The mala is a useful tool for focusing your mind. While meditating if your energy is too low, you may fall asleep. If your energy is too high your mind will wander. A mala provides the perfect rhythm for your meditation, so practice a few different times a day and see what is most comfortable for you.
A mantra is a very important part of the meditation practice and also for your mala beads. You need to find a mantra that suits you and that you are comfortable with.
Your mantra can either be given to you by your teacher or you can choose one by yourself. If you are choosing your mantra yourself be certain about your intent. Try a few mantras for a few repetitions and see how they feel. Choose the mantra that feels most comfortable for you.
Agarwood, gold crystal ad 24k gold knotted 108 mala necklace
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I like to say, its up to you! Especially if you are just starting to get into the habit of meditating. Any free time you have during the day works just fine.
When meditation becomes part of your daily routine, this is when you should start to think about when is the best time. I still believe that anytime that fits your daily routine is great, but some times of the day are thought to be more beneficial.
The hour before sunrise is known as Brahma. This is the most auspicious time of the day to meditate and chant with your mala. Just before the sunrise, most people are still asleep and the day has not begun, so this make it easier for you to establish a meditative atmosphere. This is also when your body feels best, after a great nights sleep and you mind is not being distracted by your events in the day.
Meditating in the morning is also a great way to start your day. Setting aside time in the morning for meditation also lets us carry that energy and calmness through our daily activities.
If you are not a morning person or you enjoy meditating several times a day, just before you go to sleep is also a perfect time for meditation. This way the body can relax, ensuring you a better nights sleep. You don't want to be going to bed with all the days worries, chores and problems running through your mind.
Meditate anytime of the day that is comfortable for you.
]]>But, what happens when that mala breaks? Most people feel sad and a great loss because their mala had become such a large part of their life. Some people feel that is it a bad omen to have their mala break, especially if they are using it during meditation.
Having you mala break isn't a bad, it is actually a positive event. In Buddhism, they believe that when you mala breaks you have learned something, you've made progress and now its time to move on to the next step.
Many people become very attached to their mala. When your mala breaks and you are not ready to let it go yet, you can save the beads and restring them. You can restring the mala only if you have saved and found all the beads. This way you still have your same mala, just a bit newer. If you have lost some of the beads, many people choose to make a small necklace or bracelet with the beads they can find. This will be a special piece of jewelry for them, reminding them of all their hard work and dedication. Another option is to use all the beads you can find and replace the lost beads with new beads to have your same mala.
When we wear our malas the beads absorb negative energy from us, fear, stress, anxiety. For this reason, always be careful with your mala. Don't wear it during physical activities or where it can get damaged and never in the water. Many people even choose to take off their malas during yoga and place the malas near their mat, to save wear and tear
If you have broken your mala and are wanting it restrung, please send us an email and we will do our best to help you out.
Sandalwood, obsidian and 24k gold 108 knotted mala necklace
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Wear the dzi bead as often as you can. This allows them to absorb your body's warmth and interact with the magnetic field of your body.
If you have one than one dzi bead put them somewhere safe and special, such as a jewelry box or soft bag, when you are not wearing them.
To increase the stones brightness and color, rub your fingers together lightly, while you are wearing the stone.
Don't wear your dzi beads in water. When showering or taking a bath remove your dzi bead, it does not like water. If you are going swimming you cannot wear your dzi bead in a pool. The pool chemical will hurt the bead and dull the color. Try and avoid getting the dzi bead wet especially if you have a bracelet, the water will weaken the strings and could cause the bracelet to break easily.
Never drop the dzi bead. This will create stress for the bead and can cause cracking.
The dzi bead will protect you if you protect the dzi bead. Don't lend the beads to someone else or let them try them on or handle the beads.]]>If a large piece of your bead breaks off, it means that the bead is finished with its work. It is time for the bead to retire and you should allow it to rest and reward it for all the work it has done.
If you have a broken Dzi bead the best way to thank it for all the work it has done for you is to bury it some where around your house. This could be in a house plant or some where outside, near a tree or in the garden. Burring the bead is best, because in the ground is where the Dzi started. Think of it as the circle of life.
Medicine Dzi bead with Yellow jade and 24k gold
]]>Here is a list of the most popular symbol dzi beads
Lotus Flower- will help purify the spirit and mind and keep them calm and peaceful. It is a symbol of peace.
Bottle- will help to keep a long and healthy life. It is a symbol of wealth and a long life.
Tiger tooth- will keep away evil spirits and help to advance in your career and bring in wealth and good luck.
Wave- is a symbol of wealth, like water. The wave means the wealth will continually come, like water and keep flowing in forever.
Dorje- is a symbol of wisdom. It has the power to defeat all evil spirits and trouble in your life.
Urna- will clean your karma, body, mind and spirit and leave you feeling calm and peaceful.
Buddha Eye- has infinite power to make everything in your life go smoothly and make all your wishes come true.
Longevity- has a similar pattern to a tortoise shell and is the symbol of longevity. It will help you live a long and healthy life.
