Mala Beads:
Each week (or two) I try to pick a new topic to explore further. During my travels west I spent a few hours in Sedona AZ - an area known for "new age" shops with crystals and psychics and every other sort of mystical item you could be in search of. One of the Items I was drawn to were the various mala beads. I never owned my own mala, mostly because I didnt know much beyond the concept that it was a meditation tool. So now I set out to explore what mala beads are, where they are from and how we use them in connection with our practice.
What are Prayer Beads?
A string of beads used to count and keep track of the repititions of chants/mantras/prayers completed. They may contain several different numbers of beads depending on the type, religion or origin of the beads. The beads are fingered automaticly to allow the practitioner to keep track of progress while allowing a deep meditative state to develop.
What Types of Prayer Beads are there?
1. Japa Mala: used in Hindu and Buddist traditions contain 108 beads (27x4 rounds)
2. Misbaha & Tasbih: Islamic traditions with 33 or 99 beads
3. komboloi: Greek tradition with odd numbered beads, usually 17 or 21
4. Baha'i: Persian tradition 95 or 19 beads with 5 at the end
6. Rosary beads: Roman Catholic tradition 54 +5 at the end
7. Rosary Knots: Eastern Orthadox tradition with 33, 50 or 100 knots on a prayer rope
8. "Pearls of Life: Swiss Lutheran Church bracelet of 18 beads
(www.wikipedia.com)
What parts make up a Mala?
- guru bead or buddha bead (sumeru) = a different or larger bead to mark the start and finish of a round secured by 3 holes
- counting beads- can be made from wood, stone or seeds, usually 8mm in diameter or larger
- marker beads- smaller or different colored beads used to break up sets of the counting beads, creating distinct areas
- the tassle- the ends of the string holding the beads together in a circle - the sign of infinity with no start and end
What are the variations of Mala Beads?
- 108 identical beads and one "guru" bead to mark the start and finish
- Tibetan Mala- 4 sets of 27 beads distinguished by a marker bead
- Buddist Mala-
- Mala Bracelet- contains 27 beads on a stretch cord to be used 4x over to reach 108
So why 108 beads on the Mala?
There are many different explainations for this...here are a few of my favorite:
- It is said if we are able to reach 108 breaths in a day we will attain enlightenment
- there are said to be 108 earthly desires, human lies, and forms of ignorance
- there are 108 energy lines leading into the heart chakra
- 1 stands for god, 0 stands for completeness, 8 for infinity
- harshad number: means ' great joy' - the number is divisable by the sum of the digits (9)
What do the different bead materials mean?
- Mala beads should always be made of a natural material ( no plastic beads)
- stone and crystal beads each have a different property or healing quality
- lotus seeds:spiritual cleansing and improved finances
- Tulsi: wood said to clear the aura, used in Bhakti traditions
- Sandal wood: creats calm and tranquility with cooling properties
- bhodi seeds: enhance concentration in medication as these seeds are from the tree under which buddha achieved Nirvana
- rosewood: for health, protection and improved aura
Using a mantra:
- repeat the selected mantra with feeling and attention
- repeat out loud or internally
- feel the sound and the feeling resonate through the body and the mind
- do not use the mantra to push out feelings or thoughts that need to be addressed
- allow the mantra to create a deep meditative state that gradually creates a feeling of calm, opening, stillness
What Mantra Should I use?
There are unlimited mantras that can be used, but here are a few suggestions:
- the mantra may be asigned by your teacher for specific purpose
- the name of god in any language
- Om
- Shanti (peace)
- Sa, Ta, Na, Ma
- select a word or feeling ( ex. tranquility, happiness, love, connection)
- Om mani padme hum (Om Jewel in the lotus) tibetan buddist tradition
- Om namah shivaya ( part of a hindu prayer - adoration to siva- later became the god shiva)
( more on mantras later)
How do I carry My Mala?
- in a protective pouch
- wrapped around the left wirst
- around the neck
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