Buddhist symbols for peace and tranquility
I noticed you can get Buddhist prayer beads.
Although I have many Buddhist items and a statue I don’t pray to the Buddha as I’m atheist. I just follow the philosophies.
Is that ok without the prayer? I know some religions frown on the non-religious use of their symbols, and Buddhist jewelry is a favorite of mine.
| Tibetan Buddhist Jewelry: Skull And Rattan Seed Men's Stretch Bracelet |
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| Tibetan Buddhist Jewelry Black Onyx Agate Beads Bracelet |
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| Tibetan Buddhist 108 Sandalwood Beads Prayer Necklace Meditation Mala |
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| Tibetan Bone Om Mani Necklace- Buddhist Jewelry |
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| Tibetan Buddhist Green Sandalwood Beads Prayer Mala with Free mala bag |
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I use a mala (rosary). I don’t see why you would have one if you weren’t going to use it, but it’s not as if you are harming anyone by having it.
I would follow the typical respectful practices with it though:
They should not be left lying around carelessly, placed on the floor or stepped on, and should be cleaned with a damp cloth, or even soaked overnight in warm salt water and kept in good repair.
If you are going to wear your mala:
"The mala is traditionally worn by Buddhist monks, nuns and lay practitioners around the left wrist. It can be worn also around the neck, but take care not to make prayers while it is worn this way. The reason for this, as told to us by a Tibetan monk, is that the purpose, or intention of jewelry is as an adornment. A mala’s purpose is for making blessings. To use your mala, it’s recommended to always hold it in your left hand. This may be tradition, but there are probably Tantric reasons for it that are related to energy – channels and chakras."
edit: Re-reading your question, I would just like to clarify that Buddhists don’t worship the Buddha. In Mahayana we prostrate before the image of the Buddha to remind us of our own Buddha-nature. Also, you can be a Buddhist and an atheist.
no
their leader is dead…choose Jesus
Yes, it’s what the buddha intended.
The majority of what we call buddhism today has been added by people for widely varying reasons- most of it was not taught by the Buddha himself. In this way the various buddhist sects are no different to other major religions. They employ many of the same conceits to protect their power as an organization within the culture and to maintain their following.
Yes some Buddhists do use them but prayers are defiantly not a part of original Buddhism. The Buddha specifically and pointedly separated his teachings from the theistic Hindu and shamanic practices that were and are prevalent in India, Nepal and Tibet. Today the closest teachings to the original Damma (Pali) or Dharma (Sanskrit) is the Theravada tradition (tradition of the elders).
Tibetan Buddhists do sometimes pray and use god-forms in meditation due to the combination of their indigenous shamanic religion, Bon with Buddhism. But the prayers are more a way of focusing the mind than a form of worship. The beads or Mala originate with Hinduism and are typically used to count repetitions of a given mantra.
I have been meditating within the Theravada tradition for years and have studied various other traditions for decades and I feel no need whatsoever for a mala. However there is certainly nothing wrong with having and using one if you find it helpful.