Question Regarding Japa Mala Technique

[Guest guest]

Namaste, dear brothers and sisters in Amma!

 

Hope this finds you all well and happy, resting in

Amma's Grace and Peace.

 

This baby has a question regarding the use of malas

for japa recitation. It may seem a bit technical, but

this monkey mind of mine will find anything to

question in an effort to distract me, so I thought I

would turn to my siblings for help.

 

When I use a mala for japa, I hold the bead between

the thumb and middle finger. I have read from several

sources that the index finger is best not used as it

represents the ego. However, I have found it easier on

most beads to pull the bead through the hand towards

me as I recite my mantra. I have, however, seen

brothers and sisters PUSHING the bead away from them

with the thumb as they recite their mantra on each

bead. I have tried looking up this information in

several places, but have not found an answer. Does

anyone know if there is a prescribed way to move the

bead, or does it not matter?

 

I bow to you all in humble thanks and love for this

beautiful satsang that we all share by Amma's

Grace....... Namaste.

 

At Her Feet,

Michael

 

 

 

Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Messenger

http://im.

[Guest guest]

On Fri, 7 Sep 2001 18:36:58 -0700 (PDT) mjf <mjf2001 writes:

>

> When I use a mala for japa, I hold the bead between

> the thumb and middle finger. I have read from several

> sources that the index finger is best not used as it

> represents the ego. However, I have found it easier on

> most beads to pull the bead through the hand towards

> me as I recite my mantra. I have, however, seen

> brothers and sisters PUSHING the bead away from them

> with the thumb as they recite their mantra on each

> bead. I have tried looking up this information in

> several places, but have not found an answer. Does

> anyone know if there is a prescribed way to move the

> bead, or does it not matter?

>

 

I have heard some folks say that you should pull the beads towards you

when chanting to draw a particular quality into your life; push the beads

away if you are chanting to get rid of particular bad habits or

tendancies.

 

Some say, pull towards you while the Moon is waxing, push away while the

Moon is waning. Bottom line? Do what feels most comfortable to you.

 

Of course, if you are doing more than one round of the mala, do NOT cross

over the Guru bead. Start the next round by turning the mala and heading

in the other direction.

 

And technically, especially if you are chanting in public, your mala and

hand should be obscured inside a <gomukh> (cow's face -- it looks like a

small feedbag), a bead-bag, or under a piece of cloth. It's considered

unlucky for strangers to watch you counting your beads -- and evil

magicians can steal the merit of your japa!

 

What kinds of beads do you do japa on? Different substances have

different effects.

 

-- Kalipadma

 

______________

GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!

Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!

Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:

http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.

[Guest guest]

Dear Michael,

 

I was once given instruction on this from a Siddha Yoga Swami. In Siddha

Yoga, they are very particular about things being done exactly right.

According to them the beads are supposed to be pulled towards you. Then (in

case you don't already know) once you reach the "Guru bead," you turn the

mala around and go back, again still pulling the beads towards you. You don't

count the guru bead (I don't know what the correct Sanskrit word is for

this), nor do you pass over it. I was told that this would be disrespectful,

like going over the guru's head.

 

I don't know if the above is right or not. Maybe others will know for sure.

 

By the way I thought your post about the male guru who is an incarnation of

Saraswati to be most interesting. I would be interested in getting the web

site from you.

 

Much love,

vaishnavi

[Guest guest]

Namaste, dear siblings in Amma!

 

How are my brothers and sisters today? Thank you so

much for replies to my mala question. I had read that

about not crossing the guru bead (or "meru", as I have

seen it's called often.... "meru" also means

"mountain") but turning around at that point and

continuing the mala the other way, if you're

continuing, that is.

 

To answer your question about which kind of mala I've

been using, I actually have a couple. The one I use

for morning meditation is a sandalwood mala of 108

beads. I put a small charm on it with the image of our

beloved Amma, right near the meru. I've read that

sandalwood is supposed to be very calming and

soothing, hence the sandalwood paste that Amma

sometimes puts on our foreheads for darshan. I love

this mala because it feels so smooth and good. I wore

it around my neck each time I received darshan from

Mother on this last tour, so I feel it's been blessed

by being in Her lap.

