108 Turquoise Beads

What are prayer beads?

Prayer beads, also called "recitation beads," are portable ritual implements used to count recitations of Buddhist mantras or sutras. The original purpose of wearing prayer beads is to help practitioners cultivate mindfulness, eliminate afflictions, and maintain a dignified and solemn demeanor. Some figuratively call prayer beads "horse-tethering ropes," meaning that when the mind is like a wild horse, filled with distracting thoughts, holding prayer beads can suppress these thoughts, increase concentration, and generate wisdom.

What is the significance of the number of beads on a rosary?

108 is the most common number, representing the pursuit of the 108 Samadhis, the elimination of 108 kinds of afflictions, and thus enabling the body and mind to reach a state of tranquility. There are several different interpretations of the 108 afflictions. Generally speaking, each of the six senses has three kinds of feelings: suffering, pleasure, and indifference, totaling eighteen; and each of the six senses also has three kinds of feelings: good, bad, and neutral, totaling eighteen, for a total of thirty-six. When combined with the three periods of past, present, and future, it becomes 108 kinds of afflictions.

What are the different types of prayer beads?

Prayer beads can be classified according to four functions: pacifying, increasing, attracting, and purging.

1. White prayer beads used for pacifying activities: can purify karmic obstacles (such as those from crystal or pearls).

2. Yellow prayer beads for increasing good karma: These can increase wealth and merit (such as citrine).

3. Red prayer beads for purifying the mind: These can attract human or non-human beings (such as coral, agate, and ruby).

4. Blue, green, or black prayer beads used in rituals of purification: These can ward off evil spirits and remove obstacles (such as those made of sapphire, turquoise, or lapis lazuli).

Prayer beads made from dzi beads and bodhi seeds are suitable for various businesses.

Buddhists believe that everyone can use prayer beads and obtain immeasurable blessings and eradicate immeasurable sins. The best way to wear prayer beads is to hang them around the neck once, wrap them around the wrist twice, or place them on a table three times.