Potala Palace, Tibet: A prayer wheel is a wheel on a spindle, on which prayers or mantras are written. A mantra is a religious or mystical syllable or poem, typically from the Sanskrit language that originated in India. When I visited the Potala Palace I spun a prayer wheel and gave thanks for my blessings. ABOUT EXPLORE: Explore (http://www.explore.org) is a philanthropic multimedia project of the Annenberg Foundation that showcases cutting-edge non-profit efforts around the world through documentaries, short films, video moments and photography.