Malas : What are malas? Why and how do Buddhists use them?
Malas are found throughout Indian traditions. The Sanskrit word mālā means garland–flowers were traditionally strung together on a continuous loop or thread.
When we speak about Buddhist malas we refer to strings of beads. Buddhist practitioners use them to count mantra recitations and prayers.
When we practice meditation, we should have a vision. And our vision should really be vast. We practice to awaken to become Buddhas.
We may notice certain representations such as a Dharma wheel with two deer gazing steadily at it appear frequently. Why do we see this image on every monastery?
When we spin maṇi wheels in a clockwise direction, rolls of paper (or film) printed with mantras spin. In this way, we are turning the wheel of the Dharma for the benefit of sentient beings and accumulating merit.
Developing confident faith in the Buddha and the Dharma is crucial on the path. Confident faith means conviction based on wisdom and experience.
Meditative dance brings benefit for the spectator. Practitioners with faith and interest watch the dances and partake in their inner meaning.
Sang pūjā aids practitioners as a purification practice. As we perform this ritual, we focus on removing the impurities in the mindstream of the practitioners and all sentient beings. At the same time, we practice generosity by offering to all the ‘guests’.
Each year, to commemorate the paranirvāņa of Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche the Ngakso mending and purification practice is performed for one day at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling monastery in Boudha, Nepal.
Defining Supplication Kyabgön Phakchok Rinpoche often teaches us to supplicate the guru and the lineage masters repeatedly. Sometimes modern students have difficulties with this term
Rinpoche addresses the issue of the difficulty of achieving enlightenment–or “waking up”. His answer may be startling–he says that it is actually very easy. He points out that it is our own mindset that creates problems. We develop the habit of thinking that it is so difficult–and then we never actually practice.
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