l. The legacy of ancient seals - the origin of Buddhist beads

Buddha beads, originally called rosary beads, refer to a certain number of beads with threads running through them. When chanting the name of the Buddha or chanting a mantra, A portable tool used for counting. Its original Sanskrit language includes four meanings:

(1) Pasaka-mala, transliterated as "Bosemo" and free translated as "Counting Pearls".

(2) aksa-mala, the transliteration is "Aksamala", and the free translation is "Zhuda".

(3) japa-mala, the transliteration is "Japa Mara", and the free translation is "chanting".

(4) aksa-sutra, the transliteration is "Akshadra", and the free translation is "the thread of beads".

And the Sanskrit mala means ‘覦’. Generally speaking, the original origin of Buddhist beads is due to the ancient Indian custom of wearing tassels and strings (see Figures 1 and 2). It is the inheritance of this custom that gradually evolved into the use of Buddhist beads in later generations.

In Buddhist classics, the origin of Buddhist beads is generally explained by the Buddha's revelation to King Boliu recorded in the Sapindu Sutra. The scripture contains:

The Buddha told the king. If you want to eliminate troubles and obstacles, repay obstacles. When the wood runs through the wood, one hundred and eighty. Always follow suit. Walking, sitting, lying down. Always be sincere and have no distractions. Call the Buddha by the name of Dharma Sangha. It's just over a tree of soapberry. In this way, the trees are saved gradually. If ten, if twenty. If a hundred or a thousand. Even hundreds and thousands. ...I must pursue the great good. That is, the officials and the people. Run the wood soapberry. Thought it was a thousand tools. Six relatives. All with one body. Wang often recited. Although pro-military. Nor shall they be laid aside.

It can be seen from this that after hearing the Buddha's teachings, King Boliang began to make Buddhist beads with soapberry and recite the name of the "Three Jewels" to eliminate troubles and obstacles. , this should be the original origin of Buddhist beads.

It should be pointed out that prayer beads have become an important symbol of Buddhists. But if we trace its origins, Buddhist beads were not created by Buddhism. For example, the "Vishnu sect" of ancient Indian Brahmanism has long been recorded using Buddhist beads, and Buddhist beads have never been popular among the Southern Buddhists who rely on the Vinaya. There are also examples of this in unearthed cultural relics. For example, on the "Dragon King Converts to Buddha" statue unearthed in India, which belongs to the second century AD, there is a Brahmin statue with Buddhist beads hanging on its neck. I think this is just like the reason why Buddhism originated in India and flourished in China, "flowers bloom within the walls and fragrance is outside the walls." Although Buddhist beads were not created by Buddhism, they are rooted in the fertile soil of Buddhism. , it is possible to become today's China of Han, Tibet, Mongolia and Japan. It is an important ritual tool carried by monks, nuns and lay people in Korea and other regions.

In our country, people know the term "Buddha Beads" from the "Mumu Sutra" translated during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420 AD). Unfortunately, the name of the translator has been lost. Lost. But we have reason to believe that during the Jin and Jin Dynasties, many foreign monks came to China, and some of these foreign ascetics must have brought Buddhist beads.

As late as the Tang Dynasty, under the background of the great rise of Buddhism, classics recording Buddhist beads were widely translated, including the "Dharani Collection Sutra" translated by the Tianzhu monk Adi Quduo, and the translation by Bao Siwei. There are many classics such as "The Merit Sutra of Measuring the Beads", "Vajra Yoga Rosary Sutra" translated by Tripitaka Buddha, and "The Merits Sutra of Measuring the Beads in the Mantra Collection of Manjusri" translated by Tripitaka Yijing.

At this point, Buddhist beads began to be spread among the government and the public, and they were widely spread among monks and laity. For example, "Old Tang Book - Li Fuguo Biography" contains:

Fuguo does not tolerate meat and blood, and often eats blood. Walking as a monk, I hold my rosary in my hand while observing things. Everyone believes in goodness.

"The Continuation of the Biography of the Eminent Monk - Dao Chuo Biography" contains:

Everyone pinches beads and chants the Buddha's name, and every time they disperse, the sound of the Meiling Valley is heard.

Judging from the existing objects, there is a clay statue of Maitreya Bodhisattva from the Sixteen Kingdoms period (304-439 AD) preserved in the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Gansu Province. It is a statue with Buddhist beads hanging around its neck. Statue (see Figure 3). In addition, there is a book "Buddha Illustration" preserved in Japan, in which there are many images of eminent monks from the Tang Dynasty using Buddhist beads (see Figure 4).

