Well, let’s talk about them rosary beads, the Buddhist kind, you know? Some folks call ’em “mala” or somethin’ fancy, but to me, they’re just beads, beads you use to pray or somethin’ like that. I ain’t no scholar, mind you, just tellin’ it like I see it.
What are these beads anyway?
See, these Buddhist rosary beads, they ain’t like the ones them Catholic folks use, though they look kinda similar, I guess. They got a bunch of beads, strung together in a circle, and usually there’s a bigger bead, kinda like a marker, they call it a “guru” bead, fancy name for a big bead, see?
What are they made of?
- Wood, like from trees, you know?
- Seeds, from plants and stuff
- Stones, like them shiny ones you find by the river
- Even bones sometimes, creepy, huh?
It don’t really matter what they’re made of, long as they feel good in your hand, I reckon.
How do you use ‘em?
Now, this is where it gets a bit tricky, or maybe not, depends on how you look at it. You hold them beads in your hand, and you go through ‘em one by one, sayin’ a prayer or a chant or somethin’ with each bead. It’s like countin’, but instead of countin’ sheep, you’re countin’ prayers, or breaths, or whatever.
Some folks, they say a special word, a “mantra” they call it, with each bead. I don’t know much about them mantras, sounds like mumbo jumbo to me, but hey, if it works for them, it works. You just use your thumb to move from one bead to the next, easy peasy.
Why use ‘em?
Well, I figure it’s like this. Life’s busy, you know? Your mind’s all over the place, thinkin’ about this and that, worryin’ about this and that. Them beads, they help you focus, see? They give you somethin’ to hold onto, somethin’ to do with your hands while your mind settles down. It’s kinda like how I used to knit, kept my hands busy, my mind quiet.
Keeps you focused, like I said. You ain’t thinkin’ about the leaky roof or the price of eggs when you’re countin’ them beads, you’re thinkin’ about, well, whatever you’re supposed to be thinkin’ about when you’re prayin’ or meditatin’ or whatever they call it.
And it ain’t just for them Buddhist folks, neither. Anybody can use ‘em, I reckon. You don’t gotta be no monk or nothin’. Just a regular person, lookin’ for a little peace and quiet in their day. We all need a little bit of that, don’t we?
More than just beads, they say.
Some folks, they say them beads ain’t just beads, they’re somethin’ more. They say they carry blessings or good energy or somethin’ like that. I don’t know about that, sounds kinda far-fetched to me, but like I said, I ain’t no scholar. Maybe there’s somethin’ to it, maybe there ain’t. All I know is, if it helps you feel better, if it helps you find a little peace, then what’s the harm, right?
So, where do you get ‘em?
You can buy ‘em online, I guess, or at them fancy stores that sell that kinda stuff. But you could probably make your own too, if you was so inclined. Just get some beads, some string, and string ‘em together. Ain’t rocket science, you know?
Making your own rosary beads.
Now if you want to make your own, you gotta find some beads you like, and a string that’s strong enough to hold ‘em. Then you just start stringin’ them on, one by one. You can put a bigger bead in there somewhere, like that guru bead I was talkin’ about, to mark the start and end, or just to make it look pretty, I don’t care. It’s your beads, you do what you want with ‘em.
Different kinds of beads for different folks.
Just like there’s different kinds of people, there’s different kinds of beads, I reckon. Some folks like ‘em small, some folks like ‘em big. Some folks like ‘em plain, some folks like ‘em fancy. It’s all a matter of taste, you know? Like some folks like beans, some folks like taters, it’s all the same.
Finding your peace with Buddhist prayer beads.
So, that’s about all I know about them Buddhist rosary beads. They ain’t magic, they ain’t gonna solve all your problems, but they might just help you find a little peace, a little quiet in this noisy world. And that’s worth somethin’, ain’t it? Like sitting on the porch with a glass of lemonade, just peaceful.
So, go on, give ‘em a try. What have you got to lose? Worst case scenario, you got a pretty necklace, right? And best case scenario, well, maybe you find a little somethin’ you didn’t even know you was lookin’ for. You never know till you try, just like that time I tried them fancy city folk’s coffee.
Now, I gotta go feed them chickens. You city folk have a good day, ya hear?