Heaven and Earth- will ensure a prosperous business and great luck and wealth. It will bring you luck from both heaven and earth.
Ruyi- is also called the money hook. It is a symbol of continual wealth, abundant food and great luck. This is a highly sought after dzi bead because of the amount of money it will bring into your life.
Pipal- is good for travelling. It ensures a safe journey and will eliminate disasters.
Crescent- will bring you great health, a prosperous life and good relationships.
Green Tara- is a symbol of wealth and prosperity. It will ensure all your dreams come true.
Charm of Evil Expelling- will ensure prosperity and will keep all evils away.
Da Ren- in English is called Big Man. He will be your guardian and ensure a smooth and successful life.
Guruda- will help you keep bad luck away and bring you good luck and fortune.
Sun and Moon- symbolize Yin and Yang. It will help you leave any suffering and find happiness through life.
Overlapping Peak- will give you courage and make your wishes come true.
Dharma Cap- will bring you peace and help you complete projects in your life.
Ritual Object- has infinite powers to defeat all evils in your life.
Black and White- symbolize night and day and Yin and Yang. It will bring you good luck, keep balance in your life and ensure safe journeys.
Stripes- can turn a bad situation into fortune and change bad luck into good luck.
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Here is a quick list of the meanings of the Dzi bead eye 1 to 12.
one eye- promotes safety and brings luck to the wearer. It is also thought to enhance wisdom and bring in more happiness.
two eyes- for a happy marriage and a happy family. The two eyes also bring balance and harmony. It represent the yin and the yang in your life.
three eye- known as the wealth bead. It is thought to bring in great wealth to the wearer. It represents the wealth god Kubera. The three eyes represent his two eyes and mouth and body, mind and heart.
four eyes- represent the 4 major Bodhisattvas in Buddhism. This bead will bring the wearer wealth, luck and provide a long happy life.
five eyes- is known as the magical bead. It brings success, career advancement, wisdom and obtaining whatever the wearer desires. It is one of the most sought after Dzi beads- eternal happiness!
six eyes- will eliminate all sadness and suffering from the wearers life and bring it an abundance of good luck.
seven eyes- helps the wearer achieve fame and glory. This bead also helps with the wearers career, wealth, relationships and health.
eight eyes- is the safety bead. It provides safety and protection to the wearer.
nine eyes- is one of the most popular Dzi beads. It is known as the wealth bead and does bring fame and great wealth. It also helps people to see their life more clearly.
ten eyes- is the symbol of perfection. It brings career advancements, positive feelings and comments from others and happy relationships.
eleven eyes- will increase the wearers wisdom. It will also eliminate suffering of any type and bring good luck and good fortune.
twelve eyes- fulfills all wishes. This is a powerful Dzi bead. It allows you to overcome any fears or obstacles in your life.
All of the Dzi beads bring good luck and protection. But, it is thought that the Dzi bead will choose the wearer. So, if one Dzi bead jumps out at you- That's Your Bead!
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People in this area believe that dzi beads are good luck to wear. They are capable of driving away evil spirits, protecting against natural catastrophes, increase energy, and bring good health and good luck. Dzi beads have been dated back to 1000 B.C. and were once referred to as God Beads because at that time, it was only the Gods who wore the Dzi beads. But, when their Dzi beads became old, scratched, chipped or broken they would throw the beads down from the heaven to earth. Then lucky people were able to find the worn beads.
In another story the Dzi beads are alive. Farmers working in the fields would see the Dzi beads moving around like worms. If they threw sand or dirt on to the beads they would freeze and become stone. Then they were able to wear the beads.
The beads will absorb all the negativity in your life and if you have ever seen Dzi beads before you know that there are many different patterns and shapes. The circles on the Dzi are called eyes and the number of eyes represent different things for you or your life.
The 9 eyes bead is one of the most popular, it may help you bring in money and see things in your life more clearly.
The two eye dzi bead can be worn if you want more balance and harmony in your life. The two eyes represent yin and yang.
I was told that when you put on a Dzi bead for the first time, shortly after you will feel thirsty. This means your metabolism and blood circulation are speeding up and about three days your body will have adapted.
If you hold two dzi beads in your hand, fingers out flat, beads in your palm, you will notice something amazing. The beads will slowly roll towards each other. Dzi beads are magnetic so they will always be drawn to each other.
Dzi beads are only found in the Himalayas. And one story goes, that a long, long time ago one area in Tibet was hit with an asteroid. This caused all of the dzi beads to become magnetic. And the stone is so amazing the all these years later the dzi beads still hold their magnetic energy.
But, wearing a magnetic stone can be very healthy and helpful to you body. People in Tibet claim that wearing the magnetic dzi beads improve your qi, make your blood flow faster and also help clean your blood, make your immune system stronger and also speed up your metabolism. It sounds crazy, but if you think about it, your blood has a lot of iron in it and wearing a magnetic stone will make the blood flow faster through that area.
