Meditation with beads or a mala

**Apsagni** · 11-11-2010, 12:36 AM

Here the way I use a Mala and a good explanation of what it is exactly. It's the way I chant mantra.

The Mala
As Used in the Mahajrya Buddhist Tradition
QBA
July 2009
The Mala

What is a Mala?

The mala is a string of beads used to assist in the recitation of mantras, or prayers. The most common mala is a necklace of 108 beads. Some Hindu necklaces have 109 beads, (the extra bead is used to hold the tassel, but is not counted.) Malas can also be in the form of a bracelet, and have 21 or 27 beads. We recite mantras to charge the soul (bringing in components that are often missing), elevating our consciousness and increasing our healing abilities. The expression “chanting a mala” means that we will
chant, or speak rapidly, a certain mantra 108 times, while using the mala to count—we call this “japa”.
It is a means of counting without placing too much attention on the counting. This allows us to focus on the philosophy and visualization of the mantras. Using the mala in recitation also transforms the mala into a power item.
Sacred Meaning Inherent in the Mala

Bead Material

Beads are typically crafted from seeds, wood, bone or stone. Seeds contain the ability to produce life, so are very appropriate for healers. Wood allows life to flow, but is more structured than seeds. Bones are even more structured than wood, and also support life, but not as much as seeds or wood for achievers or conquerors. Stone does not support biological life but is completely structured, consisting of raw energy and building materials. So, seeds represent life force, stone represents structure and building, and wood and bone are in between. General users will prefer wood as it the cheapest, and represents structure, life, everything.
Malas will lose energy over time if not used. Seed malas will hold up energy many years when unused.
Stone will lose its charge within one year if not used or worn. For example, energy flows through crystal; it is natural not to hold onto energy.

Bead Size

Bead size is merely a matter of convenience. It accommodates ease of count depending on finger size.
The smaller bead size allows discretion if wearing your mala under clothing.

The Tassel

The original meaning of the tassel was simply practical—to mark the 108th bead as a counter. But it carries the significance of “energy that flows from consciousness”. At the end of each mala, touch the tassel to the 3rd eye to signify oneness with divinity. You can also touch the tassel to the right eye, then left eye, then 3rd eye, for seeing this divinity everywhere. Either way, the result will be the same we put ourselves in communion with our preferred divinity.

Tassel color

Tassel color has only a minor influence, but still has meaning.
Red—power, force, and life force; the physical realm
Orange—energy, and experiencing life.
Yellow—understanding and knowledge
Green—compassion and undefined love
Blue—peace and wisdom (knowledge of the higher self)
Indigo—higher wisdom, higher energies, and spirituality
Violet—transformation and transmuting energy
Very dark violet—divine energy (Shiva’s gaze, the compassion of Avalokiteshwara)
Beginners could have a red tassel to encourage sensitivity in feeling energy. You could use a red tassel with a brown wooden mala to have the energy of the mala as close to the physical level as possible.
Green malas might have a green tassel to have everything at the level of compassion and the heart.

Numerology—the Sacred Meaning of Numbers
0 The world. Multiple 0’s = multi-dimensional, levels
1 Primordial consciousness
2 Duality, or complicity, mastered or not
3 Expansion
4 Form, or structure, gateway
5 Force, power, action
6 Unification of the physical and spiritual world
7 Tool, weapon, spiritual work
8 Realization in progress
9 Perfection
10 Original consciousness of the world (1 + 0)
11 Movement of, or transmission of consciousness
12 Incarnation, embodiment, or life experience
(as in the 12 signs of the zodiac)
13 The matrix, the Mother, Love, Consciousness expanding
21 Manifested energy, observed consciousness

108 Beads

Thus, the meaning of 108 beads is the realization of primordial consciousness in the world, aiming at perfection. Primordial means prior to individuality. 1+0+8=9, so the goal of 108 is to achieve perfection.

