A string of beads, rosaries, or malas help us concentrate on mantras or prayers during meditation. A mala, sometimes worn around the neck, has 108 beads, and the one for the wrist is 27 beads. Catholic rosaries have 5 sets of ten beads plus the in between beads and introductory beads and crucifix or cross.

No matter what religion you are practicing, your beads help you concentrate on the prayers, which in turn raise your thoughts and vibration into a more spiritual or esoteric space. In the stillness of prayer and mantra repetition the body quiets, the mind eventually contemplates on virtue or positive thoughts.

In the photo I am holding a standard 108 bead mala in the way it is used during meditation practice. I move forward on the beads with one full mantra per bead.

If thoughts seem to be going downhill, bringing yourself back to concentrating on your beads provides the short break to begin positive and uplifting contemplation once more.

Early experience

When I was about 9 years old I began a self-motivated regime of saying a complete rosary sequence in bed at night before falling asleep. I kept my rosary under my pillow during the day. This became a lifetime habit.

What this shows me is that it is probably never too early to introduce children to spiritual praying that they can carry out on their own as I did. To the best of my memory it was my grandmother who introduced me to the idea of keeping my prayer beads under my pillow.

As a young mother, rocking a child on the screened porch each day, I would say prayers on my rosary to gather together peace into my life in the midst of the small tribe of my children running around. After a child would fall asleep in my lap I’d spend time in quiet contemplation and meditation.

Now, many years later I take as many opportunities for quiet time as I can to gather my beads, sit quietly near a sunny window, the cat at my side, and do mantra repetition and silent meditation. It is a satisfying time and fortifies me for the day surrounding.

Close your eyes and pray, reflect, meditate for a few moments and enjoy the supreme peace brought on.

Could life be any better?

For offline reading

Gentle Yoga and Meditation – for All Adults
Gentle yoga poses and meditations for adults of all ages, plus a dose of yoga philosophy and virtues. All poses illustrated. 107 pages. Table of contents at this link.

Meditation for all Kids
Sitting, walking, dance and group circle meditations, along with positive affirmations, verses and benefits of meditation for kids of all ages and abilities in a 100 page book with illustrations.

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Article by Susan Helene Kramer; photo showing how to use prayer beads by Stan Schaap