How Do You Use Tibetan Prayer Beads. What Are Malas? Mala means Sanskrit for the original Sanskrit names of prayer beads used for counting mantras. The mala can be used throughout Tibetan Buddhist communities around the world, and is either tucked around the wrists or hanging from the fingers. They are often coupled with the humming of mantra recitations like Om mani padme tuttare and ture, or om mun muni maha-muniye soha. In Tibetan we call them trengwa. It is typical for Tibetan Buddhists to recite certain mantras thousands on thousands of times. You could also count them by using your rosary as a religious calculator. Even if you're not doing any actual counting, the repetitive recitation of the mantra while proceeding bead by bead through the mala helps concentrate and soothe the mind. A string of 108 beads composed of precious or semiprecious stones or wood, seeds, bone, or wood is the most common kind. If you can complete 100 mantra recitations while moving through the mala, by reciting one mantra for every bead, you are considered accomplished. To cover any errors or miscounts, an additional 8 beads may be utilized as "spare". One head bead can also be located, which is more substantial than all of the others and is often called "guru bead". However, it serves as the beginning point in the circuit, and is not part of the 108 total. Certain malas could contain additional precious stones, such as coral or turquoise that are added at various intervals. They are often placed at intervals that you can use for counting, like after 27 beads, for instance to make sure that you're only half way through one circuit. These counter beads are added to the total count of beads would be 111 and not 108. You can also use a smaller mala for prostrations that is made of 27 beads. In this scenario, the smaller size is wrapped around the hand and repeated four times. One can make other configurations such as 21 or 22 for example but that's not a problem, as long as you are able to use your mala to count. Types of Malas There are numerous kinds and designs of malas. They range from ivory and bones to lapis lazuli, sandalwood and crystal. There are a myriad of theories that explain which mala is appropriate for which kind of prayer. But we don't think it matters what kind you use. We think that the majority of other Tibetans do not make any big distinctions about mala types, too. Monks or nuns will typically use very basic and cheap malas, such as wooden malas. It is possible to choose any mala you'd like to use. It is important to remain focussed on your spiritual practice and the mantras you repeat, rather than on the appearance of the mala or how much it costs. See the recommended Bodhi Tree Mala Beads for more.How To Hold And Count With Your Malas Like is the norm in Tibetan tradition, we would like to emphasize that there are no rules regarding malas or how to measure mantras. Every person is different in their approach. There are a variety of ways of doing things however, these don't matter in the same way as your intention and your way of praying. If you're praying with your heart using your mala, it is an excellent thing. While most sources recommend holding the mala in one hand however, some Tibetans advocate using the other. If you have prayer wheels in one and a mala, it is more typical to have your mala held in the left and the prayer wheel towards the right. Your mala can be used by beginning with the one closest to the "guru". Place the bead between your thumb and index finger, and repeat the mantra either silently or loudly. Then, you can move to the next bead moving your thumb slowly. After that you will repeat your mantra. Then you will have completed 100 mantras, without having to count the number of times. The majority of Tibetans stop here and turn their back. They turn the mala round and start a new round of 100. We're not sure the reason for this. It's more of a habit than anything else. Caring for your Mala When you use your mala to perform mantra recitations, bring it to classes or have it blessed with your guru, it will gain spiritual significance. It's not sacred in its own, but it's something we treat with respect. This means you should not place it on the floor, pile mundane objects on top of it or throw it away. If you aren't using your malas, Tibetans wrap them around their wrists or hang them around their necks. It is not recommended to wear them as necklaces. It can be hung in a prominent location like near your altar or on the wall if do not use it for a while. It's kept on an area under our altar. It's all up to you and your determination to handle it with care and respect, while maintaining an empathetic, practical attitude.
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