Formulas for Chanting Mantra

The determination of which formula to use with a given mantra, is based on which one will create about an hour of practice. The most common is the 9 x 12 formula—9 malas per day for 12 days, results in 108 malas. Some mantras must be charged for 108 days (to achieve perfection) in order to use them for others 108 beads x 108 malas results in 11,664 mantras. Overall, it means perfection of life experience, creating realization of primordial consciousness in the world.
1 is the consciousness
6 is the unification of the physical and spiritual world
4 is the form, or the structure
So we unite the consciousness in the body
If we take the pair of identical numbers:
11 is the consciousness that is transmitted
66 unites the zodiac, the unification at all levels
4 in the form or in the body
if we do the addition:
1+1+6+6+4=18
18 is the consciousness that is realized
1+8=9
9 is the number of perfection

The 1 x 41 formula (1 mala per day for 41 days) is form of consciousness. 4+1=5, giving the power to use the mantra. 40 is a perfected number, is the perfect form of the world. Hindus decided to add 1 just in case, to be beyond perfection of the form of the world, which resulted in giving us the power to use it. The 21x41 formula (21 recitations for 41 days), for example, the Mahakaruna. This formula is used when doing one mala of the prayer takes more than one hour. 21 is manifested energy. Every mantra
charged 41 days is sufficient for the user to be affected personally. To use outside of your body, and to greater extent, you need to supercharge for 108 days.

If you don’t have a mala, you can count to 108 using the digits of your fingers. The simplest, yet least
accurate (and least desirable) method, is to chant the mantra for about 30 minutes per day.

**Apsagni** · 11-11-2010, 03:53 AM

Mala Technique

“Roll the mala”, or “pop a bead” with either the thumb or major finger. You should not use your index finger to shift the beads, as this will empty the charge. However, it is not dramatic to touch the mala with the index while not doing japa. Begin the counting with the first bead after the bead with the
tassel. This bead will be “1”, and the tassel bead will be “108”.
Hold the mala with both hands, creating a loose loop. If counting with the major finger, hold your hands palms down with the tips of thumbs and ring fingers touching, and the mala resting where they touch.
Pull the mala toward you with the right major finger. If counting with the thumb, hold hands with palms up, mala resting on ring fingers. Pull the mala toward you with the right thumb.
You can also roll the mala with just the right hand, leaving the left hand free or positioned in a mudra of your choice. I have a friend who leaves the mala around his neck while rolling with the right hand.

Wearing Your Mala

Wearing your mala day to day is not required. Wear it to encourage energies, when you feel spiritual wear it constantly if you want to be spiritual all day. Don’t wear it when you don’t want to be spiritual.
The more you wear it when spiritual, it more it affects you—both you and the mala elevate back to the state when you were charging it.
When not wearing it, don’t put your mala just anywhere. You may place the mala on the surface of your altar, or you can keep it in a small pouch or case. Don’t put your mala in front of the sun or the moon, as we use this technique when we want to purify the malas.

Guidelines for Charging Mantras

Requirement for the 9x12 Formula
There isn’t an absolutely required process. We are charging consciousness, and this is always perfect.
There is a recommended time frame—9 malas (or 35 minutes) for 12 consecutive days (in this example).
This formula is a guarantee for someone who has not done any spiritual work to raise consciousness.
But you can do 3 malas per day for 36 consecutive days, or 1 mala per day for 108 consecutive days.
Maha uses a muscle-building analogy—a manageable amount of sacrifice for an extended time is the best balance and gives the best results. If you want to do more than 9 malas per day, it’s best to just charge several different mantras. If you must miss a day, try to do one mala to hold the energy, and add a day at the end.
If you find that you transcended or fell asleep during a charge, you were still activating the energy prior to transcendence or sleep. If you don’t finish the charge on this day, just don't count the day, but it does not interrupt the process. Upon coming back to yourself, do a few mantras to prevent the process
from being lost, and add a day at the end.

Charging More than One Mantra at a Time
When charging mantras from series (like the elements) you have to be certain to start the mantra charges in order to finish charging each mantra before you finish the next one following it. Start the fire mantra charge after you start the earth mantra charge, so that you finish the fire charge after you finish
the earth charge. This also means that if you charge the earth and fire elements in the same twelve days, you simply have to do the earth mantra first, and the fire mantra charge next.

**Apsagni** · 11-12-2010, 08:16 AM

The 5 Elements

The five elements are the building blocks of the universe, at a spiritual level. Charging these components in your soul makes everything else so much easier. This “charge” is done with the use of a mala. A mala is a wood bead necklace of exactly 108 beads. Some have a 109th bead that is not counted during this
practice. The expression “chanting a mala” means that you will chant, or speak rapidly, a certain mantra for exactly 108 times, while using your mala to count. Use your thumb or major to count the beads. You should not use your index finger to shift the beads while reciting mantras.

