Mala beads hold significant meaning. However, their common availability sometimes leads to improper use. Therefore, understanding the correct conduct for using them is essential. Some people habitually use the mala with their right hand. Yet, tantric scriptures state that how do you use mala beads requires the left hand.
Choosing the Right Materials for Your Mala Prayer Beads
Following Guru Rinpoche’s guidance, selecting suitable materials is crucial. If possible, diamond, ruby, or gold make excellent mala beads. These materials can bring great joy. However, financial constraints might necessitate other options. Tree seeds, like Bodhi seeds, are less expensive. They still possess value, making them appropriate. If tree seeds aren’t available, wood serves as an alternative. Additionally, you can shape medicinal herbs into round beads. Plastic is the least suitable material because it is too inexpensive. Furthermore, avoid using human skulls or beads shaped like skulls for your mala. Rinpoche emphasized these instructions come from Guru Rinpoche’s teachings. According to Guru Rinpoche, Bodhi seed is the best material.
When Not to Use Your Mala Beads
Certain situations make mala beads unsuitable for use. Firstly, do not accept beads from those who’ve broken samaya or guru-disciple vows. Secondly, avoid using stolen mala beads. Thirdly, mala beads obtained through force are inappropriate. Moreover, using mala beads already offered to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas isn’t proper. This includes beads placed on statues for adornment and then used for recitation. Mala beads with unevenly sized beads are also unsuitable. Ideally, the beads should have uniform size. If a bead on a new mala is damaged, replace it immediately.
Proper Handling of Your How Do You Use Mala Beads
When using mala beads, avoid placing them on the ground. This is especially important where animals could step on them. A mala stepped on by an animal should no longer be used. Also, do not use a mala to strike an animal. The size of the mala beads should be uniform. The mala should fit comfortably, allowing relaxed mantra recitation. Rinpoche advised against very large beads, common among Shaolin monks. However, avoid beads too small or tightly strung. These make recitation difficult. Such malas are unsuitable for practice.
Maintaining the Condition of Your Mala Prayer Beads
Mala beads should not be strung too loosely. This can create obstacles in your practice. Conversely, don’t string them too tightly. This makes them difficult to hold, hindering practice. Furthermore, mala beads shouldn’t be too long. A mala reaching your knees when worn looks like mere ornamentation. This can delay deity practice. If the mala beads are too short, it might shorten your lifespan. Rinpoche’s own mala has a standard length. Of course, the string might break after prolonged use. Don’t be superstitious or believe something unfortunate will happen. View it with equanimity. Avoid simply tying knots, ending up with 108 knots. Instead, have a lama restring it or do it yourself.
How Do You Use Mala Beads for Consecration?
When consecrating, visualize a sun disc on your right palm. See the seed syllable “Hum” upon it. Then, visualize a moon disc on your left palm. See the seed syllable “Ah” upon it. As you string the beads, hold them one by one with your left hand. Hold the string with your right hand. Engage in this visualization. See your hands representing method and wisdom. Recite “Hum! Hum! Hum!” as Rinpoche demonstrated. Avoid watching TV or singing while stringing. This visualization is vital. Why recite “Hum”? Vajrayana scriptures say “Hum” is powerful. It removes defilements. “Hum” destroys afflictions. “Hum” can destroy the hook of samsara. Samsara keeps us in cyclic existence. Liberation requires removing this hook through the power of “Hum”. The syllable “Hum” is very important because it is very powerful!
Once strung, consecrate the mala before use. The tassel should have three layers according to tantras. The top layer should be blue. The middle, red. The bottom, white. These colors represent the deity’s body, speech, and mind. However, strict adherence isn’t common now. Often, only one color is used, like on Rinpoche’s mala. Essentially, this represents the deity’s body, speech, and mind. The string represents the main deity. For example, if practicing Green Tara, the string represents her. The beads represent her retinue. Therefore, don’t casually place malas on the ground or in pockets. Sitting with them pocketed is like consecrating your deity inappropriately.
