Incorporating Mala and Mantra into your Healing Practices.
If you’ve been following our blog for a while now, you know we are into finding practices to assist us not only in achieving our goals but also in our optimal wellness. Some that we’ve mentioned in the past are manifestation, meditation, and mindfulness. Today we are sharing a few ancient tools that help you hone in and focus on your intentions in those practices. We are going to share all things mala and mantra.
What is a mala?
Mala (Sanskrit for “garland”) is a meditation tool. It is a counting device used to keep track of the number of mantras recited during meditation.
A mala usually contains 108 beads. There is an additional bead with an attached tassel. This bead is called the guru bead, and it indicates the beginning and end of each cycle. Although the mala has 108 beads, only 100 repetitions are counted for each round, acknowledging that the mind is most likely wandering during eight mantra repetitions.
A good mala has well-tied knots between each bead. If the knots are tied too tightly, the mala will feel stiff and difficult to use. If the knots are too loose, the beads slide apart and become a distraction during meditation. A well-tied mala brings a sense of comfort and allows you to become more deeply absorbed into your mantra meditation.
What is mantra?
Mantra is made up of two Sanskrit words, “man” meaning mind, and “tra” meaning tool. A mantra is a syllable, sound, word, or set of words found in the deepest states of meditation by the great sages of the yoga traditions. The purpose of mantra is to infuse your mind and heart with divine awareness. Mantra purifies your mind so you are more prepared to receive divine grace.
Putting it together:
Because mantra guides us to such sacred knowledge, it makes sense that the object used to count the mantras, the mala, is held close to the heart and gains sentimental value over time. Traditionally, meditators would keep their malas in a special bag or bowl on an altar. In modern times, it has become more acceptable to see people wearing their malas as necklaces outside the yoga studio and meditation halls. Wearing malas has become chic and is a way to signal to others that you have a meditation practice. Wearing your mala in public can also remind you that yoga is skill in action. What we think, say, and do is ideally guided by the knowledge that arises through meditation.
If you want to dive into a mantra practice, the mantra “So Hum” is the perfect place to begin. You can access this practice very easily, even right now as you read. So Hum is derived from Sanskrit meaning “I am That.” it means identifying oneself as one with the universe.
As you take your next inhale, listen to the sound of the breath. Breathe in and hear the sound “So”. Feel the “o” for the entire length of the inhale. Breathe out and hear the sound “Hum”. Feel the “m” for the entire length of the exhale. Now make the breath smooth and continuous. Each time you complete an inhale and exhale, or a “So” and a “Hum,” you pass a bead of your mala through your middle finger and thumb. When you reach your guru bead, either complete your practice or turn the mala around and continue to go back the way you came. This practice is simple yet so sublime and so sweet. As you practice with “So Hum” you will heal the nervous system and be able to relax into that sublime part of yourself that is simultaneously soft and strong.
If this beginner’s guide to mala beads and mantra has intrigued you and you are looking to dive in deeper, join us at the Elixir of Life Retreat this fall, taking place in Cape Elizabeth, Maine! During this weekend retreat, we will be settling into a routine of movement, nourishment, rest, and enjoyment. Together we will be using ancient, time-tested modalities, as well as intuitive and creative approaches to tap into our own wellsprings of healing and wisdom.