 

I then have a wrist mala that I strung myself made of

tiger's eye beads, 27 of them, and a meru and small

Amma charm. I tend to use that one when I'm traveling

or in the car, chanting the mantra Mother gave me,

turning it around at the meru until I get to the 108

(or more) repetitions. Of course, I like to chant the

mantra as much as possible without the mala, too, and

without counting. Sometimes, though, I find I really

like to use the mala throughout the day, when I

can..... it's soothing, it quiets this monkey mind of

mine and gives my hands something to do. (I'm prone to

nail-biting and other nervous hand habits.) The

tiger's eye beads.... well, I've heard different

things about them. Protective, promotes courage,

creativity.... the Dalai Lama reportedly chants His

japa on tiger's eye beads.... I like them because

they're pretty, they feel good, and they remind me of

Mother Durga's tiger, and that She is always with me

to keep me safe. I wear these on my wrist everyday,

pretty much, regardless of whether or not I actually

use them to chant that day.

 

I've never considered the idea that, while chanting

on them in the car on a highway, that an evil magician

might drive by and steal the power of my japa away!

hehheh Better get a cloth to cover them then.

 

Thanks again, brothers and sisters. Amma surely has

taken very good care of this little one by providing

such a wonderful satsang. Om Amriteshwaryai Namah.

 

At Her Feet,

Michael

 

 

 

 

 

Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Messenger

http://im.

[Guest guest]

On Sat, 8 Sep 2001 06:56:15 -0700 (PDT) mjf <mjf2001 writes:

> Namaste, dear siblings in Amma!

>

> How are my brothers and sisters today? Thank you so

> much for replies to my mala question. I had read that

> about not crossing the guru bead (or "meru", as I have

> seen it's called often.... "meru" also means

> "mountain")

 

It's generally called a "Meru bead" on a Buddhist mala.

 

A Buddhist mala also has "spacer" beads dividing it into quarters (i.e.,

every 27 beads). Or they take a Hindu-style mala and attach three

pendant charms as markers. Hindus often believe that mantras should be

offered in minimums of 108 repetitions, Buddhists are less concerned with

exact counts.

 

> To answer your question about which kind of mala I've

> been using, I actually have a couple. The one I use

> for morning meditation is a sandalwood mala of 108

> beads. I put a small charm on it with the image of our

> beloved Amma, right near the meru. I've read that

> sandalwood is supposed to be very calming and

> soothing,

 

Sandalwood is pleasing to all of the Devas. The scent does put people

into a calm, meditative mood... but it also has an erotic component!

Sandalwood's scent is similar to human sex pheromones. Applied to the

third eye, it stimulates psychic awareness.

 

The goddess Sarasvati is supposed to be expert in teaching all the

methods of applying <chandana> (sandalwood paste).

 

> I then have a wrist mala that I strung myself made of

> tiger's eye beads, 27 of them, and a meru and small

> Amma charm...

 

> The tiger's eye beads.... well, I've heard different

> things about them. Protective, promotes courage,

> creativity.... the Dalai Lama reportedly chants His

> japa on tiger's eye beads.... I like them because

> they're pretty, they feel good, and they remind me of

> Mother Durga's tiger, and that She is always with me

> to keep me safe.

 

Yep. Tiger's eye is sacred to Durga. It also protects from the

eclipse-producing North Node of the Moon, Rahu. Have you read Harish

Johari's book, "The Healing Powers of Gemstones"? It talks about the

effects of wearing various stones as pendants or mala beads.

 

Namaste,

 

-- Len/ Kalipadma

 

______________

GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!

Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!

Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:

http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.

[Guest guest]

Namah Shivaya,

Does anyone know what the significance of 108 is?

 

Fe

 

-

<kalipadma

<Ammachi>

Saturday, September 08, 2001 11:19 AM

Re: Question Regarding Japa Mala Technique

 

 

>

>

> On Sat, 8 Sep 2001 06:56:15 -0700 (PDT) mjf <mjf2001 writes:

> > Namaste, dear siblings in Amma!

> >

> > How are my brothers and sisters today? Thank you so

> > much for replies to my mala question. I had read that

> > about not crossing the guru bead (or "meru", as I have

> > seen it's called often.... "meru" also means

> > "mountain")

>

> It's generally called a "Meru bead" on a Buddhist mala.

