01-Oct-2009

Mala Medicine

A Bead is Not Just a Bead

Some texts of the Ancient East are referred to as sutras, meaning "thread." These texts are more specifically thought of as a particular kind of thread: the kind uniting the beads on a mala. In the West, Catholics and Orthodox Christians often carry their own version: the rosary. What often gets lost in the practice is the technological aspect of japa, or repetitive prayer.

Prayer - or any devout wish - is like software for your hard drive. The repetition of a mantra or affirmation is the means of uploading the program. The electric current of the sound wave produced induces receptivity in the brain's magnetic field. Your hardware becomes more responsive as the mala provides you the Administrator's Password to your soul. So next time you go to the movies or take public transit, bring a mala. Within a few reps you'll feel the cool and calm of a meditative state taking over, opening a space for inspiration and expanded horizons.