Continuing on from "my favourite mala", here are three more. There are different words for a string of beads that are used for chanting/reciting/praying.
But its much the same - I feel at peace and in tune from reciting a mantra and counting off the beads. Or counting breaths while meditating.
Breaths or mantras per minute, after a set number I know I've sat in meditation for however long I want. And the mind learns to be patient, then it can be still. The stillness can gather and the monkey-mind can allow samatha - calm - to grow.
The inner mala in the picture is on elastic, and can be worn on the wrist. Any time one needs to return to stillness, its there.
The larger mala is for sitting meditation. Its held in both hands.
The outer mala has 108 beads on the circuit. 108 is significant in some schools of Buddhism. Its divisible by both 4 and 3 and is kind of neat. I can wear it around my neck or on a wrist.
