Many people have said to me, “I find Kapala mala beads terrifying, I’m very scared,” and others say, “Ordinary people can’t handle Kapala mala beads, they can’t suppress them,” and some people also ask why human bones must be used to make ritual implements. Hearing these words, it feels like most people have a misunderstanding about Kapala mala beads, so it is necessary to explain it to everyone.
Kapala, or skull, mala beads are a unique ritual implement of Vajrayana Buddhism, exclusive to this tradition. Not just any human bone is qualified to be made into mala beads. In Tibet, only the bones of a Lama are considered appropriate for this purpose. This is because Tibetan Lamas live in harsh natural environments throughout the year. They diligently practice, all with a certain level of realization. In addition to cultivating the inner heat (tummo) and other merits of the inner Sambhogakaya (enjoyment body), their bodies are no longer ordinary karmic bodies but perfect Sambhogakaya with vast merit and power. Furthermore, before their passing, they vow to have their bones, from a lifetime of practice, used as ritual implements through sky burial. These beads are then given to practitioners who have the karmic connection, to help them attain Buddhahood, offering their body, speech, and mind to the Three Jewels. This is true selflessness, benefiting all sentient beings. Therefore, the mala beads with true merit must be made from the bones of a Lama.
In Lama temples, there are generally Lamas who have vowed to make bone mala beads. They take the bones and grind them on a stone. With each grind, they recite a mantra or Buddha’s name. Grinding a bone into a round bead can require reciting tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of mantras or Buddha’s names. Therefore, it is only natural that human bone mala beads have incredible power.
For practitioners, Kapala mala beads are certainly more extraordinary than ordinary mala beads. Using Kapala bones to make mala beads makes one particularly aware of the swiftness of impermanence. Even a Lama who has cultivated diligently will eventually age, decay and die. No matter how much wealth and power a person has in their life, they cannot escape the arrival of impermanent death. Therefore, when we count the mala beads, we are reminded not to be lazy, but to diligently practice. This is the true meaning of Kapala mala beads.
In addition, Kapala mala beads are made from the bones of high-ranking monks, and they possess extra power to subdue demons and dispel evil. Especially when performing rituals for the deceased, Kapala mala beads have incredible power to help the deceased transcend and bring peace to the living. An old Kapala mala bead that has been passed down for generations has been chanted over by countless Lamas. It has been nurtured day and night by countless devout mantras and deeply immersed in the essence of boundless compassion. Passed down through generations, a truly authentic Kapala mala bead is filled with boundless compassion and vows, witnessing the clearest heart in the world.
It bestows upon us immeasurable blessings and protection, so how can we be terrified? Nor can such questions as ‘can one handle it’ exist.
Now, many people who have heard of the extraordinary nature of Kapala mala beads are extremely eager to obtain one for themselves. However, in order to save money, some resort to purchasing new Kapala mala beads, which is very dangerous. If you have a new Kapala mala bead in your hand, and the source of the bones is unknown, then it really is terrifying. According to Tibetan sources, these mala beads mostly come from the Nepal region, and there are also some unscrupulous counterfeiters who disregard karma for profit and commit extremely grave offenses. It is truly sad and lamentable. And those who use new Kapala mala beads are even more pitiful. The origin of the beads is unknown, and naturally, they cannot be pure. Not only do they not receive any blessings, but there may even be obstacles. Therefore, Tibetan practitioners also advise everyone to stay away from new Kapala mala beads.
For old Kapala mala beads, even just a single piece should be regarded as a treasure. Because they are sacred bones worthy of a lifetime of worship and reverence. They are the manifestation of the endless compassion and vows of Lamas, and the pinnacle of Tibetan Buddhist ritual implements.
Consider creating a link to a resource that explains in depth the concept of ‘sky burial’ to provide further context, or an article explaining the significance of mantras in Tibetan Buddhism.
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