The rosary-like cross-is an instrument of pagan origin. Its use was well publicized in different cultures long before Christianity appeared. In Citium (Cyprus), a place that had been colonized by the Phoenicians, found a medallion is engraved with a circle of beads that look like the rosary. This rosary was used in the worship of Astarte, the goddess-mother, about eight hundred years before Christ. This same 'string' can be seen in many of the coins found that were used in Phoenicia. In Islam the rosary has 33 or 99 beads of amber and its practice is to have the entire series to recite the 99 names of Allah, beautiful mentioned in the Quran. It was also used in the days of pagan Rome, where women were adorned with monile neck, some kind of necklace-rosary, not only for decorative reasons or vanity, but as a reminder for prayer in their pagan religions. Hindu and Buddhist rosaries are made of 108 beads (112 in Japanese Buddhism). In Buddhism, the 108 beads symbolize the 108 sins or faults to which tends the human species. The worshipers of Siva have a rosary with which repeated, if possible, all the thousand and eight names of their god. The Jains use a rosary of 150 beads. In the Eastern Orthodox Church of Greece and Turkey, the rosary is called kombologion and is used almost exclusively by monks. The instrument used has 100 beads of identical size. The Russian Orthodox vertitza, chotki or lievstoka is made with 103 beads. In the Romanian church, the rosary is called matanie, because the monk makes a profound bow to the beginning and end of every sentence told in the accounts. No one can deny the fact that the instrument of the rosary was used in pre-Christian, non-Christian religions. Even the same Catholic Encyclopedia says: "In almost all countries we find something similar to the rosary for counting prayers." Considering that its use has no biblical basis and that its origin comes from remote pagan customs, the rosary is just another example of how paganism was mixed with Catholicism. Today, it reads in all Catholic churches. According to tradition, the introduction of the Rosary Catholic worship in the early thirteenth century, is due to Spanish theologian St. Dominic de Guzman (founder of the Dominican Order), but there is no evidence for that assertion. However, this practice was adopted in the third century by Christian monks East, and developed various forms of the rosary. In Roman Catholicism, the rosary was quickly transformed into a popular means of prayer, both public and private. The most common rosary is the rosary of the Virgin Mary. His devotion was developed slowly and gradually among illiterate people, probably as a substitute for the simplest recitation of psalms. It reached its final form in the fifteenth century through the preaching of the Dominicans Alan de la Roche and his followers, who organized the Brotherhoods of the Rosary, in Douai (France) and Cologne. In 1520 Pope Leo X officially approved the Rosary, and its use was repeatedly instructed the believers, by the Roman Catholic Church. Within the Buddhist universe, every action has meaning, every object is seen as a tool for human development. Thus, in the coming weeks, I will use this valuable space to present to our readers, the meaning of some of the objects and symbols most important rituals of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. In particular, those that have been popularized around the world today. In recent years, the poor or Buddhist rosary has become a fashion, being used as an ornament for models, artists, musicians, intellectuals and ordinary people. However, few people know their deep meaning and use is given in the contemplative practice of Tibetan Buddhism. Traditionally, Buddhist rosary has 108 beads of the same size. It is used to keep track of recitations of mantras or words of power, endowed with deep meaning and used as a means of mental protection, against the extreme ideation, mental sinking and disturbing emotions and attitudes. The sacred number of 108 predates the rise of Buddhism, being the classic number assigned within Hinduism to name deities or gods. As a multiple of 12 and 9, representing the nine planets in the twelve zodiacal houses. As a multiple of 27 and 4, also symbolizes the four quarters of the moon in each of the 27 lunar mansions or constellations. Nine is also a magic number, since any number multiplied by this, resulting in a figure where the sum of its digits is also a multiple of nine. In yoga pranayama or breath control vital, it is estimated that humans breathe 21.600 times in a 24-hour cycle, consisting respectively of 60 periods of 360 breaths. In turn the 108 accounts, ensure that at least 100 of a mantra recitations are completed within a complete cycle of the rosary. The mantras are recited for the purpose of executing the four karmas or enlightened activities: pacifying (the