sutra” Another theory, which seems more plausible, is that rotating mantras relate to numerous yogic or Tantric practices whereby

1512-417: The practitioner, it also enhances siddhis (spiritual powers such as clairvoyance, precognition, reading others thoughts, etc.).The practitioner can repeat the mantra as many times as possible during the turning of the wheel, stabilizing a calm, meditative mind. At the end of a practice session, there is a Tibetan Buddhist tradition of dedicating any accumulated merits that one may have gathered during practice to

1554-612: The prayer wheel lineage traces back to the famous Indian master, Nagarjuna . Tibetan texts also say that the practice was taught by the Indian Buddhist masters Tilopa and Naropa as well as the Tibetan masters Marpa and Milarepa . Kawaguchi mentions in his book that the prayer wheel originated in the Mani Lhakhang where Je Tsongkhapa invented it. Prayer wheels originated from ‘The School of Shakyamuni sutra, volume 3 – pagoda and temple’ which states that: “those who set up

1596-414: The prayer wheel. However, it is said that even turning it while distracted has benefits and merits, and it is stated in the lineage text that even insects that cross a prayer wheel's shadow will get some benefit. Each revolution is as meritorious as reading the inscription aloud as many times as it is written on the scroll, and this means that the more Om Mani Padme Hum mantras that are inside a prayer wheel,

1638-480: The project is estimated at up to €30 million, split between Messner and the province of South Tyrol. The latter funded the restoration and expansion of the old buildings; in return, Messner has to maintain the exhibitions without subsidy for 30 years. The restoration of the old fort on the Monte Rite was undertaken by the region of Venetia together with the municipality of Pieve di Cadore . For renovating and developing

1680-531: The summit plateau of Kronplatz (2,275 m), is dedicated to traditional mountaineering. The centrepiece of the Messner Mountain Museum is based in Sigmundskron Castle ( 46°28′50″N 11°18′17″E  /  46.480598°N 11.30484°E  / 46.480598; 11.30484  ( Messner Mountain Museum Firmian ) ) near Bolzano , Italy, and addresses the subject of man's encounter with

1722-465: The wheel and keeps it spinning with less input from the practitioner than would otherwise be the case. When the prayer wheel is spun in prayer, the mantras inside become potent with the person's intent, allowing the practitioner to accumulate wisdom and merit. Prayer wheels larger than human size are to be seen in separate rooms in Tibetan Buddhist temples and can be set in motion by pilgrims. With

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1764-400: The wheel. The mantra Om mani padme hum is most commonly used, but other mantras can also be used. Prayer wheels sometimes depict dakinis and the eight auspicious symbols ( ashtamangala ). At the core of the cylinder, as the axle of the wheel, is a "life tree" made of wood or metal with mantras written on or wrapped around it. According to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, spinning such

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