Buddhist Mala Guru Rinpoche's Complete Guide: "Mala should follow you like a shadow"
Why did the great Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava teach that your mala "should accompany you like your shadow." What else did Guru Rinpoche teach regarding Malas. What is a mala in Buddhism? Why is a mala special? What difference does it make how many beads, the size of beads or the color? Does a mala have to be blessed? How do you use it? In this in-depth presentation, we answer these questions about Malas, and more. CONTENTS 00:00-01:50 Introducing Malas and the questions we ask 01:50-04:41 "Mala should follow you like your shadow" 04:41-05:26 Guru Rinpoche’s Instructions 05:26-06:45 How many beads should a Mala have? 06:45-8:52 Care, Dos and Do Nots of Mala Practices 08:52-11:40 Gyaltrul Rinpoche and Padmasambhava: Materials and Protocols 11:40-12:35 Blessing your mala 12:35-14:23 How to Use for Different Activities 14:24-15:24 Sealing the Merit of Recitations 15:24-16:07 Commitments for Practice: Root Commitments 16:07-16:54 If your Mala breaks Books Cited: The Generation Stage in Buddhist Tantra by Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche Publisher : Snow Lion; Revised Second Edition (April 8, 2005) ISBN-13 : 978-1559392297 ON AMAZON (affiliate link) : https://amzn.to/49a4ASJ Venerable Khenpo Gyaltsen A Lamp Illuminating the Path to Liberation: An Explanation of Essential Topics for Dharma Students Samye Translations: https://www.lhaseylotsawa.org/books/a... Ask a Zen or Chan Buddhist, and the practitioner might casually say, "A mala is just for counting, nothing special. Just count." Ask most devotional Mahayana Buddhists and the language would be one of sacred and precious respect: "It's a Dharma object." All the rules that apply to Dharma objects apply, such as do not place on the floor, do not step over a mala, treat it with reverence, and so much more. And, then there's the whole question of, can you wear a mala? Inquire of a serious Vajrayana Buddhist, and the likely answer will be more nuanced. "It's none other than the deity itself." This is the meaning behind Guru Rinpoche's advice that "If your mala has been repeatedly blessed... it should accompany you like your shadow." Vajrayana Buddhists also emphasize the practice of chanting mantra to bless our speech. In this practice malas are the main practice support, and considered blessed and sacred. Gyatrul Rinpoche, in his book The Generation Stage in Buddhist Tantra, writes: "Your mala represents not only the form of the deity but the speech of the deity as well. For example, if you recite the One-Hundred Syllable mantra, the guru bead represents the syllable Om and the other beads represent the remaining syllables." At this level a mala is not just sacred, but deity itself. So, which view is right? "Just for counting" or sacred object that should "accompany you like your shadow"? As with any skillful teaching in Buddhism, both views could be considered correct. If the mala is sacred, but, as Padmasambhava taught "should follow you like a shadow" it begs the question, can you wear your mala? As a sacred object, how do we care for it and respect it? Gyatrul Rinpoche taught, "It is appropriate to either wear one's mala around one's neck, or keep it in a pocket on one's upper body. It is inappropriate to keep it in a pants pocket." Normally, if you wear on your wrist, you wear on your passive hand. If you're right handed, wear on your left and if you're left handed on your right. Believe it or not, the question most often asked about malas, is, "If you wear your mala into the toilet, have you ruined your merit on that blessed mala?" The answer is no. There is no such instruction or prohibition. It's more a state of mind. If you feel a toilet is impure, then just re-bless your mala when you exit, by saying a mantra and blowing on the mala. But, there is nothing impure about going to the toilet. On the other hand, Guru Rinpoche did instruct "It is very important to protect your mala from contamination by non-virtuous persons." This basically means, don't show off your shiny mala to people who don't understand. Keep your practice private. It's not about defiling by touch alone. It's about your own mind being defiled by a superficial need to show off. For this reason, most of us wear our mala under a shirt, or in a carry bag, when in public, fulfilling the requirement to treat your mala like your own shadow while not showing it off. Ideally you ask your teacher to bless and consecrate your mala, but if you're doing it yourself, prior to each practice follow Padmasambhava's advice. He taught: Recite the mantra that transforms all dharmas into the awareness of their true nature: OM SVABHAVA SHUDDO SARVA DHARMA SVABHAVA SHUDDO HAM