Dzi beads are ancient and have been worn for centuries in Asia, especially by those who are spiritual or religious. But, in the last few years the beads have been making a huge come back with the younger generation. I was told, that a couple of years ago there was a plane crash in Taipei, Taiwan. And, sadly there was only one survivor. When he was interviewed later, he told the news crew that it was only because of his Dzi bead bracelet that he was still alive and that he would never go anywhere without it.
Tibetans regard the dzi bead as the most precious gemstone. This is the stone that the royal family has worn for generations.
In Tibet dzi beads can be used for mortgage purposes at banks and at the city's credit bureau. Often land or property can be paid for with dzi beads. Because of their small size they are very easy to carry around and are often look at the same as money.
During a Tibetan wedding ceremony dzi beads are an essential ornament. The amount of dzi beads worn and their quality symbolize they families wealth and status.
This is a medicine dzi bead bracelet made with lava stones.
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Dirty tassel- You can use a mild soap and give the tassel a quick wash. Lay the mala and tassel flat to air dry. Please make sure to keep ALL soaps and water away.
Bent tassel- Lay the tassel on a flat surface, making sure the tassel strings are flat. Place a book on top of the tassel to flatten. If needed an iron or hair straightener only its a natural fiber. (not recommended)
Uneven tassel- Using clean and very sharp scissors cut the long tassel strings to make flat and even.
Frayed tassel- mild wax is a last resort. Burning is not an option, causes ends to be rough and sharp.
So, please be kind and gentle to your tassel.
Sandalwood 108 knotted mala with dark red string and an extra long tassel.
And here is the short story, Mantras should be said in sets of 100 during your meditation. There are 108 beads on your mala, so the extra 8 beads are just in case and to sure you got your 100 mantras counted!
108 is the most holy number in Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism.
If you are interested in a little more history and information about the mala counting here are some facts for you.
Buddhist malas have 108 beads, but counting the 3 spacers beads, a total of 111 beads. Many ideas in Buddhism come from Hinduism, so 108 is an important number in both Buddhism and Hinduism.
9 x 12= 108. Both 9 and 12 are significant numbers in Buddhism.
There are 108 earthly desires.
Powers of 1, 2, and 3 in math: 1 to 1st power=1; 2 to 2nd power=4 (2x2); 3 to 3rd power=27 (3x3x3). 1x4x27=108.
There are 108 energy lines leading to the heart chakra.
There are 54 letters in the Sanskrit Alphabet, and 54 x 2=108
There are 108 evils one must overcome in order to find enlightenment.
Some say that there are 108 beads to allow for the mantra to be repeated 100 times, with room for error.
There are 108 Upanishads
There are 12 constellations, and 9 arc segments.
There are 12 houses and 9 planets.
There are 108 names of Indian goddesses.
Lord Krishna had 108 gopis.
The diameter of the sun is 108 times the diameter of the earth.
108- 1 plus 8 equals 9
It is said that there are 108 paths to God.
Some Buddhists ring a bell 108 times to ring in the New Year.
Many Buddhist temples have 108 steps.
Sandalwood, obsidian and 24k gold 108 knotted mala necklace.
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When you have finished a full round of your mala, don’t go over the guru bead. This is an important bead; it represents both the teacher and the god. This bead can’t be passed over or touch by your thumb. Turn the mala around and continue saying your mantras and pulling the mala beads until you have finished 108 repetitions or multiples of 108.
Here is a 108 knotted mala made with unpolished sandalwood and right orange string. This is a simple mala with no extra beads, spacers or sizes, all the beads are 8mm and this is the perfect style of mala to use for meditation. The guru bead has a extra long tassel, reminding you when to stop your cycle and begin again.
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It is thought that the word rosary may have come from the Sanskrit japa mala. When the Roman explorers came to India and first saw the mala necklaces, they heard japa mala and japa for the Romans meant rose. So, when the malas were taken back to the Roman Empire they were called rosarium. Today in English, rosary.
But, malas are called many names , prayer beads, Buddhist beads, Japa mala, power beads, energy beads, yoga beads, and the list goes on.
Whatever you call your mala beads it’s all about awakening the bodhivista, filling your heart with love and compassion, focusing your mind and life.
Here is a 108 knotted mala made with sandalwood, amazonite and 24k beads, with a crystal pendant.
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Malas are thought to be sacred objects and should be treated as such. Although they can be worn as jewelry, they should not be treated like jewelry. Leaving your mala around the house on a table to throwing it on the floor should never happen. When you wear you mala like jewelry be sure to protect it, and in turn it will protect you. If you take it off keep it in on something soft in a box or display case. Always remember they are sacred and should be treated well.
Malas can also be made of semi-precious stones or different types of wood. They are thought to provide an additional benefit of vibrational support strengthening your goals. Stone malas should not be worn on the wrist for days at a time so the vibrational benefits of the stones are kept pure. When you are not wearing your stone mala it should be kept in a pouch, box, pocket or bag. Gemstones and wood can absorb negative energy. To remove any unwanted energy, leave your mala in moonlight overnight, smudge it with sage or use amethyst or quartz.
A 108 knotted mala with wood and stone beads.
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