108 Beads on a Mala

108 beads on a Mala



Many religions use prayer beads to count the number of times the user says a prayer or a mantra. The earliest recorded use was in Hinduism. The necklace of beads is called a mala, (sanskrit for garland or wreath). Japa mala is the repetition of a mantra or the name of a deity. Often the malas are made from rudraksha seeds.

The beads are fingered in an automated manner leaving the user free to concentrate on the mantra or prayer. Different religions have different numbers of beads in a mala. Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs use malas of 108 beads, or a smaller wrist one of 27 used four times to achieve the 108 count.

Roman Catholics and Anglicans use 54 beads with an extra 5 for prayers. In Islam there are 33 or 99 beads.

There are many explanations given as to why the number 108 is important. These include:

108 is a Harshad (Sanskrit for great joy) number, which is an integer divisible by the sum of its digits.

There are 54 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet, each having masculine and feminine, shiva and shakti. 54 times 2 is 108.

It is said that there are 108 Indian goddess names.

It is also said that there are 108 gopis or maid servants of Krishna.

There are 12 houses in astrology and 9 planets. 12 times 9 equals 108.

108 is the number used in Islam to refer to God.

Some Buddhists carve 108 small Buddhas on a walnut for good luck, and ring a bell 108 times to celebrate a new year.

It said that there are a total of 108 energy lines converging to form the heart chakra. One of them, sushumna leads to the crown chakra, and is considered to be the path to Self-realization.

A mantra is a word or series of words chanted aloud or silently to invoke spiritual qualities. Chanting is used as a spiritual tool in virtually every cultural and religious tradition. In the yogic tradition a mantra is a Sanskrit word that has special powers to transform consciousness, promote healing or fulfil desires.

The practice of chanting a mantra is used as a form of meditation. Sitting in a comfortable position, with the eyes closed, the mantra is repeated silently or aloud. The mind is focused on the mantra, the thoughts are let go of and the breath is slow and deep.

Hold the mala in the right hand and use the thumb to “count” each mantra by touching the bead during the recitation, then lightly pushing the bead away on completion and moving to the next bead. The index finger is extended and should not touch the mala. The large meru (mountain) bead should not be counted or touched by the thumb and is used as a starting and ending point of the recitation.

Using a 27 bead wrist mala repeat three more times for the 108 sequence turning each time to the other direction at the meru.

When not in use, store the mala in a special, clean and preferably sacred space such as on a personal alter or statue of a deity.

copyright David Millner
September 2010

Malta: Land of the Ancient Goddess

Mother's Blessing_Snatam Kaur

GIVING AND RECEIVING

GIVING AND RECEIVING

Giving, and being open to receiving are important aspects of the spiritual journey, and important lessons are learned. Just as the people in our lives are there for a purpose, they teach us what is needed, both the light and the dark.

Gifts are made with Love, but not always as we think it. The situation can appear to be hurtful, but is a necessary wake up call. Behind the words or the action is Love to help us to clear some karma, or face up to some challenge, or to awaken the possibility to act in a different way, which we don’t appreciate at the time.

Each gift is an opportunity for healing, and it is a valuable lesson to see it that way. Recognise these situations as the mirror to your actions, and as the way forward on the personal path, the necessary release of some aspect, which needs release.

There must be balance. A gift to another is worthless if the giver is not also open to receive. How often does pride cause us to reject a gift, often a gift offered from parents to children even? How often are gifts rejected because of fear of imbalance, or that the receiver will remain indebted to the giver?

Those living in darkness help you to find Light. Those who mistrust or abuse help your freedom.

Recognise each gift as a gift of Love. It is an advance along the path, a closure of something from the past, and a release of the dense 3D energies. The giver and receiver are Love. The gift is love. Be grateful, bless and release the giver for the gift.

Don't do that today

When you complete two or three "boxes" of information text, in websites, they crash, and you lose the text, the universe is saying, "don't do that today". Relax. That is how my morning started.

I looked at my watch. It said 11:11, so everything is on track, everything is as it is supposed to be.

I am creating my own frustrations. I am going against the flow.

Relax, David and prepare for the trip to Spain next week.

