Bead bracelets
These bracelets grew from Buddhist counting beads. Now many people wear them for the feel.
Count them, wear them, handle them
Count
Move one bead with your thumb for each chant or breath. At the guru bead, many people turn back rather than crossing it.
Wear
Wrist strings often have 18 or 27 beads, or fewer large ones. Devout wearers take them off in the bathroom and keep them off the floor.
Handle
Collectors call this panchuan. Clean, dry hands rub the beads over months until a soft glow called baojiang forms.
Hand oil and time make a glow you cannot rush.
What to look for
Skip beads sold as ivory, rhino horn, hornbill or tortoiseshell. They are generally illegal to bring into the US. Rosewoods and agarwood can need CITES permits, so ask what the wood is.
Bead bracelets
Hand-picked pieces are on the way.
Good to know
What do Buddhist prayer beads mean?
They are a tool for counting prayers, chants or breaths. A full string has 108 beads, a number Buddhist tradition links to 108 afflictions.
Can non-Buddhists wear mala beads?
Yes, and many do. Wear them with respect: keep them off the floor and treat a blessed string as more than a fashion prop.
Which wrist do you wear a bead bracelet on?
Many wearers choose the left wrist. It is a custom rather than a rule, and for right-handers it keeps the beads out of the way.
