Beads are a Buddhist tool of meditation. They are moved in rhythm with the breath and mantra of the meditation. The action of moving the beads keeps sleep and distraction at bay and incorporates the whole body in a meditation. Each time the mantra is repeated, the fingers move to the next bead. The mala is meant to focus the mind and promote clear thought about the meaning of the mantra as it is chanted. Schools of thought, from India, to Tibet, to China recommend different ways of holding and counting Mala beads, but these are mostly local idiosyncrasies. However, each meditation should encompass the full cycle of beads. Longer meditations should include additional full cycles, starting at the summit and circling around again to the beginning. Reorient offers sandalwood Mala beads from Guangdong province in China. Each string has 108 beads.
