Glossary

• Mala Beads
• Tibetan Mantra Prayer
• Sabbe satta sukhi hontu
• Buddhist Prayer Beads Materials

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Mala Beads

Mala beads are commonly used in Buddhist practice for meditation. Many prayer beads malas have 108 or 109 beads. Here are some reasons why the number 108 is an important number in Buddhism. Because much of Buddhism comes from Hinduism, the number 108 (and prayer beads), both come from Hinduism. Therefore, some of the important aspects of the number 108 will relate to Hinduism as well as Buddhism. 

9 x 12= 108. Both 9 and 12 are significant numbers in Buddhism.

There are 108 earthly desires.

Powers of 1, 2, and 3 in math: 1 to 1st power=1; 2 to 2nd power=4 (2x2); 3 to 3rd power=27 (3x3x3). 1x4x27=108.

There are 108 energy lines leading to the heart chakra.

There are 54 letters in the Sanskrit Alphabet, and 54 x 2=108

There are 108 evils one must overcome in order to find enlightenment.

Some say that there are 108 beads to allow for the mantra to be repeated 100 times, with room for error.

There are 108 Upanishads (ancient Hindu texts).

There are 12 constellations, and 9 arc segments.

There are 12 houses and 9 planets.

There are 108 names of Indian goddesses.

Lord Krishna had 108 gopis.

The diameter of the sun is 108 times the diameter of the earth.

108- 1 plus 8 equals 9

It is said that there are 108 paths to God.

Some Buddhists ring a bell 108 times to ring in the New Year.

Many Buddhist temples have 108 steps.

108 signifies the wholeness of the divinity, perfect totality. 

Many of our wrist malas have 18 or 19 beads. This is because 9 x 2 equals 18, and some beads have an extra bead, called the guru bead. This bead marks the starting place and is extra. 108 bead malas often have 109 beads so there is one guru bead. 

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Tibetan Mantra Prayers 

There are many popular Tibetan prayers. Here are a few Tibetan prayers and there translations. When using Tibetan Buddhist prayer bead malas, the mantra is said one time for each bead on the mala. 

Om Mani Padme Hum (Sanskrit) or Om Mani Peme Hung (Tibetan)

 

This prayer is the most common Tibetan Buddhist mantra. This mantra is associated with Avalokitesvara. It is often found on Tibetan jewelry, on prayer wheels, wood carvings, and other forms of Tibetan Buddhist art. This mantra literally means, "hail to the jewel in the lotus."  

Om- This syllable is made up of three sounds- a, u, m. So, it sounds like , Aum. These three syllables stand for the practitioner's impure body, speech, and mind. They also symbolize the pure and perfect body, speech, and mind of the Buddha. 

Mani- These syllables symbolizes the desire to be enlightened, to remove the impurities from ourselves and become pure like the Buddha. 

Padme- These two syllables mean lotus. The lotus symbolizes wisdom.  

Hum- This is the seed syllable of Akshobhya, who is immovable. 

So, the mantra all together, means that when you seek purity of the mind, body, and spirit, using wisdom and fortitude on your journey, you will achieve it.

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Sabbe satta sukhi hontu

 
This mantra means, "May all beings be happy."

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

Om- The past, present, and future- all of it is om. The world was created with the word 'om,' and it is believed that the first sound ever heard was the word, 'om.'

Shanti- Shanti means peace.

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Buddhist Prayer Beads Materials