Secular Worry Beads

 
 

Greek komboloi (worry beads) of hematite with silver appointmentsIt isn't unusual to see elderly men in Greece, Turkey, and elsewhere in the Middle East fingering secular beads, called komboloi in Greek. The 33-bead strand is not for prayer, but it does have a calming effect on those who hold it. Worry beads have become hip among young Greeks of both sexes, reports a recent story from Athens: "The komboloi is more than just a noisy trinket. It's a scrap of tradition amid an endless feast of foreign culture." There, as here, says the story, "It's suddenly cool to be with beads."

Dharma Beads: Making and Using Your Own Buddhist Malas
Joanna Arettam (2000) Journey Editions; Tuttle Publishing

 

Dharma Beads: Making and Using Your Own Buddhist Malas

Dharma Beads: Making and Using Your Own Buddhist Malas

Joanna Arettam (2000) Journey Editions; Tuttle Publishing

The practice of meditating with Buddhist malas has been a tradition for thousands of years. With so many people searching for spiritual expression and Buddhism being so popular, its no wonder that a rosary from a 2500 year-old religion has become the hottest trend in contemporary culture. Dharma Beads looks beyond just the hip aspect of wearing Buddhist malas and presents a thoughtful presentation of authentic Tibetan mala traditions and customs. Whatever your spiritual tradition, you can use malas to help you create and maintain a state of quiet reflection: a cloister of the mind.

In this book you'll find fully illustrated easy-to-follow instructions to make three 27-bead malas, a brief history of the use of beads for meditation and prayer around the world, the story of the development of malas in Buddhist tradition, simple suggestions for beginning a spiritual practice using your malas, and color photographs from around the world.