What are Mala beads? 

Mala beads or Buddhist prayer beads are a string of beads  — 108 is a common number — of uniform size. They have a large role in Buddhist and Hindu meditation practices.

We first were introduced to Mala beads by Rory Trollen while on a yoga retreat in Thailand.

How do I use Mala beads?

Hold the mala in your hand at the head bead (the bead with string attached). Then choose the name of a Buddha, Bodhisattva, mantra, prayer or a chant. Each time you recite the name or mantra, you move your thumb up the mala by one bead.

For example, when reciting the name of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, you say, “Namo Di Jang Wang Pu Sa” and then you move your thumb up one bead.

There are a certain number of beads on malas – usually 108 is standard. Malas are used as instruments for counting each individual recitation of a  mantra/prayer, so that you don’t have to remember how many times you’ve recited. Once you get back to the head mala bead, you know you’ve said your mantra/prayer 108 times.

This is helpful in prayer and chant because certain Dharmas require you to recite a holy name or a mantra a certain amount of times. For example, for Earthstore/Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, you can recite his name 10,000 times within 7 days for certain responses that are detailed in his Sutra.

Separately, holding the mala itself is also a form of mindfulness of the body, which helps return your attention to the present moment whilst reciting.

How do you use mala beads in your practice?