Sandalwood Mala Beads
In meditation, people use Sandalwood Mala Beads mainly to count repeated mantras.
We have traditionally seen sandalwood as one of the purest substances. In addition, we value it for its cooling properties and its medicinal value as well. It is believed to promote tranquillity as an aid to meditation. Turning the sandalwood beads while chanting is supposed to have therapeutic properties that enhance calmness and a positive frame of mind.
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To use mala beads for controlling your breath:
Hold your mala with one hand.
Let it drape across your fingers so you can move it easily. Place two fingers around one of the beads next to the guru bead. Many people use their thumb and middle finger, as some religious traditions avoid using the index finger.
Complete one full breath (inhale and exhale).
Move your fingers to the next bead, breathing in and out once per bead.
Finish at the guru bead to complete 108 breaths.
If you want to do another round, just move your fingers in the opposite direction until you reach the guru bead again.
Beads made of semi-precious stones, pearls, bodhi seeds or wood may serve all kinds of goals, like counting any kind of mantras, or other forms of prayer, bows, walk-rounds and such. The cord is the same for every mala, and should be made of nine threads, symbolising the Buddha Vajradhara and the eight Bodhisattvas. The larger bead at the end stands for wisdom, realising emptiness, and the cylindrical bead on top of the large bead symbolises the void itself. Together, they symbolise the triumph over all adversities.
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