Malas - different materials

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thefrederation
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Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2021 1:13 pm

Malas - different materials

Post by thefrederation »

Mod note: This OP was an answer to this old topic https://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=19221

Dear all,

I know I am late to the conversation... but I am curious -

In Gyatrul Rinpoche's Generating the Deity - he mentions that according to Guru Padmasambhava:

"Next, the text discusses the counting of mantras with a mala. Another quote from the second Buddha, Padmasambhava, says:
"The best type of mala to use to increase the number of recitations is a mala made from some type of precious jewel (Tib. rin po che).
A mediocre type of mala is made from the seed of a tree or fruit, and inferior type of mala is made from wood, earth, stone or medicine."

A mala made from seashells, earth, wood or seeds from trees or fruit is meant to be used to accomplish peaceful sadhanas and
peaceful action. A mala made from gold will accomplish expansive karmas. A red coral mala is best for accomplishing powerful
sadhanas. A steel or turquoise mala is good for wrathful activity. A mala made from dzi or other precious stones can be used to accomplish any of the karmic activities you are doing. A mala made from apricot stones will accomplish expansive activity. A mala made from "lot ton" (a tiny, round black seed within a fruit) accomplishes powerful activity. A mala made from raksha beads accomplishes wrathful practices. A mala made from bodhi
seeds accomplishes all dharmas. Malas of bodhi tree wood accom￾plish peaceful karmas. A mala of mulberry beads accomplishes powerful karmas. Malas of mahogany wood accomplish wrathful practices. Malas made of ivory, especially from an elephant's tusk, will accomplish all concerned activity. Beads made of stone are good for expansive practice. Beads made of medicine are good for wrathful practice.

Malas with many different types of jewels are good for any practice. However, I suggest that you not attempt to create a mala with a lot of different
beads on it because, unless you know which combinations are effective, you may cause a non-positive result.
Next, the text mentions the different kinds of benefits that are derived from using different types of malas. An iron or steel mala multiplies the virtue that is accumulated with each recitation in a general way. A copper mala multiplies each recitation four times. A raksha mala multiplies each recitation by 20 million, and a pearl mala by 100 million. A silver mala multiplies by 100,000 and a ruby mala by 100 million. A bodhi seed mala manifests limitless benefits for any form of practice, be it peaceful, expansive, powerful or wrathful."

Is this the text that most people refer to as a guide for their choice of mala?


Moreover -- there also have been cases of High Lamas using Bodhi Seed malas which are not the same form as the "Phoenix Eye" Mala.

An example would be Jolenpa Gen Nyima who apparently uses a Bodhi Seed mala which is not a phoenix eye variant?

So which one do you guys think is correct?

Best,

F
Last edited by Ayu on Thu Aug 19, 2021 2:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Added mod note, deleted commercial link.
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