It can be said with certainty that since the Tang Dynasty, the use of Buddhist beads has been quite common among Chinese people

2. Many names - types of Buddhist beads

The types of Buddhist beads There are many kinds. In terms of their use, they can usually be divided into three types:

(l) Holding beads - beads that are twisted or chanted by hand

(2) Wearing beads Beads - Buddhist beads worn on the wrist or arm

(3) Hanging beads - Buddhist beads hung around the neck

Hold beads are mostly used to record the chanting of Buddha's names or mantras. number (see Figure 5). It is explained in the sutra:

If a good man or a good woman is able to recite the dharani and the Buddha's name, for the sake of self-benefit and to protect others... If you wish to be born in the pure land of the Buddha, This bead should be accepted and held in accordance with the law.

3. Far-reaching meaning - the number of Buddhist beads

Each string of Buddhist beads is made up of a certain number of beads, and the specific number of various beads is different. . The reason why the numbers are different is because the records in each Buddhist scripture are different. The list is as follows:

Number of beads

Source

1080

"Vajra Top Yoga Rosary Sutra"

108

"The Sutra of Soapberry Sutra"

"The Sutra of Calculating the Merits and Virtues of Counting Beads"

"The Sutra of Vajra Top Yoga Rosary"

"Dharani Collection Sutra"

"Manjushri Ritual Sutra"

54

"Calculation of the Merit Sutra of Counting Beads"

" "Vajra Yoga Rosary Sutra"

"Dharani Collection Sutra"

"Manjushri Ritual Sutra"

42

"Dharani Sutra" "Luoni Collection Sutra"

27

"Manjushri Ritual Sutra"

21

"Calculation of the Merit Sutra of Counting Beads"

"Vajra Yoga Rosary Sutra"

"Manjushri Ritual Sutra"

18

"Dharani Collection Sutra"

14

"Manjusri Ritual Sutra"

"Calculation of the Merit Sutra of Counting Beads"

4. Colorful and colorful - the material of the beads

The materials used to make beads can be said to be countless, whether minerals or plants, generally bamboo and wood. Teeth and horns can be made into Buddhist beads. However, it is recorded in Buddhist scriptures that the materials that can be used to make beads are very limited, with no more than ten kinds at most, which is really incomparable with the many and complicated categories today. The following is a list of the materials of Buddhist beads mentioned in Buddhist scriptures.

Sutra name: "Dharani Collection Sutra" Volume 2

Buddha beads material: gold, silver, red copper, water essence, wood soapberry, bodhi seed, lotus seed, etc. Seven kinds

Sutra name: "Dharani Sutra of Protector of the Realm" Volume 9

Materials of Buddhist beads: Bodhi seeds, diamond seeds, real pearls, lotus seeds, gold and silver treasures, and The above materials are combined into six types

Sutra name: "Recitation Products" in the second volume of "The Real Sutra of Photographing the Realm of All Buddhas"

Materials of Buddha beads: fragrant wood, gold stone, copper, Ten kinds of iron, crystal, pearls, lotus seeds, diamond seeds, various kinds of treasures, Bodhi seeds, etc.

Nowadays, many men and women who do not believe in Buddhism are proud to wear Buddhist beads, making them look like It has become a fashionable decoration. In fact, in my opinion, all these people who love Buddha beads are an expression of "having good roots" and should be regarded as people who have deep good roots and have been predestined with the Buddha since time immemorial. Moreover, the Buddha has already made it clear:

If someone holds this bodhi bead again. It is not possible to recite Buddha's name and Dharani according to the law. But it can be carried with you. What you say while walking, standing, sitting or lying down may be good or evil. This is because this person holds the Bodhisattva. The merits gained are the same as chanting mantras from the Buddhas. Blessed immeasurably.

Rosa beads are something external to the body. When we recite Buddha and chant sutras, we should mainly focus on our hearts. We should not be tied to or hindered by things. Don’t be trapped.

What kind of material are the beads in your hand? How many beads are needed? How to twist them? Should they be held in the left or right hand? Should they be held high or hanging down?

We only seek convenience and freedom in holding beads, and there is no need to force the mediocre method of holding beads. As the "Golden Sutra" says: "All appearances are false. If you see all appearances are not appearances, "That's when I see the Tathagata." Rosary beads are also one of the signs, so we don't care about them too much when using them.

Reference material: Talk about Buddhist beads