Now, instructions on how do you use mala prayer beads for consecration. Observe Rinpoche’s hand gesture. Raise the mala with your right hand. Receive it with your left palm. Rotate it clockwise. Place the tassel in the center. Visualize a moon disc on your left hand with “Ah.” See a sun disc on your right hand with “Hum.” With this visualization, the mala and you are purified instantly. All obstacles are cleansed. The mala represents your deity, who is perfectly pure. Rinpoche gave an example: for Green Tara, visualize a lotus beneath her. Upon it, a sun disc, then a moon disc. Upon that, the deity. Visualize white, red, and blue light emanating from the deity’s body, speech, and mind. Invite the actual deity to descend into the mala. After this, when the deity enters, visualize the beads as the actual deity, Green Tara. Simultaneously, visualize its great power. This visualization is the same for any deity’s mantra. It enables accomplishing that deity’s qualities and activities.
Remember, when inviting wisdom deities into the mala, or ourselves, or visualizing ourselves as the deity, or the mala as the deity, there’s a common misconception. The deity isn’t something external being invited. While it seems the deity enters the mala or us, the profound understanding is that we have been the wisdom deity since beginningless time! Though it seems we invite the deity, understand from within that we’ve been the deity all along. Due to ignorance, we can’t realize this. Through this practice, especially afterward, we understand we have been the deity since the start! The mala is also inherently the deity. Have a clear and deep understanding of this. Our current ignorance makes us perceive it as invitation. In reality, this process helps us realize our own inherent deity.
Generally, there’s an invocation prayer for consecrating mala beads. However, due to translation constraints, Rinpoche provided the mantra for that day. First, recite the first mantra seven times. Afterward, recite the second mantra while rubbing the beads between your palms. Blow on the mala after finishing. The merit of these mantras multiplies each recitation by one hundred thousand times, making it very auspicious! Rinpoche mentioned this isn’t needed daily. Once or twice a month suffices. This is useful if the mala gets dirty or an animal touches it. Reciting these mantras consecrates and purifies it.
How Do You Use Mala Beads for Recitation?
When using the mala for recitation, what is the correct method? Firstly, don’t hold it with the right hand. Also, avoid lying down or falling asleep. According to Guru Rinpoche, there are four ways to hold the mala, depending on the deity. When reciting a peaceful deity’s mantra, hold the mala at the heart center. Secondly, for increasing activities, hold it at the navel center. Thirdly, for powerful or magnetizing deities, hold it at the secret place. Fourthly, for wrathful deities or actions, hold it on the knee. In all these cases, hold the mala with the left hand.
The method of moving the beads also varies. For a peaceful deity, use the thumb and index finger. Secondly, for an increasing deity, use the thumb and middle finger. Thirdly, for magnetizing activities, use the thumb and ring finger. When practicing wrathful activities, use the thumb and little finger. Rinpoche noted using the thumb and little finger can be difficult. A general rule is using the thumb and index finger for most practices. You can also move the beads quickly with both hands. Ensure only one bead moves per mantra recitation. Don’t move large handfuls, as if deceiving the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
Samaya Vows Regarding Your Mala Beads
According to Guru Rinpoche’s samaya vows, there are main and secondary vows about mala beads. The main vow is to carry your mala beads always. Rinpoche and other lamas always have theirs. Sometimes they wear them, or keep them in a bag. The vow is to always carry our mala beads. Rinpoche joked we also carry banknotes everywhere. Thirdly, don’t casually show your mala beads, especially the one for your main deity practice. While our mala should be with us, avoid displaying them boastfully or comparing them. In the past, teachers kept malas in bags, concealing their practice. The more discreet the practice, the more powerful the blessing. If you diligently practice with your mala daily, your deity practice will progress faster.
The purpose of mala beads is only for reciting mantras. Don’t use them as toys or swing them around. Use them solely for deity mantras. Otherwise, hang them up. Stringing the mala with different colored beads makes it a “hippie mala,” which is inappropriate. Use only one color of uniform size. These are the conditions and precautions for making mala beads, as instructed by Rinpoche.
Rules for Reciting with Mala Beads
When reciting with mala beads, there are certain rules. Firstly, don’t converse or answer calls. Focus on the recitation. If you must speak, compensate by reciting four extra beads per instance. If you cough, recite the mantra five extra times. If you yawn, recite three extra times. These are instructions from past masters. Additionally, if you sneeze, recite ten extra times. The main reason is that these actions disperse mantra energy, which needs replenishing. If you spit, recite one extra time per instance.
