Meditation Mala Beads: An important tool in Meditation.
Benefits Of Meditation Mala Beads
A Mala is a string of beads that was developed to keep the mind focused when we are practicing meditation.
Mala beads are seen across cultures and spiritual traditions all over the world.
For examples, we have Buddha beads, Chakra beads, Tibetan Buddhist prayer beads, Japanese beads etc. All of these achieve the same purpose.
The use of meditation beads, also known as "mala beads," can help you achieve restful, enlightening meditation by helping you keep your mind focused on your breath.
By its very nature, the mind tends to wander off during the meditation practice.
At such times, the mala provides the much-needed anchor.
The mala beads are moved in rhythm with the breath so that sleep, as well as excessive mental distraction, are prevented by this simple tactile feeling and counting of the beads.
Mantra Mala Physical Construction
Malas are usually made from sandalwood, bodhi seeds or semi-precious stone beads such as quartz, jade or amber.
Like most tools made for spiritual practices, the finest materials and the craftsmanship are employed.
Though the number of beads varies from mala to mala, the most common ones are the 108 bead full mala and the 27 bead wrist mala (4 X 27 = 108).
In addition, the malas always have a larger, more decorative meru (guru bead) and a spacer bead.
There can also be one, two or four equally spaced divider beads.
Additional silver or gold counters are attached to keep track of the hundreds and thousands of bhums (repetitions of 108).
A burgundy or maroon cord threads the beads together and also symbolizes the unbroken lineage teachings and bloodline of the Buddha.
Dacron fishing line wears well, but many are now stringing their bead malas with a clear elastic cord.
The mala is often finished with an ornamental, “endless” knot at the end of the guru bead and finished off with a maroon or gold tassel.
Steps for using Meditation beads
Malas, rosaries and power beads are employed to count mantra recitations and to focus one's concentration during practice.
Counting mantra mala occupies the hand (body), reciting mantra occupies the voice (speech) and visualization of the deity occupies the mind.
Within the Buddhist tradition, this repetition of the beads serves to remind practitioners of the teaching that it is possible to break the cycle of birth and death.
In case it is necessary to recite a very large number of mantras, Tibetan Buddhist malas have bell and dorje counters (a short string of ten beads, usually silver, with a bell or dorje at the bottom).
The dorje counter is used to count each round around the mala, and the bell counter to count each time the dorje counter runs out of beads.
After that, the dorje counter is reset. These counters are placed at different points on the mala depending on tradition, sometimes at the 10th, 21st or 25th bead from the Guru bead.
Traditionally, one begins the mala in the direction of the dorje (skillful means) proceeding on to the bell (wisdom) with each round.
A 'bhum' counter, often a small brass or silver clasp in the shape of a jewel or wheel, is used to count 1000 repetitions, and is moved forward between the main beads of the mala, starting at the Guru bead, with each accumulation of 1000.
By focusing these three aspects of ourselves onto the practice at once, the benefits are multiplied and the merit accumulates.
To use your mala, hold it in your left (receiving) hand, with the beads between your index finger and thumb.
Hold the mala gently and with respect. Start counting with the first bead after the “guru” bead.
Count a bead for each completed recitation. Holding the beads and counting each one in turn as you recite a mantra, a vow or an affirmation helps keep the mind focused.
One is less likely to become distracted by stray thoughts when counting mala.
When you complete either 108 or 27 recitations, do not pass over the “guru” bead.
This is considered a symbolic no-no, as if we are stepping over our teacher.
Instead, flip the mala around 180 degrees, and keep going the same direction.
This takes practice to accomplish smoothly.
Some practices require 100,000 mantra recitations to be completed.
Mantras to use with Mala Beads
Mantras are sacred sounds chanted or spoken.
They contain the essence of vast spiritual teachings condensed into concise syllables and phrases.
Most of the Tibetan Buddhist mantras originated with the yogis, saints and bodhisattvas of India.
In Buddhism, the gift of the mantra mala was given to us by the historical Buddha over 2500 years ago.
He said, "If you want to eliminate earthly desires and to put an end to suffering, make a circular string of 108 beads from the seeds of the bodhi tree."
He then bestowed a short mantra of the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha) and instructed those present in its use.
Although there are countless sacred mantras, the Mani Mantra is the most popular Tibetan Buddhist mantra.
It is available freely for anyone's use, having been given to us by the great deity Chenrezi himself.
Chenrezi (Avalokiteshvara in Sanskrit) is the Bodhisattvha of compassion and is presently embodied by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet.
This mantra is known to purify one’s negative emotions, ease suffering for all beings and protect us from negative influences and illnesses.
Best of all, the Mani Mantra increases compassion for ourselves and for others.
Some mantras can be freely given or shared.
Other mantras should only be learned from a trained teacher or lama and always with the accompanying transmission, empowerment and teachings as done in transcendental Meditation.
These mantras are powerful and should be kept confidential and practiced in private.
Concluding the Meditation
Tibetan Buddhists usually say closing, dedication and long life prayers after each practice.
If you don’t know any yet, just be grateful and respectful of the source and teachers of the practice; then dedicate the merit you have generated to all sentient beings.
It is traditional to dedicate the merit generated by practice or by karma yoga (enlightened labor) to benefit all beings.
In this way they will also benefit from the practice and may eventually find their own feet on the path that leads to complete enlightenment.
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