Malas can be a rewarding form of meditation. I remember back to this time last year when I was investigating using a Mala in my practice. Now, after a year of active use, I feel able to give feedback from my experience. The short answer? Get one!
Wearing it everywhere I go has helped engage me in practice. If I’m in a line, or waiting for someone, or have free time out and about, I’ll often start using the Mala. I’ll even have a cheeky chant sitting waiting for my lunch.
When using a Mala I find myself very quickly entering into a space of total acceptance, with a fixed focus on the mantra at hand. When in busy spaces, and in between tasks, this checking in is really nourishing.
An unexpected upsides to using a Mala is a deepening relationship with Avalokite?vara(Om Mani Padme Hum), and The Heart Sutra(Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha). Alternating my chanting between these 2 mantras, I feel a a sense of compassion, space, and ease towards the world.
Wearing a Mala has also allowed me to engage with other Buddhists in my local community. Other practitioners keep popping up. People I have no idea about, but through recognising my Mala begin chatting to me. Wearing a Mala has also helped me engage with many people just curious about my practice, and a few have offered amazingly beautiful support offerings.
A Mala has helped increase my practice, continuing my investigations of compassion and wisdom, as well as enabled me to meet other Buddhists. I suggest you investigate a mala for your own practice. If you wear a mala, I’d love to hear your story.
(photo. Also, a personal sorry for the delay in getting this post out. I’ve been out of action and/or in hospital for the most part of the last week.)
UPDATE: Below’s a photo of my personal Mala, a friend of mine took a photo of it. Purchased from Zen Mountain Monastery Store. Click for larger version.
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I started using malas when I started making them four years ago and since then have advised many meditators and made 1000s of malas for practitioners.
What I love the most about using a mala is that it allows you to focus on your practice and reciting mantra or breathing ENTIRELY. When your mind becomes active and you question how long you have been sitting there the mala allows you some gauge of time and settles the mind back into the practice.
One of the great things about a mala is that the energy retains its essence and helps the practitioner in their meditations…repeated over time the depth of the meditation increases.
Why 108? The reason is that from the heart you have 108 main arteries called “nadis” and as you repeat the mantra you purify these respective arteries; once your round of 108 is complete you have purified your entire body.
Once you have completed your meditation and opened your eyes do not get up right away, try to feel the energy that is coursing through your body and give thanks for the health you have to be able to sit for whatever time you have.
Blessings.
Sorry to hear you have been in hospital. Hope you are on the way back to health.
Great post. I have felt very similar experiences with my mala and really find it to be a great addition to my practice. And as you said it expands my practice to where ever I go. I’m glad that you’ve found it helpful to your practice and life in general.
And I love Brian’s malas. The one I have now is made by him and I’d recommend his work.
Hi Wade: hope you are recovering well from your hospitalization.
Even though I haven’t used a mala for many years, I can also vouch for their efficacy when meditating, especially in relation to the recitation of a mantra. I went through a Hindu phase – to go with the Christian, Muslim, Gnostic & other phases! – and used a mala when chanting Hindu mantras such as the Maha Mantra or “Hare Krishna” mantra. Now, after not that long I moved on from the Hare Krishna movement but kept up the use of the mala for some time. It enabled meditation at the time to progress with a sense of where I was in the meditation. The actual physical act of moving the beads through my fingers had a literally tangible effect on concentration levels.
Interesting post, Wade.
G at ‘Buddha Space’.
http://buddhaspace.blogspot.com
Hi Wade, sorry to hear of your hospitalization and hope all is well wth you now… love Val
Hi Wade, I’m sorry to hear that you’ve been unwell. Get better soon. I loved your mala post, you’ve inspired me to have a go meditating with a mala, I think I’ll make myself one. Now that I’m in Cape Town, I don’t know where to get these sorts of things. All the very best, Tracy
@Brian, I wasn’t expecting to see you on here. Thank you for posting more about your story and your experience. Thanks again for the great service you offer. Your Malas are out of this world, and a real honour to wear. They are very clearly made with love.
@Evan, thank you for your comments. I am returning to health again now. I was taken out of action for around 2.5 weeks, no causes officially found after all that. Also, you maybe interested in http://www.wisdomforamodernworld.net/
@James, Thank you again for your post, and your replies to me a year ago. They have helped me a lot through the year.
@Gary, Thank you, as I said to Evan, 2.5 weeks later, I’m getting back into the swing of things again.
Thank you for your personal story/use of a Mala. It’s great to get different perspectives/insights on a practice.
@Val, Thank you, the worst is over, all is rapidly becoming well. Started exercising over the weekend, the energy is returning to my body.
@Tracy, Thank you for your support. I hope you’ve managed to get access to a Mala. If your still having problems finding one, drop me an e-mail and I’ll send you one. Hope Cape Town’s going well for you too.
May all beings be happy.
Gassho,
Wade
Wade, read that you were ill, sorry to vision this. Have you searched any background with Hydrogen Peroxide? Here is a briefing on several ailments!
Eating fruits and vegetables raw ensures that we get this hydrogen peroxide into our bodies, along with valuable enzymes. Mother’s milk contains a good amount of hydrogen peroxide, and colostrum contains even more. The spring water of Lourdes, famous for its healing powers, has a very high content of naturally occuring hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide is used in milk in 45 countries around the world, removing the need for refrigeration. An article on the ‘aseptic’ process for milk can be found in “Trailer Life,” Novemeber 1981, p51-52.
*Many people have found benefit in drinking diluted amounts of hydrogen peroxide, but it can be nauseating and cause stomach upset. It is better to bathe in it, putting 8 ounces of 35% food grade H2O2 in a tub of warm, chlorine-free water and soaking for 25-30 minutes.
*Alternatively, you could spray the body after a shower with 3% hydrogen peroxide, avoiding the eyes and hair.
*Spray vegetables and fruits with a 3% solution of H2O2 and then rinse, to remove pesticides.
*In the dishwasher, add 2 oz. of 3% to the regular washing formula.
*In the wash machine, add 8 oz. of 3% to the wash in place of bleach.
*As a mouthwash, gargle with 3% H2O2, and then rinse.
*Use baking soda and 3% H2O2 to make a paste for brushing teeth.
*As a douche, add 2 tablespoons of 3% to a quart of distilled water.
*For an enema, add 2 tablespoons of 3% to a quart of distilled water.
To make a 3% solution, mix 11 oz. of distilled water with 1 oz. of 35% hydrogen peroxide. Always be careful when handling 35% food grade, and keep it away from children. If you spill some, wash the area with water to dilute it. If you get it on your skin, rinse under running water. The skin will temporarily turn white, but no permanent harm is done.
Consider getting organic Indian tobacco also, called “American Spirits” cigarettes (no pesticides) Open a couple of cigarettes and dump the tobacco into Vodka or Sake and let it soak for a week. You can filter out the tobacco leaves and just keep the liquid in a dropper bottle. Mark it as “Tobacco tincture”
Very powerful, will handle most bugs, even the ‘exotic’ ones delivered via chemtrails. Try a few drops to see how you can handle it.
Keep me posted.
Regards,
Namaste