Buddhist rosaries?

[Temwa]

I was hoping someone could help me out there.

I know that there is a Buddhist equivalent of a rosary - prayer beads, I've forgotten their proper name... So, knowing that Catholic rosaries have very specific prayers associated with different beads, I'm wondering if Buddhist prayer beads work the same way.

Are there specific prayers or mantras to be recited on the different beads?

[2steps]

I think Buddhist prayer beads are often made from Rosewood and are the same a rosaries but someone else may know better than me

[Toby Stimpson]

Hey :),

Well it would depend on where you are. Generally speaking a rosary in some Buddhist countries are called Malas...the same as in Hindu countries. Generally speaking Malas can be made from rosewood (I have a rosewood mala around my neck right now, from Nepal)...and have generally 108 beads followed by a guru bead with a tassle. Depending on where you are though they may be made of rock, Ive seen some made of jade and crystal, erm Rudraksha, soemtimes other types of seeds as well. It would really depend where you are.

As for your second question, in the Tibetan Vajrayana tradition, Malas have 108 beads becasue of it's correlation with he Hindu sacred number of 108. Practitioners repeat mantras and prayers 108 tiems per siting perhaps even twice. I have a friend who owns an 'import' store so to speak and he brings in malas from all over south east asia, and Ive seen in soem Tantrik Buddhist traditions a bone mala cut from Yack bone. I know with some traditions depending on what your mala is made from, it is dedicated to certain Bodhisattvas or Pujas or Mantras.

Namaste

Tobias

[omar]

I have a wrist Mala,made of Bodi seeds.

[Darkwater Stone]

How much do these rosary's cost? Could I google it and find out??? I've been thinking about getting one for a while....
Good thread.

[Temwa]

I know with some traditions depending on what your mala is made from, it is dedicated to certain Bodhisattvas or Pujas or Mantras.

Thank you, Tobias! That was very helpful. :) Would you happen to know where I can find out more about this?

[Toby Stimpson]

Hmmm, well my rosewood Mala cost me about 6.99 Canadian, but I got a discount hehe THANKS RAHIM! Erm, but yeah look online I know the yack bone sull malas he was charging 16 Canadian...but It would depend where they are being sold and what they are made of...obviously a pearly mala will cost more than a bead mala. If you're close to a city try any Import store, Chinatown, even Nepalese and Indian touristy stores have some.

As for the information, if you look up for example, lets say 'Green Tara' or 'Manjusri' or even 'Chenresing' with the word mala...it should bring soem info up hmmm lets see: (OOO it also looks like there are specific Malas for different Mudras as well, thats cool...)

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/b_beeds.htm
http://www.lwpub.com/ebooks/mmm.pdf (I have yet to check the authenticity of this, but it shall give you a little info *shrugs*)

www.buddhanet.com

this is to give you idea of prices:

http://www.himalayanmart.com/MalaBeads.php

Im tired im off to bed, I wodner can anyone else find more information, google didnt have that much luck (atleast when im drunk and not knowing what to search for haha). I hope soem of this helped...

Namaste

Tobias

[exodustruth]

Why not just make one yourself. I just don't see the point in buying one when you can just as easily make one yourself. It seems to me like their is to much of an emphasis on where they come from or what material they are made out of...doesn't this contradict the teachings of buddha?

[Toby Stimpson]

Why not just make one yourself. I just don't see the point in buying one when you can just as easily make one yourself. It seems to me like their is to much of an emphasis on where they come from or what material they are made out of...doesn't this contradict the teachings of buddha?

In a way...but also...remember that the Buddha warned against getting yourself caught up in a cycle of paranoia of whats right and whats wrong. You also have to look at it from this pespective...in the world (and the buddha never deceed against this) there are ties between materials and spirituals. Thta is to say that there are material objects that are directly linkd spiritually to thje spiritual teachings. Malas though are generally found mostly in mahayana countries...which believe strongly in the supernatural. if a certain mantra that is given to you by a teacher goes well with Rudraksha beads, or crystal...ofcourse it wouldnt stop you from saying it without that material...but generally one cannot make a mala with full Guru bead becasue the materials are traditionally driven as well as being specifically organized. But in a way, I might disagree with your argument also becasue well, what if a ritual Puja needed sandalwood incense...and you decide to instead use Connifer? How is that ritual then valid if you make it up as you go along?