roadblocks), enrich (development potential), fascinating (beings to awakening) and destroy (the obscurations to knowledge) . Although rosaries with various numbers of accounts are frequently used in the different practices of Tibetan Buddhism, of 108 beads is the most common and popular of all. In benign rituals of pacification, the accounts should be 108, be clear or white, preferably glass, pearl, mother of pearl, white lotus seeds, moonstone or ivory. In the rituals of growth or enrichment, the accounts should add 108, be Bodhi tree seeds (species of fig tree under which the historical Buddha experienced enlightenment), lotus seeds, gold, silver, bronze or copper. In magnetizing rituals of attraction or the attainment of power, add 25 accounts must be coral or red wood red sandalwood scented with sandalwood. In the fierce ritual of destruction, the rosary has 60 beads, preferably rudraksha seed, animal or human bone (obviously not sacrificed for this purpose), iron or lead. Alternative numbers in the rosary beads are used for various Tantric Buddhist practices, such as 1.008, 108, 100, 60, 54, 42, 27, 25 and 21. Today it is used commercially popular amber beads, ruby, turquoise, amethyst, tiger eye, onyx, rose quartz and rock crystal but traditionally, the facts of bodhi seeds and red sandalwood are considered universally auspicious for the execution of all practices of Tibetan Buddhism. The bad made from human or animal bone, should only be used by advanced contemplatives as remnants karmic influences, are believed to be inherent in ritual objects made from this material. Traditionally, the seeds of evil were consecrated and purified by cleaning with a mixture of five products derived from orange cow milk, butter, yogurt, urine and feces. The threads that bind the rosary represent the continuity of the Buddhist doctrine, conceived as an effective way to master the 108 worldly desires. Usually the wire is made with 3 or 9 individual fibers, which are said to be spun by a virgin, belonging to one of the five Buddha families or tantric lineages to which the practice in question belongs. To have three fibers, yarn represent the Triple Gem Buddhist: the Buddha or the goal to obtain, the Dharma or doctrine, and the Sangha or spiritual community. To have nine, symbolize the Buddha Vajradhara and the eight great bodhisattvas and disciples of the Buddha. Usually not recommended for use with a single thread chordate fiber, since naturally presents less resistance to wear and may eventually rupture easily. In short, a typical poor Tibetan courses consist of 108 beads with a cord of 3 fibers. Beads of different colors are placed between the points 27, 54 and 81, in order to divide the string into four sections proportional. They can also be located between 10 and 21 spaces to keep track of the recitation of mantras or words of power. Tied to bad, we add two counters prayers, ten small objects made of silver rings, gold or bronze and sealed at its ends by a dorje, Buddhist symbol of the mastery of the energy of compassion, and a drilbu or bell, representative symbol of mastery over the power of discriminating wisdom. The rings are used to keep track of the tenths and hundredths recitations of mantras or prayers. A third counter can be added in order to keep track of the cycles in thousandths of recitations, accountant usually decorated with a jewel or wheel, symbolic of expertise and value of Buddhist teachings. At the conclusion of a full course of 108 mantra recitations of the rosary is rotated on its axis and the next cycle starts reciting in reverse order. The guru or master accounts at the end of the rosary – a round, the other cylindrical – symbolize wisdom that understands the inherent selflessness of all phenomena, and the lack of inherent identity of their own inherent identity. The universe of meaning in Buddhist ritual objects of great complexity and depth, thus symbolizing the priority placed on the spiritual practice of classical Buddhist civilization. How wonderful it would be in the West, particularly in the Jewish world – Christian, the rich symbolism of their traditions were better known and better utilized. One hundred and eight beads is bad. It is a beaded necklace that many Buddhists use when reciting a mantra. It is a handy and at the same time is full of symbolism. Usually a bad hundred and eight beads have small and large resembling a stupa. In fact, this account is a stupa and carries the meaning of the stupa, its elongated shape represents the "State of Truth" is achieved by understanding that there is no ego or self. In the "Statement of Truth" all the qualities of mind are expressed freely. The round part of this account shows the joy that appears when you go away the illusion of ego and all energies, usually united by hope and fear, are released, all fixed ideas, all thoughts of past and future are downloaded. It