VIBRATIONS of MUSIC

VIBRATIONS of MUSIC

I rarely watch television now. I rarely see a news bulletin. The broadcasters, like the newspapers, allocate most of their airtime and energy to bad news. They compete for viewers by offering the most sensational stories and images. They spread so much negative energy into people’s minds, like mass hypnotism. The lives of footballers and of actresses are put on pedestals for all to see, then pulled apart like sport for the distorted entertainment of those with nothing better to focus on.

There should be a good news channel, to uplift and to motivate the masses to acts of kindness, and showing possibilities of each having their own beautiful life, full of gratitude for the gifts they have.

The internet provides most of my entertainment needs. As I enter to check my mail I see the news headings. In most cases that tells me all I need to know about the disasters and scandles.

The internet also provides music, and thanks to social networks, my friends and I can share what we like. I have found so much good music that way.

So when Sarah (name changed for anonymity) posted a message asking for music recommendations I was able to respond. I know that she is a single mother whose whole life, typically, revolves around her son. I have give her Life Coaching so I know things about her which she would not normally disclose.

My recommendation to her was A Mother’s Blessing by Snatam Kaur. The singer has a beautiful pure voice, and in this song she sings in both English and Spanish.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuWwheIXrdg&feature=search

Sarah’s response filled my heart with joy, and I was so pleased that I had made the effort to respond to her open request.

The deepest sense of fulfilment and wonderment I ever experienced was carrying my son.... my mother was the first to know. She said 'Oh no, my baby's having a baby'

In that moment I understood that being a mother has no words deep enough to describe the depth of the bond between a mother and her child.

The smallest gesture can make a difference to someone’s day, and to their life.

Music has vibration and the listener will immediately feel whether any piece of music will resonate at a frequency which at worst, annoys and makes them feel uncomfortable, and at best lifts the heart and spirit, and fills the person with joy.

Music, dance, art and all things creative are right brain activities. So many of us use the analytical left brain most of the time and are out of balance. Right brain activities are such good partners as we walk our spiritual paths. Share the music you love with others, and try something new.

Copyright
David Millner
26 August 2010

TRUST IN THE OUTCOME

Manifest what you want. Take charge of your own life by focusing only on the positive things you want to achieve. With your growing awareness, you know that anything is possible, personally, and for the “New Earth” which so many aspire to, free from the third dimensional greed, hatred, disease, jealousy and poverty, to the joy, love, peace and abundance, the earth of fifth dimension qualities

You never know how close you are to achieving your personal dreams and goals, and often lose trust. In negativity, you then refocus on what you are trying to move from, the old third dimension poverty, when in fact personal abundance is so close.

If the pearl fisherman knows that it takes a hundred oysters to find three pearls, he will not give up at 97 if he has not found a pearl. Will you give up and lose trust in the positive outcome when you are so close. Will you regress to the old patterns, which will surely bring the old result?

Focus on what you want to achieve, and continue to visualise the outcome, make daily meditations asking for the abundance you need.

Everything is energy, vibration and consciousness. Invoke the Violet Flame. Visualise it around you, to protect you and to provide what you need. Ask for what you need for yourself, and for the new consciousness of the earth and it’s inhabitants. Ask for the poverty consciousness to become abundance consciousness for all who have awakened and for those yet to awake.

Create the higher vibration. Others are doing the same. Together in co-creation, the critical mass will be achieved and the new vibrations will create the world we want to live in. Never give up. The pearl could be in the next oyster.

What you don’t like, you have the option to change. You also have the ability and responsibility to change it. That is like a democracy. But in politics you give your energy to the politicians who don’t use it. You give responsibility to the doctor to be healed, but now is the time to take back the energy and responsibility and to make the changes yourself.

There is a Divine plan for the New Earth. Your contribution is important, as is the contribution of enough like-minded people to tip the balance to the new vibration. Respond to your heart’s call. Be the greatest force of good you can be. Make a positive difference each day.

With good intention:

“I am one with all life. I am divine unconditional love. I am abundance. I am grateful for all that I am and have. I have a healing touch. I am the outcome I visualise and move towards each day, for myself, and for the planet. I do what I choose. I have what I need. I am who I want to be. My reward is from helping others.”

Copyright
David Millner
24 August 2010 – full moon