[Cerulean_damselfly]

My sister took me to this bookstore down in Los Angeles once--I noticed they have some information of different 'prayer beads' for comparison:

http://www.bodhitree.com/booklists/malas.html

Your question and some of the answers by others has me interested in looking into this. If I find any practioners who found good sources, I'll post later...

Thanks for the initial question and Galadraal, thanks for the great links, as well...


Cerulean_Damselfly

[Toby Stimpson]

My sister took me to this bookstore down in Los Angeles once--I noticed they have some information of different 'prayer beads' for comparison:

http://www.bodhitree.com/booklists/malas.html

Your question and some of the answers by others has me interested in looking into this. If I find any practioners who found good sources, I'll post later...

Thanks for the initial question and Galadraal, thanks for the great links, as well...


Cerulean_Damselfly

Great website!

[exodustruth]

In a way...but also...remember that the Buddha warned against getting yourself caught up in a cycle of paranoia of whats right and whats wrong. You also have to look at it from this pespective...in the world (and the buddha never deceed against this) there are ties between materials and spirituals. That is to say that there are material objects that are directly linkd spiritually to thje spiritual teachings. Malas though are generally found mostly in mahayana countries...which believe strongly in the supernatural. if a certain mantra that is given to you by a teacher goes well with Rudraksha beads, or crystal...ofcourse it wouldnt stop you from saying it without that material...but generally one cannot make a mala with full Guru bead becasue the materials are traditionally driven as well as being specifically organized. But in a way, I might disagree with your argument also becasue well, what if a ritual Puja needed sandalwood incense...and you decide to instead use Connifer? How is that ritual then valid if you make it up as you go along?

Yes certain materials may or may not have a connection to the spiritual. People have tried before to list earthly things and their connection to the spiritual (the book 777 by aliester crowley) but different items might have different connections to different people. Just as a ritual might call for a red candle to stimulate someones primal urges maybe for someone else that candle stimulates the opposite. Some could also disagree with the use of beads altogether by saying that repeating a statement (mantra) tends to take away meaning from it. Although it is true that repeating a mantra can also make it more meaningful one could also argue by saying something once and meaning it is better the repeating something a million times and meaning it less or perhaps not at all. However, your point is just as valid. Just like everything else the choice and belief is up to the individual.

Just my thoughts on the subject...


Question: Are there any hand gestures or positions that you know of that hold a certain spiritual connection? If so can you describe them here along with any mantras that might go along with them. I'd like to experiement a little with the theory behind this more....

[Cerulean_damselfly]

Someone asked about hand gestures--I've heard of mudras, but never really have used them...this article might give information that you'll find helpful. I've never done mudras, am interested in hearing what others have to say...especially in practise with beads:

http://www.dalsabzi.com/Articles/mudras.htm

Here's an e-book for the Tibetian-style mala:

http://www.lwpub.com/downloads.html

It's fascinating and I suppose there's lots more, if you wanted to do a google search on 'malas and mantras'.

Hope some of this is helpful.

Regards,

Cerulean_Damselfly

[exodustruth]

Someone asked about hand gestures--I've heard of mudras, but never really have used them...this article might give information that you'll find helpful. I've never done mudras, am interested in hearing what others have to say...especially in practise with beads:

http://www.dalsabzi.com/Articles/mudras.htm

Here's an e-book for the Tibetian-style mala:

http://www.lwpub.com/downloads.html

It's fascinating and I suppose there's lots more, if you wanted to do a google search on 'malas and mantras'.

Hope some of this is helpful.

Regards,

Cerulean_Damselfly

Thanks a bunch! Found the links to be very informative. I messed with mudras a little bit before but didn't notice any results. Then again that was a few years ago and i didn't really understand it all.

Thanks again,

X