Mala beads

[jphiled]

I would just add a Shikantaza take on this.

... all as, simultaneously, just be here, no other place to be or could ever be.

Quite so, Reverend, and thanks for adding the Shikantaza spin on this.

[Daijo]

I have a couple of sets of mala beads, one rather long set that can be worn around the neck or wrapped several times around the wrist, and a few small sets that just go around the wrist. I wear the small set around my wrist, every day, in fact I wear it 24/7. Why? Because it was a gift from a lovely Buddhist nun, the first Buddhist nun I ever met, and it reminds me of her. No other reason. It just makes me happy.

[jphiled]

I know that feelling. My wife's family in Japan is good friends with a certain "temple family". We've watched their kids grow up, they've watched our's, etc. But they know of my interest in Buddhism, so sometimes they've given me nice mala beads too. They had a certain tree in their property they had to cut down because of some structural issue, but what did they do with the wood? Get some mala beads made, and i received one such bead.

I don't carry it around much, but I keep it in a nice box near the home altar as a nice reminder of their generosity.

[Biko]

I have a well worn mala that was gifted to me by my first teacher who was a student of Chogyam Trungpa and later Kobun Chino. I keep them more as a memento of my time with Sokuzan but I do pull them out for a round of Om Manis or medicine Buddhas now and then.

Gassho,
Jeffrey

[Joyo]

I've been wearing mine at school. I'm a teacher's assistant, therefore, deal with all the troubled (aka disrespectful) kids. It's a good reminder of my practice at a time when it is definitely needed

Gassho,
Joyo

[Ishin]

Hi all, I was just thinking about this the other day when I went by a gift shop in the mall. They sold many mala beads and also the long 108 bead necklaces. I am thinking of getting some though, as a reminder like Joyo spoke of, but also I think it might be a good way to start a conversation if someone asks.

Incidentally, in the Tai Chi long form there are 108 moves, and there is the 18 Lohan Qi gong sequence. The style of Kung Fu I practice is Choy Lee Fut ( Fut being Buddha). Our founder studied under a Shaolin Monk named Choy Fook who insisted he learn Buddhism or he would not teach him Kung Fu.

Gassho
C

[Dylan]

I wear my Mala/Juzu instead of a watch,
the time is always now.

Gassho,
Dylan

[Ankai]

I like my Mala. I find the tactile presence of the beads very centering, and the repetition calming. Even just the presence of their cool weight under my shirt when I wear them is a great reminder. There's no mystical power in the beads. Nothing special about repeating the mantra. It's not a goal, or a practice; its something to which I can apply my practice of Zen, much like some may knit, or paint, or whatever one does to relax. That's what I see the Mala as... a relaxation technique.