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Rosewood buddhist prayer beads are one of the most important types of buddhist prayer beads. From the numerous ancient rosewood beads found in both Han and Tibetan regions, we can see the reverence for rosewood Buddhist beads in both Han-Tibetan Buddhism, the imperial court, and among the common people. Rosewood is rare and precious; it is a tropical plant that grows in Southeast Asia. This tree species is incredibly scarce, and it takes hundreds of years to grow before it can be used.
The number of beads is said to carry significance. For example:
- 108 beads represent the removal of 108 troubles.
- 1,080 beads represent the 108 Buddhas of the Vajra realm.
- 54 beads represent the ten faiths, ten dwellings, ten practices, ten dedications, and ten grounds, as well as the 54 positions of the four roots of good karma.
- 42 beads represent the ten dwellings, ten practices, ten dedications, ten grounds, and the equal and wondrous enlightenment of the 42 positions.
- 27 beads represent the 18 scholars and the 9 non-scholars.
- 14 beads represent the 14 fears of Avalokiteshvara.
- 21 beads represent the ten grounds, ten perfections, and the 21 levels of Buddhahood.
Now, let's explore the different bead counts and their meanings of buddhist prayer beads.
108 Buddhist Prayer Beads
This is the most common bead count, representing the pursuit of the 108 meditations to remove 108 troubles, leading to a state of peace and stillness in the body and mind. The 108 troubles are described in various ways, but generally speaking, the six senses each experience the three feelings of suffering, pleasure, and neutrality, totaling 18 types. Similarly, each sense has good, bad, and neutral feelings, adding another 18 types, giving a total of 36 types. When combined with the three times (past, present, future), it results in 108 troubles.
1080 Buddhist Prayer Beads
According to the Tian Tai School of Buddhism, the ten realms are inherently good and evil, so the number 1,080 represents the 108 types of troubles in each of the ten realms, adding up to a total of 1,080 troubles. The "ten realms" refer to the entire world of ignorance and enlightenment, which includes:
1. Hell realm
2. Hungry ghost realm
3. Animal realm
4. Asura realm
5. Human realm
6. Heaven realm
7. Sound-hearer realm
8. Solitary realizer realm
9. Bodhisattva realm
10. Buddha realm
54 Buddhist Prayer Beads
Represents the 54 positions in the Bodhisattva's practice, which include the ten faiths, ten dwellings, ten practices, ten dedications, and the ten grounds, totaling 50 positions, plus the four roots of good karma. These are further explained as follows:
Ten Faiths:
1. Faith in the heart
2. Faith in mindfulness
3. Faith in diligence
4. Faith in wisdom
5. Faith in concentration
6. Faith in Dharma protection
7. Faith in dedication
8. Faith in morality
9. Faith in renunciation
10. Faith in aspiration
Ten Dwellings:
1. Initial Aspiration
2. Stable Ground
3. Practice Ground
4. Noble Ground
5. Abundant Ground
6. Right Mind Ground
7. Irreversible Ground
8. Innocent Ground
9. Dharma King Ground
10. Crowned Ground
Ten Practices:
1. Joyful Practice
2. Beneficial Practice
3. Non-anger Practice
4. Infinite Practice
5. Freedom from Delusion Practice
6. Beneficial Manifestation Practice
7. Non-attachment Practice
8. Respectful Practice
9. Good Dharma Practice
10. True Practice
Ten Dedications:
1. Dedication to Saving All Beings
2. Indestructible Dedication
3. Equal Dedication to All Buddhas
4. Dedication to All Places
5. Infinite Merit Store Dedication
6. Dedication to Equal and Good Roots
7. Dedication to Equality of All Beings
8. Dedication to the True Form
9. Dedication to Liberation
10. Dedication to the Infinite Dharma Realm
Ten Grounds:
1. Joyful Ground
2. Purification Ground
3. Glowing Ground
4. Flame Wisdom Ground
5. Unbeatable Ground
6. Present Ground
7. Distant Journey Ground
8. Immovable Ground
9. Good Wisdom Ground
10. Dharma Cloud Ground
Four Roots of Good Karma:
Refers to the four stages of practice before attaining the path, including:
1. Warmth Stage
2. Summit Stage
3. Patience Stage
4. Supreme Dharma Stage
42 Buddhist Prayer Beads
Represents the 42 positions in the Bodhisattva’s practice, including the ten dwellings, ten practices, ten dedications, ten grounds, as well as the equal enlightenment (Tathagatagarbha) and wondrous enlightenment (Sakyamuni's ultimate state of Buddhahood).
Equal enlightenment: Refers to those whose content is equivalent to that of a Buddha, though their practice is not yet fully complete.
Wondrous enlightenment: Refers to the perfect and ultimate Buddhahood, attained by eliminating the last traces of ignorance, surpassing equal enlightenment.
36 Buddhist Prayer Beads
This number does not have a specific meaning but is generally considered convenient for carrying purposes. It is thought to be one-third of 108 beads, thus symbolizing the principle of seeing the great from the small, carrying the same meaning as 108 beads.
27 Buddhist Prayer Beads
Represents the 27 noble stages of the small vehicle's practice, including the 18 "with learning" stages and the 9 "without learning" stages.
18 "With Learning" Stages:
1. Faith in Action
2. Dharma Action
3. Faith and Understanding
4. Direct Perception
5. Experiential Evidence
6. Family Unity
7. Singular Goal
8. Stream-entry Path
9. Stream-entry Fruit
10. Once-return Path
11. Once-return Fruit
12. Non-return Path
13. Non-return Fruit
14. Middle Nirvana
15. Birth Nirvana
16. Action Nirvana
17. Non-action Nirvana
18. Ultimate Realm
9 "Without Learning" Stages:
1. Reversal of Perception
2. Guardian Perception
3. Death Perception
4. Stable Perception
5. Progressive Perception
6. Indestructible Perception
7. Irreversible Perception
8. Wisdom Liberation Perception
9. Complete Liberation Perception
21 Buddhist Prayer Beads
Represents the ten grounds, ten perfections, and the 21 stages of Buddhahood. “Ten grounds” can be found in the 54 beads section, and the "Ten Perfections" are described in the "Disciple Beads" section, so they are not repeated here. "Buddhahood" refers to the ultimate state of Buddhahood, where one achieves the highest level of enlightenment.
18 Buddhist Prayer Beads
Commonly known as “Eighteen Sons,” where the "eighteen" refers to the "eighteen realms," which are the six senses, six objects, and six types of consciousness:
Six Senses:
1. Eye
2. Ear
3. Nose
4. Tongue
5. Body
6. Mind
Six Objects:
1. Color
2. Sound
3. Smell
4. Taste
5. Touch
6. Dharma (Mental phenomena)
Six Consciousnesses:
1. Eye Consciousness
2. Ear Consciousness
3. Nose Consciousness
4. Tongue Consciousness
5. Body Consciousness
6. Mind Consciousness
14 Buddhist Prayer Beads
Represents the fourteen fearless attributes of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva. These fourteen types of fearlessness include:
1. Helping beings reflect on their own nature and attain liberation
2. Protecting from fire during danger
3. Saving from drowning in water
4. Calming hostile spirits
5. Protecting from injury during attacks
6. Guarding from harmful spirits and demons
7. Freedom from attachment to illusory sounds
8. Ensuring safe passage through dangerous places
9. Preventing lustful thoughts
10. Calming anger and resentment
11. Freeing from ignorance and delusion
12. Granting the wish for sons
13. Granting the wish for daughters
14. Bestowing immeasurable merit to those who recite Avalokiteshvara's name
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