Our mantra recitation should be effective. Why don’t we achieve results even after many recitations? The main reason is not following ancient masters’ instructions. The food we eat also affects mantra power. Onions and garlic affect mantra power for a day. Animal tongues affect it for twenty-one days. Mint and nettles affect it for three days. While avoiding onions and garlic is hard, Rinpoche advised avoiding these during retreats to prevent weakening mantra power. Avoid meat and alcohol. Vegetarianism is best. Don’t consume living animals. If meat and alcohol are unavoidable, Rinpoche provided a third mantra. Reciting it seven times before eating meat ensures the being is reborn in higher realms.
Lying profoundly affects mantra power, especially to your Vajra Guru, lamas, or Dharma siblings. Also, avoid angry language towards beings. Don’t extinguish flames with your mouth, as this diminishes mantra power. Avoid this. If we follow Rinpoche’s instructions diligently, we will achieve results in this life.
Further Instructions on How Do You Use Mala Prayer Beads
When practicing daily, we often invite the deity into ourselves, as if external. In fact, the profound understanding is realizing we’ve been the deity since beginningless time! The deity isn’t new. Realize the deity has been within since the start. If we can realize this, daily practice will be more effective. This is what Rinpoche will teach next time. Does anyone have questions?
We should prepare two malas. One for our main practice and another for carrying everywhere. This everyday mala can go anywhere. When you want to practice, quiet your mind, visualize the deity, and recite. This will be more effective. If busy, sit down at home later, visualize, and recite with this mala. Remember to look ahead while walking or driving. Especially while driving, or you might crash!
Question: When completing a round and reaching the guru bead, should we turn back or continue over it?
Answer: Rinpoche consulted senior Rinpoches. Answers varied. Turning back is acceptable. Continuing is also fine. Rinpoche continues. Some move beads outwards for special practices. Otherwise, generally, move them inwards.
Question: If we see meat we won’t eat, will reciting the third mantra benefit the being?
Answer: Of course, it will help! Whether you eat it or not, it helps the being be reborn in higher realms.
Question: Is it appropriate to move mala beads while talking?
Answer: That is not correct. Don’t converse while reciting mantras. If necessary to speak, stop moving the beads. You can’t say your conversation is the mantra. If unavoidable, the remedy is reciting ten extra mantras per word. Remember how many words you speak, which can be tiring.
Question: Can mala beads be placed under a scooter seat?
Answer: No, you cannot! This is like constantly consecrating your deity. Generally, in Tibetan Buddhism, hang the mala around the neck when not in use. However, Exoteric traditions disallow this. It depends on your lineage. In a Tibetan Buddhist temple, wearing it is fine. In an Exoteric temple, hold it or keep it in your bag.
Question: When carrying mala beads at work is inconvenient, some use a counter. Is this okay?
Answer: Rinpoche hasn’t heard of using a counter to replace mala beads. If inconvenient, recite silently, focusing your mind. Use the mala at home.
Question: Rinpoche mentioned, “The most profound visualization is realizing we have been the deity since beginningless time!” Could you elaborate?
Answer: In completion stage practices, the wisdom deity merges with our self-visualization as the samaya deity. The deity merges into oneself, then oneself merges into the environment and beings, dissolving into emptiness. We visualize ourselves as the deity. Simultaneously, all sounds, thoughts, phenomena, and beings are the deity. The deity in the mandala merges into us, the wisdom deity into the samaya deity. Our ordinary body transforms into the deity’s pure body. Our body, speech, and mind become inseparable from the deity. Besides this gradual visualization, there’s instantaneous realization. The moment you visualize, you instantly are the deity, possessing the deity’s attributes. This means realizing we’ve been the deity since the beginning. This needs much practice. Hearing is not enough. Hearing provides understanding, practice is another matter. Rinpoche will elaborate next time.
When buying a new mala, sprinkle it with saffron water. If discarding a mala, place it in a cave or hang it on a tree. Don’t hang it in your garden to show off. If a mala gets dirty, for example, an animal steps on it, scriptures say it can no longer be used. If replacing it is difficult, wash it with saffron water and reconsecrate it. If you take this seriously, replace it.
Question: Should a counter also be used with the left hand?
Answer: Scriptures specify using the left hand only for mala beads. There are no instructions for counters, so the right hand is fine. Regarding not blowing out fire, it’s okay for small flames. However, for large fires, like the fire offering, it’s impossible. Of course, if avoidable, avoid extinguishing any fire with your mouth.
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