Meditation malas, or prayer beads, are strings of beads that can be worn as a necklace or bracelet. They are made with various types of wood, seed, stone, or other material, and are generally smooth and strung in a way that allows meditators to roll the beads over the fingers.
There are usually 108 beads on a mala and a 109th bead referred to as the “head bead” or “guru bead.” Bracelet malas are often made with 27 beads and a 28th head bead. The 108 beads represent the 108 worldly sins in the Buddhist tradition. The number is always a multiple of 9, which is considered a sacred number in the Hindu tradition. When using a wrist mala, you would go around the beads four times to achieve a full meditation on 108 repetitions.
The head bead allows you to meditate through the beads without watching — you can feel when it is reached. Generally, you never cross over the head bead, but turn the mala around at that point and begin counting in the return direction.
To begin a mala meditation, decide whether you want to count breaths, mantra repetitions, or repetitions of a prayer or sacred phrase. Prepare for meditation in your preferred posture — sitting cross-legged, kneeling, in a chair, or even performing japa, a slow and gentle walking meditation.
Hold the mala over your middle finger. The index finger rests comfortably out of the way, and the thumb is used to roll each individual bead over the middle finger with each repetition. When you reach the head bead, gently turn the necklace or bracelet around and begin again in the return direction.
If you are using a meditation timer, set a time that allows you to complete all 108 repetitions at least once. But if you don’t finish, don’t worry — you never want to introduce anxiety into your meditation practice. There is no “wrong” in meditation.
There are many types of materials used for mala beads, and each is said to carry a different meaning:
- Lotus Seed — promotes spiritual and material wealth
- Rosewood — promotes healing and improves circulation
- Rudraksha Seed — promotes inner peace and knowledge
- Sandalwood — promotes tranquility (and has a lovely scent)
- Tulsi Wood (Holy Basil) — promotes devotion
You may simply prefer to choose the meditation mala that appeals to you by its appearance — and that is perfectly fine. But it can also be meaningful to hold the intention of the bead material in mind while meditating. Either way, using a mala during your practice can help increase focus and deepen your meditation session.
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