Hello Enuf,
I am not into Sensei worship so I tend to learn then apply, then see how it works for me,not follow blindly, something the Buddha recommended. In the case of discover meditation and life flow, I am content but like the weather, life can be unpredictable thus its wise to have other options or means to augment ones practice when needed, Mala beads are one such add on I have come to enjoy from time to time.
Mala beads, 108 of them are in terms of the number, superstition and to some science, you can choose to see significance in the number or ignore. It has been used by Hindu's for 1000's of years and out of this culture, arose Buddhism....along with it the beads, why; they work. They work so well in fact that you will find similar devices in Islam and Catholicism ( early traders in the east liked the idea and spread this practice to their own cultures ).
For many it is a counting device ( say 10 Mantra's and call me in the morning sort of thing ) but its interesting feature is that your figitiness can be incorporated into your meditation practice, your doing something and this doing is linked to your practice; it can be very effective to focus oneself or very distracting if your beads hook, tangle or you skip one, its up to the user.
I use mine sometimes when I cant settle down, I have come to learn how long it takes me to get around the 108 beads and therefore its a nice means of telling time when using a mantra without Life Flow or left toe up right nostril, what ever works.
Like anything its a tool, to be used when and if it suits the job, if you cant keep focus for long periods, or are figitty, beads can be very useful but you shouldn't depend on them.
Dont take anyones word for it, give it a go, see how it pans out for you, one word of advice if you are choosing some, fiddle with them, the beads can be anything from glass to wood to bone ( and engine parts probably somewhere in the world )...its important to choose one with a bead size and weight that works well for your fingers, otherwise it will drive you nuts or make your hand cramp trying to manipulate micro beads.....thats about all other than a design that pleases you ( like thats going to matter when your eyes are closed but HEY, your paying for them, so you may as well like them.
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A type of meditation?
Mala Beads, Worry Beads...or just a cool necklace..
Hybrid Mode
