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 Mala
beads consist of a string of 108 beads, with one bead
considered the “summit
bead,”
which is called a sumeru.
The
Mala beads are a tool that can be used for keeping your
mind on the practice of meditation.
Mala beads are typically made out of different
materials, including tulsi (basil) wood,
stone, sandalwood, rudraksh seeds, bone, or crystal.
Each type of bead material has its own properties, which
make subtle difference in its affect on the subconscious
mind of the meditating person.
Meditation,
after all, is an exacting and tricky practice, since the
mind can be somewhat like a naughty little kid.
The mind is naturally inclined to wandering off
during the meditation practice, causing the practicing
person to lose concentration.
Additionally, if your energy is low while you try
to meditate, you can even fall asleep!
Conversely, if your energy is too high, you are
prone to fantasizing, daydreaming and other
distractions, which become barriers to the meditation
practice. It
is at precisely these times that mala beads provide the
assistance you require; a sort of anchor to your
meditations.
The
mala beads are used by moving them in rhythm with the
breath and the mantra of the meditating practitioner.
This ensures that both sleep and distraction are
prevented, due to the action upon the beads.
Mala
beads can be used in a number of ways.
One of the most common ways to use the mala beads
is to hang the string between the thumb and the ring
finger. Using
the middle finger, the mala beads are rotated by one
bead towards oneself, with each breath and repetition of
the mantra.
Another
method for mala beads means that they hang on the middle
finger, with the use of the thumb for rotating the mala,
in the same way as the first method, one bead at a time.
In
all methods for mala beads, the index finger is not
used, and never touches the mala beads. The dangling
mala may coil on the floor, as the practicing hand rests
on the right knee, or in front of the heart at the
center of the chest.
The
practice of mala begins at the sumeru and continues its
way around the loop until the summit has been reached
once more. The
sumeru must never be passed over.
Therefore, if it is intended that more than one
round of mala beads be performed, the string must be
turned around, so that the meditator can proceed once
more, but in the reverse direction.
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