How to Use Meditation Beads

Meditation is the act of focusing the mind while relaxing the body, and maintaining focus is the key to effective meditation. This can be tricky, especially if your energy level is too high or too low during meditation. The use of meditation beads, also known as "mala beads," can help you achieve restful, enlightening meditation by helping you keep your mind on your mantra. Many people practice this discipline to treat everything from stress to insomnia.

Things You'll Need

• Quiet place to meditate
• Computer with Internet access
• Meditation beads

Instructions

Meditate Using Mala Beads

1. Research before you begin. The Internet contains a wealth of resources on the use of meditation beads. Begin your research at the Health & Yoga Web site (see Resources below).

2. Change into comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.

3. Relax, breathe rhythmically and let your mind go blank. Repeat your mantra, if your favored meditation style uses one.

4. Hold your middle, ring and baby finger against the palm of your hand, leaving your index finger extended. Allow your thumb to touch your middle finger.

5. Hang your rosary of meditation beads around the fingers held against the palm of your hand. Do not use your index finger to touch the beads. Either the middle finger or the ring finger can be used as the primary anchor on which your rosary is hung.

6. Allow the meditation beads to rest in your lap or on the floor, if need be, so long as nothing will obstruct you from moving from bead to bead smoothly.

7. Begin with the "sumeru," or the summit bead, at the top. The summit bead is easily identifiable on a rosary due to its enlarged size or special color.

8. Repeat Step 7 until you reach the summit bead again. Never pass over the summit bead and keep going. If you want to continue to use the beads to meditate, move through the rosary of beads in the opposite direction until you come to the sumeru again.

9. Move through the beads, one by one, in time with the draw of your breath or repetition of your mantra.

Tips & Warnings

• Meditation beads are generally inexpensive. Avoid purchasing costly bead sets. You'll be able to find them for less if you shop around.

• Some people wear their meditation beads around their neck, like a necklace, at all times. They believe this helps maintain your enlightened meditative states at all hours of the day.

• Meditation is practiced to help achieve wakeful tranquility. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional care. If you are receiving treatment or being medicated for your mental health, talk to your doctor before ceasing any treatment program.

• Seek emergency care if you are experiencing severe depression.