How to Use a Mala

How to use a mala: first, light a candle and then sit down with your mala. The mala should be held with the left hand, and you start your recitation at the first bead after the guru bead. The guru bead is not counted. Mantra meditation is the practice of a word or phrase that you repeat. They are often sanskrit in the Buddhist and Yogic traditions. You can also use an affirmation, like the word “calm” or a healing phrase like “I love myself.”In Tibetan Buddhism, The Mani Mantra is the Sanskrit mantra of Avolokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. It is as follows: OM MANI PADME HUM, which literally translates as “Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus.” It transliterates to: ohm manee padmae hoom. It is considered to be “the sacred six syllables,” as shown here.

The Mani Mantra is the most common Mahayana Buddhist Mantra, that is open for all to chant as a compliment to meditation practice. In Tibetan culture, it is common to see laypeople walking on the street, reciting the mani mantra, semi-audibly. Other mantras and meditation practices should be personally given to you by a Buddhist or Hindu teacher, and should not be recited without instruction. In general, the more ritualized or Tantric Buddhist practices come as an extension of a relationship with a teacher, and are not public. Mantras can be very powerful tools and a personal relationship with a formal teacher and or Sangha (meditation community) is always recommended.

Listen to the Mani Mantra on Youtube

In Tibetan Buddhism, there are considered to be six classes of beings, that take birth. Some of these beings are perceptible to an ordinary person, some are not. They are: Gods, Jealous Gods, Humans, Animals, Ghosts and Hungry Ghosts, and being who have unfortunately taken birth what the Buddhist’s consider an impermanent “hell”. These beings have taken birth due to the karma of believing in a permanent “self.” Until attaining enlightenment, we are stuck in an endless cycle of birth and death, creating for the most part, the “8 worldly concerns,” namely: pleasure and pain, loss and gain, praise and blame, and finally, disgrace and fame (these are easily remembered as they do rhyme!) Being caught up in this cycle of both having things work out for us, or not creates more suffering, attachment and karma with each day. The recitation of sacred syllables called mantra like the Mani Mantra is belived to have the power to liberate all classes of beings. Sitting meditation is the most expedient method to break these patterns, and open the mind and heart.

Once you have chosen your mantra, you may want to use pieces or single sounds from it during your practice. An example of this would be, when using the mantra, "Om" (Aum) as your chosen mantra, to exhale with a long "ah" sound during a standing forward fold or any other slow, simple, movement into an asana. Repeating this sound during asana practice readies the mind and the breath for a seated mantra practice following your asana work.