Re: A wonderful book on the spiritual power of beads

This is terrific-- I have a friend who has asked me last week if I can make prayer bead strands for him to sell, and the idea really appeals to me.

I have meditated with beads myself, but I don't use any "props" at all these days in my silent meditation, as I find it all somewhat distracting. However, the idea of making something that will be used by others in this way seems very attractive. I bet this activity will be very healing for your friend and will bring the two of you closer.

Does this book give instruction for making various types of rosaries?

Laura

Hi Laura - the book has some ideas for various kinds of prayer beads, rosaries and others (prayer beads being a part of many different religions practices), but the key idea is making something that is completely personal and imbued with meaning. One can make these for others, but I suspect that the most powerful will always be those that we choose components for and make ourselves. My friend is a new beader

- I started her on the path last summer by giving her a whole bunch of my lampwork beads to play with, and she's told me that working with beads has been an important part of her coping through some tough times this year. We'll probably add some PMC pieces we make over the next few days, and anything else that just seems like it needs to be part of our particular prayer bead strands.

When I first got my healing group together back in January, our first activity was to make strands of prayer beads. I got my inspiration to do this from A String And A Prayer. Most of my friends are not crafty persons, but they all enjoyed the challenge, and were pleased with the results. They all now use their prayer beads in their practices.

Arondelle

I suspect you're right :) I didn't mean to suggest otherwise, and I'm very sorry if it came across as though I did. I didn't mean to say that using them or not using them is right or wrong but in reading again what I just wrote I can see how it may have seemed as though that's what I was saying :(

I've used prayer beads many times in my meditation practice but I just don't use them now- it worked for me then and it may work for me again in the future.

This is a wonderful gift that you've given her, then!

That sounds like a nice and thoughtful way to help your friend. Thanks for your reply and I apologize for sounding as though I was denigrating your gift.

Laura

Part of the course for achieving Reiki II level included a 14 day meditation, using a bead to focus on each day, the stringing it.

Tina

This resonates with me. I got started beading by creating a mala (Buddhist prayer beads) and discovering that the beading process itself was even more calming and centering than using the beads once the mala was done. Which isn't to say that using prayer beads isn't calming and centering in itself, just that I got lots of satisfaction out of creating.

When it come to the question "How does this work?" I believe that physical artifacts that are infused with symbolism connected to one's spiritual path can be amazingly potent. They kind of 'anchor' positive states for you, and open the door to those states quickly because you have associated them with the object(s). Kind of a positive form of conditioning. Like feeling instantly secure when you smell something associated with a happy time or a state of strength or contentment.

Deirdre

This sounds like a wonderfully healing, strengthening process. Good wishes to both of you.

Deirdre

Cheryl has links to Catholic rosary instructions on her website

Quite awhile ago, I posted instructions for Buddhist ones-- Sooz may have them in one of her "infamous" lists. And one of the bead magazines (B&B or BW) had an article on prayer beads from several religious traditions a couple of years ago. Hindu ones should be "loose" on the string, and "slip" around easily (mala= garland). Kaytee "Simplexities" on

Hi Laura - darn this written medium sometimes. I appreciate your comments and shared experience. Hope I didn't sound like I was in anyway annoyed by what you wrote as I wasn't. Sleep-deprived - that's I am, so I may not have communicated as clearly as I like in my initial message.

Susan in Canada

Cool - I didn't know this! Thanks Tina!

No problem, Susan. I was probably reacting more to my own feelings about how what I said may have come across. You're right, the internet is a tough place to communicate sometimes! No worries, though-- but I do hope you can get some sleep!

Laura

Would you be willing to repost these? I'd love to try a set. Thanks!

marie~

"...for what are we without hope in our hearts..."

In general.... Traditional monks' malas have 108 beads + a "Buddha bead" (a focal bead, at the center bottom when worn), and usually some other extra, "special" beads. The "108" beads represent the 108 "passions" that tie you to this existence and which arise from the 6 senses....Tibetan versions have little strings of "counters" off the sides, and are generally loosely strung (on cotton/linen) so that the beads "slip". Some monastic malas have "extra" beads between the Buddha bead and the tassel(s).

Malas for laity generally have less beads-- some divisor of 108 + the Buddha bead, etc. and/or some other "significant" number. 18 and 21 are commonly used for Chinese "wrist malas"; larger, necklace length Chinese malas usually have a couple of fancy knotted tassels. They also often have a secondary "Buddha bead" opposite the main one, but this one usually is just strung in line with the rest of the beads (not 3-holed/tasseled); one I have has a Kuan Yin portrait bead as a "Buddha bead", and the "Coming Buddha" as the secondary Buddha bead, and all the other (54) beads have "generic" monks, as far as I can tell.

Shin-style prayer beads (ojuzu or onenju in Japanese) have a Buddha bead, two "parent" beads and enough other beads so that the strand will fit around your fingers held palms together (traditional "prayer" position). The cords for these traditionally were braided human hair, but modern ones are usually nylon or such. Silk and/or leather are somewhat anathema.... The cord goes through a small cone (wide end to the Buddha bead) or barrel shaped bead, then in through the bottom of a 3-holed bead (Buddha bead), then all the other beads (parent beads are about 1/3 the way up each side, and there usually is an odd # of beads between them), passes through the other side of the Buddha bead to the first side, around all the other beads again, then through the second side of the Buddha bead again, down through the bottom hole and out through the cone, and forms a tassel. (Got all that?)

Other Japanese sects have similar ojuzu, but often omit the "parent" beads, and the beads used may be all alike (rather than have different looking/sized beads for the Buddha bead and parent beads); the differences are based on the differences in philosophies-- Shin Buddhists "believe in" Other Power as the way to Enlightenment, and emphasizes gratitude to parents, teachers, etc. for all that enables you to travel the path of Life. Other sects emphasize Self Power and the teaching that there is no difference between you, the Road and "the Buddha"-- it is only that you're deluded that you see them as separate, and overcoming that delusion is something YOU have to do by yourself. Watch the Matrix... the "spoon" bit is "very Buddhist".... So was Yoda's monolog on "the Force" in "Part V" of the Star Wars saga....

Kaytee "Simplexities" on