also symbolizes the great joy that occurs when one is free from any game or artificiality. When we understand that there is no ego, and have experienced the great joy that brings such an embodiment, the qualities that get shown in practical ways as different actions or activities of a bodhisattva. When using the bad, you say the mantra for each account. One broken thumb clockwise on each account and when you arrive the stupa, one rotates the poor and follow that road back. This makes using the mala easier, because the accounts will not be very pressed on the cord when you move. During meditation you better be fully aware of the display of the Buddha in front of or above one. Then one can use the sense of evil and the repetition of mantra to enhance the experience of being in the field aware of a Buddha and in the field of blessing. In this full meditation, the mind is the Buddha, speaking with the mantra and body with the bad. As sometimes happens – and does happen – that the mind is not concentrated or speech misses some mantras, some of the mind is still in meditation due to movement of the poor in our hand. Thus the bad may actually be beneficial. There are many explanations of why the poor have 108 beads. There are eight different types of consciousness. First, there are five types of consciousness of the senses: taste, smell, sight, touch and hearing. The sixth is like a "police aware" that keeps an eye on what happens. The seventh is "aware that stores" and the eighth is the awareness that processes language, symbols and objects within this realm. After attaining Buddhahood these eight types of consciousness are transformed into ninth "super consciousness" where everything is known intuitively. Here, things are not experienced through the senses, but directly through the vibration of every atom in our body. This state is possible because space is self-conscious. The space is not a black hole or a separator but a connector on the information it contains. When the eight types of consciousness become the ninth ordinary "consciousness that knows everything and does everything" within 100 Buddhas awaken us in the form of 42 peaceful and 58 wrathful buddhas. Thus the number represents the eight types of consciousness before the full state of completion and the 100 Buddhas manifested through enlightened state of mind. When we do prostrations we recommend using a smaller (1/4 of ill) with 27 accounts. This size fits well in most hands. Many people extend the role of accountants adding extra bad. In our tradition Kagyu the place after the tenth account and if we use two of these additional counters are placed after the account number 10 and 20. The bad can be made of different materials that are good for different Buddhas. Both materials such as lotus seed bodhi tree are good at telling all mantras. The name of lotus seed is a romantic name for the seeds of Chinese pear tree. These poor usually are made in China and exported via Hong Kong and Nepal. The bodhi tree bad are the same type of tree under which Buddha sat when he attained the state of full realization of the mind. The shape and size of these beads vary somewhat. Usually there are two types of accounts bodhi tree: a guy has the sun and the moon while the other has carved triangles above. Those with triangles are especially good for protective practices. The bodhi tree or lotus seeds can hold peaceful energies, protective, expansive and fascinating, like all types of mantras. Both materials are also nice because they are not heated or cooled and are relatively light. Other materials used for bad amber and sandalwood are particularly popular. The bad sandalwood are the hardest material, because the wood is soft, but its scent is pleasant. The bad bone or hematite rosary necklace (a very heavy stone) are made especially for protective practices. If you want to get a bad quality, materials that are recommended are the bodhi tree, lotus seed and amber. Other materials may of course be just as good. One can choose the color of the poor in a manner consistent with the color of Buddhist aspect in which one meditates, for example black or blue-black to Black Mantle, green for the Green Tara, white for Loving Eyes, blue for the Buddha of medicine, etc.. It is said that the sign of a good style if a bad fit in your hand closed. If it is too large can be a sign of pride. In regard to the cord is a good idea it is tight for short mantras and mantras loose for long. Often the poor are made of a size that fits your wrist. Usually the poor feel better when done with a cord thick and smooth. I would like to get more information on the use and benericio of mantras and how to use the bad and in practice every day. Sorry I can not help because I do not live in Argentina, here are sold in specialty stores and usually come with little paper with the mantras, I guess there will be the same thing.
