Buddhist Meditation Beads
Called ‘mala', Buddhist meditation or prayer beads are a traditional devotional tool used for counting mantras during meditation. Meditation beads are, however, not used by Buddhist people only; Hindus and Catholics also use such beads for religious purposes. Hindus refer to these prayer or meditation beads as “japamala." A ‘mala,' which means a garland, is a set of beads often comprising 108 of them that represents the unity of all things.
Tibetan Buddhist meditation beads mostly contain 108 beads. The use of this particular number - 108 - has its origin in Hinduism. Hindus first started the practice of putting 108 beads onto each strand of meditation beads or ‘mala' because there are 108 Hindu deities. In Tibetan Buddhist meditation beads, the number 108 is significant because there are 108 sins.
However, there are other types of Tibetan Buddhist meditation beads as well that so not necessarily contain 108 beads. One can find Tibetan meditation beads with 111 beads. In Catholicism also, the number varies. Some of them have 10 beads on the strand, and others may have 50.
In Chinese and Japanese Buddhist meditation beads, 27 beads are also used. ‘Malas' with 27 beads are usually tied on the wrist and mostly used for prostration. A Buddhist uses prostration in order to free himself of evils such as greed, envy and anger, and fill himself with good qualities such as love, compassion, and peace. Tibetan Buddhist meditation beads are made from various materials including jade, wood, sandalwood, turquoise, etc. Bodhi seeds are also used for such beads in Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism.
When one uses prayer or meditation beads, he passes his fingers over each bead as he recites a mantra. He should say the mantra as he counts through each bead till he reaches where he had started from. Such beads have a larger bead in the middle so that one knows when he has reached the end.
The moment a Buddhist begins using his meditation or prayer beads, they become sacred. He should not allow other people to handle his meditation beads. Because of their sacredness, these beads are kept in a special place and are never left lying on the ground. There are also special prayer bead bags to hold your prayer beads so that they are not harmed. Buddhist meditation beads can be purchased from selected stores almost anywhere in the world.
Apart from Buddhists, Hindus and Catholics, Muslims also use prayer beads. Those who follow the Bahai faith also use prayer beads in their practices. Tibetan Buddhist prayer or meditation beads are also known as the Buddhist rosary. They are akin to other forms of prayer beads and the rosary used in various other religions.
A person recites the mantras for different purposes linked to working with mind. The material which the beads are made of can vary according to the purpose of the mantras being recited. There are, however, some beads that can be used for all purposes and all kinds of mantras. Buddhist meditation beads are known by different names such as Juzu,
Shu zhu and Ba-di in different countries like Japan, China and Myanmar.