Prayer Beads, Buddha Beads, Mala Beads???...are actually all the same thing.

Basically they are a string of beads used to count the repetitions of prayers, chants or mantras or used to help focus during meditation. Used in Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Shinto, Islam, Sikhism, Umbanda, Kabbahlah and probably more that I know nothing about.

They are called by different names; Mala Beads, Buddha Beads, Japamala, Rosary Beads, Sibah Beads, Prayer Beads... but they are all used for the same thing - to connect to Stillness, to God, to Peace.

Even the term “bead” itself has an intrinsically spiritual connotation: it is originally derived from the old Anglo-Saxon term bede, which simply means prayer.

Possible prayer bead, estimated at 110,000 years old found in Morocco.

Beads made of ostrich shell fragments have been found from the Aterian culture in Morocco and are estimated to be 110,000 years old.

It seems today, however, that these beads are worn not just for prayer or mantras or to focus during meditation, they are being worn as a reminder.

A reminder to connect to stillness.

A reminder to take a slow, deep breath.

How lovely. How lovely that these beads which, for millenia, have been worn to pray are now being worn all the time. Simply because we want to wear them.

To me, when I notice them on my wrist, I feel momentarily softer. Momentarily connected.

I wear them during yoga. I always wear them when I attend a retreat with Burgs or Eckhart.

Actually I wear them all the time. They feel like part of who I am.

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