>

> A Buddhist mala also has "spacer" beads dividing it into quarters (i.e.,

> every 27 beads). Or they take a Hindu-style mala and attach three

> pendant charms as markers. Hindus often believe that mantras should be

> offered in minimums of 108 repetitions, Buddhists are less concerned with

> exact counts.

>

> > To answer your question about which kind of mala I've

> > been using, I actually have a couple. The one I use

> > for morning meditation is a sandalwood mala of 108

> > beads. I put a small charm on it with the image of our

> > beloved Amma, right near the meru. I've read that

> > sandalwood is supposed to be very calming and

> > soothing,

>

> Sandalwood is pleasing to all of the Devas. The scent does put people

> into a calm, meditative mood... but it also has an erotic component!

> Sandalwood's scent is similar to human sex pheromones. Applied to the

> third eye, it stimulates psychic awareness.

>

> The goddess Sarasvati is supposed to be expert in teaching all the

> methods of applying <chandana> (sandalwood paste).

>

> > I then have a wrist mala that I strung myself made of

> > tiger's eye beads, 27 of them, and a meru and small

> > Amma charm...

>

> > The tiger's eye beads.... well, I've heard different

> > things about them. Protective, promotes courage,

> > creativity.... the Dalai Lama reportedly chants His

> > japa on tiger's eye beads.... I like them because

> > they're pretty, they feel good, and they remind me of

> > Mother Durga's tiger, and that She is always with me

> > to keep me safe.

>

> Yep. Tiger's eye is sacred to Durga. It also protects from the

> eclipse-producing North Node of the Moon, Rahu. Have you read Harish

> Johari's book, "The Healing Powers of Gemstones"? It talks about the

> effects of wearing various stones as pendants or mala beads.

>

> Namaste,

>

> -- Len/ Kalipadma

>

> ______________

> GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!

> Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!

> Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:

> http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.

>

>

> Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha!

>

> Ammachi

>

>

> Your use of is subject to

>

>

[Guest guest]

On Sat, 08 Sep 2001 11:53:34 -0700 Fe Langdon <flangdon

writes:

> Namah Shivaya,

> Does anyone know what the significance of 108 is?

>

 

There are quite a few attempts at explanation. Number 18, written in

Hebrew letters (Chet = 8, Yod = 10), spells "Chai" or "Life," and is

considered lucky.

 

For Hindus, Buddhists, and Moslems, the auspicious number is 108 (or

1008, or 10008, or...).

 

Many explanations are astrological. One is the number of the Sun, source

of all Light. Eight is the number of Saturn, planet of Darkness. Zero

between is symbol of Space and the Void.

 

There are 12 zodical constellations, and 9 planets in Jyotish (Vedic

astrology). Run each of the plaents through each of the signs, and you

have 108 variations. (9 x 12 = 108)

 

Similarly, there are 27 Lunar mansions (nakshatras) along the Zodiac,

each of which has 4 "feet" or <padas>. 27 x 4 = 108.

 

Lord Rama wanted to offer 108 lotuses to Durga in a puja. Ma Durga

appeared, and said, "I cannot grant your request. There are only 107

lotuses here."

 

Lord Rama unsheathed his knife and said, "Sita has often compared my eyes

to blue-black lotuses. Let me offer an eye in place of the missing

lotus..."

 

Ma Durga smiled, and presented the 108th lotus, which she had hidden.

"You are brave, and honorable, Lord Rama. And you will win this war with

Sri Lanka."

 

Since 108 is the number of auspiciousness (<mangalam> in Sanskrit) I know

many devotees of the Mother who shout "Mangalam!" when they see a digital

clock flash either 1:08 or 10:08...

 

-- Len/ Kalipadma

 

 

 

______________

GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!

Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!

Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:

http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.

[Guest guest]

Dear Amma's Siblings,

 

>Does anyone know what the significance of 108 is?

 

I do not know the exact significance of 108, but there are some interesting

facts associated with this number. It is known that the angular size of the

sun and the moon are the same, which is the reason why we observe solar

eclipse and all that. This means that the ratio of the distances from the

earth to the sun to the sun's diameter is the same as the ratio of the

distance from the earth to the moon to the moon's diameter. This ratio turns

out to be 108, which is our sacred number! I just thought that this might be

interesting.

 

Jagadheep

 

_______________

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

[Guest guest]

Dear Jagadeep and Len/Kalipadma,

 

Thank you for all the interesting information about "108".

 

108 thanks!

 

Fe