The five elements are more than the tangible elements we think of when we speak of earth, fire, spirit, water and air. The spiritual five elements refer to their concept, rather than their physical manifestation. We will explain the concepts to contemplate while you charge the mantras of the five elements. The following
concepts are what I like to refer to the basic five elements, where we go to the core of their energy. For each of the five elements, you will do a 9 x 12 type charge, reciting 9 malas per day, or 35 minutes, each day for 12 days in a row. Using a mala goes a bit faster than counting 35 minutes, when you are used to the spelling of the mantras.
Each of the five elements mantras call forth the assistance of Divine concepts that most people refer to as gods. We do not require the belief that there are actual human holy people in the personal forms of Bhumidevi, Agni, Avalokiteshwara, Tara, Cittaamala… These are the representation of the highest forces acting in the universe, and these mantras use the Buddhist approach to invoking their intervention. There are no real elemental processes that do not invoke the help of the Divine forces. However, everyone may call upon the Divine names of their own system of belief. We will provide an explanation of each mantra, and offer variation possibilities, for the student to call the Divine forces using the names that corresponds to their system of belief.

A student once asked me if it was acceptable to charge more than one mantra at a time. About charging more than one mantra at a time, you may, while following a simple rule. When charging mantras from series (like the elements) you have to be certain to start the mantra charges in order to finish charging each mantra before you finish the next one following it. Start the fire mantra charge after you start the earth mantra charge, so that you finish the fire charge after you finish the earth charge. This also means that if you charge the earth and fire elements in the same twelve days, you simply have to do the earth mantra first, and the fire mantra charge next.

Earth
Most people will think of earth as a symbol of stability, while the spiritual concept of earth is generation. Stability is linked mostly to the symbol of a rock, which is a part of the earth element. From the earth come out life and it contains all the metals that manage electro-magnetic fields. Earth does encompass the concept of stability, but it goes so much further. The earth element is the most important element to keep elevated in your energy system. It is the base of creation, and it is also the base of mental health. Have you ever seen a “down-to-earth” person with mental illness? Most mentally ill people are not connected to the earth element.

While you charge the earth element, or simply recite the mantra, think of the life giving aspect, the generation of plants, and the support of electro-magnetic fields. The earth element will stabilize and purify your Chi, your life energy. It will support protection circles around you, at the physical and spiritual levels.

The earth mantra: Om prithividhatu Bhumideviya
Om: Divine syllable
Prithivi: earth, the dirt
Dhatu: nature of, aspect of
Bhum: earth, the planet
Devi: divinity
Ya: grammatical association
The earth mantra invokes the energy of the earthly nature of the divine being that is our planet. All traditions may recite this mantra and respect their tradition. The English translation would be something like “earthly nature of the goddess Earth”. Once you have charged the earth mantra, you will be able to
invoke protection energies each time you recite the mantra mentally or aloud. Your mental health will increase. You paranoia will disappear. Your Chi / Life force will flow harmoniously in your body. The earth element is an essential before we can proceed to other trainings that involve interaction with the material world.

from the booklet Maha technic

**Apsagni** · 11-13-2010, 02:11 AM

Fire

The fire element is NOT the concept of burning and destruction, although it can be used for such applications, mostly in purification processes. The fire element’s true form is not destructive. Fire takes matter from a certain level of vibration, and it brings it to another higher level. Fire elevates the energies. It purifies the dense stagnant energies and transforms them in a higher nature, unclogging your energy circuitry. Fire also brings change and renewal. In nature, we can observe how fire will transform solid compounds into liquid or gaseous forms. It alters the molecular structure and the chemical formulation of components. Fire generates energy, and makes every other process powerful. While you use the fire mantra, contemplate the power generating forces, and the elevating effect.
The fire mantra: Om Tejasdhatu Agnaya
Om: Divine syllable
Tejas: Power, energy, force associated to fire
Dhatu: nature of, aspect of
Agni: Fire, both the form and Divinity (Agnaya here)
Ya: grammatical association

Agni is not a Divinity limited to any tradition. It is more popular in the Hindu tradition, but it simply means fire, in the form of an intelligent natural force. Fire is the most powerful force in nature. This mantra means something like “Powerful nature of Fire”. In sanskrit, sometimes we write the word Fire using “tejas” and sometimes using “agni”.