Dharma Beads: Making and Using Your Own Buddhist Malas - Hardcover

Arettam, Joanna

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1582900337 ISBN 13: 9781582900339

Publisher: Journey Editions, 2000

Synopsis

The practice of meditating with Buddhist malas has been a tradition for thousands of years. With so many people searching for spiritual expression and Buddhism being so popular, its no wonder that a rosary from a 2500 year-old religion has become the hottest trend in contemporary culture.

Dharma Beads looks beyond just the hip aspect of wearing Buddhist malas and presents a thoughtful presentation of authentic Tibetan mala traditions and customs. Whatever your spiritual tradition, you can use malas to help you create and maintain a state of quiet reflection-a cloister of the mind.

In addition to all the materials you need to create three Dharma Bead bracelets, author Joanne Arettam has written a wonderfully accessible introduction to the meanings of various types of beads as well as their spiritual meanings and benefits. She writes, "Used meditatively, these beads offer a scenic rest stop on the harried eight-lane highway of life."

About this title

About the Author

Joanna Arettam is a painter and writer who writes widely on lifestyle, self-help, and spirituality matters. She was formerly the lifestyles editor of Glamour magazine.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Dharma Beads contains all the materials and instructions you need to make three beautiful 27-bead wrist malas, one each of fragrant sandalwood, earthy red carnelian, and glistening tiger s eye.

Whether you use malas to relax, meditate, affirm your personal power, or to attract luck, prosperity, or well-being, we ll help you make them a part of your life.

Buddha bracelet. Yogic rosary. Mala beads. All describe the prayer-bead strands that have been used in meditation by Buddhists and Hindus for centuries. Usually they come in 27- 54- or 108-bead lengths. As so-called power beads, usually around 20 beads and so not exactly traditional, they have crossed over into popular culture part fad, part good-luck charm. These bracelets grace the wrists of celebrities as well as hip students and smart young professionals around the country. But power beads are more than just a fashion statement. Used meditatively, they offer a scenic rest stop on the eight-lane highway of life the scenery being that inner landscape of self-reflection.

In Hindu tradition, Dharma means duty to your class and stage of life. In Buddhism, it means accepting the truth of karma and reincarnation as taught by Buddha. But a more secular meaning of Dharma is simply to conduct your life in an ethical way. Just be a good person. See? Mom was right.

Edition details

• Publisher: Journey Editions
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1582900337
• ISBN 13: 9781582900339
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 80