The 108 Beads of the Buddhist Mala and Their Meanings

Common Buddhist malas come with 14, 18, 27, 36, 42, 54, or 108 beads. The 108-bead mala signifies the pursuit of the 108 samadhis (meditative states) and the elimination of 108 afflictions, thereby achieving a state of mental and physical tranquility. There are various interpretations of the 108 afflictions, but in general, they stem from the six senses (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind), each experiencing suffering, joy, and neutrality, totaling 18 afflictions. Additionally, each sense has preferences, aversions, and neutrality, totaling another 18 afflictions, which, when combined with the past, present, and future, amount to 108 afflictions.

1. **Shurangama (首楞严)**: Compassion is the most powerful weapon.
2. **Precious Seal (宝印)**: The essence of Buddhism lies in learning to be a good person.
3. **Lion’s Play (师子游戏)**: Silence is the best response to slander.
4. **Wonderful Moon (妙月)**: Be grateful to those who point out your flaws.
5. **Moon Banner (月幢相)**: Wisdom is not just about speaking but also about acting.
6. **Transcending All Dharmas (出诸法)**: As a mortal, one must accept the arrangements of fate.
7. **Crown of Insight (观顶)**: Every wound is an opportunity for growth.
8. **Nature of All Dharmas (毕法性)**: Respecting others is a way to honor oneself.
9. **Banner of All Dharmas (毕幢相)**: Practicing only in favorable conditions will not lead to enlightenment.
10. **Diamond (金刚)**: The key to practice lies in correcting wrong views.
11. **Seal of Dharma (入法印)**: Be grateful to those who bring adversity into your life.
12. **Samadhi (三昧)**: Those who think of others will never feel lonely.
13. **Radiant Light (放光)**: Only by facing reality can one transcend it.
14. **Forceful Progress (力进)**: Maintain an attitude of infinite tolerance when dealing with others.
15. **Transcendence (高出)**: While the world may seem smooth, true perfection is hard to attain.
16. **Skillful Eloquence (必入辩才)**: Today’s attachment may lead to tomorrow’s regret.
17. **Interpretation of Names (释名字)**: Arrogant people can still be saved, but those who are self-abasing may fall into helplessness.
18. **Observation of Directions (观方)**: Manage yourself rather than interfering with others.
19. **Seal of Dharani (陀罗尼印)**: Hating others is a great loss to oneself.
20. **No Deception (无诳)**: True asceticism lies in having a mind free from discrimination.
21. **Ocean of All Dharmas (摄诸法海)**: Continuously distorting others’ goodwill is irredeemable.
22. **Pervading the Void (遍覆虚空)**: Buddhas and bodhisattvas only help those who are willing to help themselves.
23. **Diamond Wheel (金刚轮)**: Selfless love can help you attain everything.
24. **Breaking the Jewel (断宝)**: The truth of life often lies in the ordinary.
25. **Illuminating (能照)**: People suffer because they pursue the wrong things.
26. **Non-Attachment (不求)**: All beings suffer without exception.
27. **Non-Abiding (无住)**: Excessive self-love is a form of self-dialogue.
28. **No Mind (无心)**: Cultivate good connections widely and avoid harming anyone.
29. **Pure Lamp (净灯)**: Letting go is the way to eliminate afflictions.
30. **Boundless Light (无边明)**: Recognize your greatness but also your potential folly.
31. **Illuminating (能作明)**: Practice requires patience, contentment with simplicity, and joy in solitude.
32. **Universal Illumination (普照明)**: A doctor cannot save a dying person, and the Buddha cannot save those without karmic connection.
33. **Pure and Firm (坚净诸)**: Not forgiving others is suffering yourself. Over time, afflictions will gradually dissipate.
34. **Stainless Light (无垢明)**: Time will pass, and all afflictions will eventually fade.
35. **Joy (欢喜)**: Practicing through praise is like trampling fragrant flowers and grass.
36. **Lightning (电光)**: Accepting that others are always right and you are always wrong reduces afflictions.
37. **Infinite (无尽)**: Do not be too certain of your views to avoid regret.
38. **Dignity and Virtue (威德)**: True nobility lies in humility and self-restraint.
39. **Transcending All (离尽)**: Mistaking wealth for possession actually binds you.
40. **Immovable (不动)**: Those who create opportunities are brave; those who wait for them are foolish.
41. **Unwavering (不退)**: Do not waste your life in places where regret is certain.
42. **Sun Lamp (日灯)**: Learning Buddhism is an account of your conscience, not a performance.
43. **Pure Moon (月净)**: Silent care and blessings for others are invisible acts of generosity.
44. **Pure Light (净明)**: Only by recognizing and changing yourself can you influence others.
45. **Illuminating (能作明)**: You can have love but should not cling to it, as separation is inevitable.
46. **Action (作行)**: Suffering arises more from a lack of self-cultivation than from others.
47. **Knowing Appearances (知相)**: One lie requires ten more to cover it up—why bother?
48. **Like a Diamond (如金刚)**: Forgiving others leaves room for your own heart.
49. **Abiding Mind (心住)**: Idling away a day is like committing a crime.
50. **Universal Light (普明)**: Attachment to emotions is the source of suffering; letting go brings freedom.
51. **Establishment (安立)**: Coming is accidental; leaving is inevitable—remain unchanging yet adaptable.
52. **Treasury of Jewels (宝聚)**: Going with the flow does not mean being complacent but doing your best and accepting fate.
53. **Seal of Wonderful Dharma (妙法印)**: Hurting others to hide your flaws is shameful.
54. **Equality of Dharma (法等)**: Ordinary people are responsible to the law; practitioners are responsible to karma.
55. **Cutting Off Joy (断喜)**: Do not overemphasize simple things, lest you create your own suffering.
56. **Attaining Dharma (到法)**: Do not waste time thinking about people you dislike.
57. **Dispelling (能散)**: If you are honest with yourself, no one can deceive you.
58. **Distinguishing Dharmas (分别诸法句)**: Listen more and do not rush to express your views.
59. **Maintaining Equality (守等相)**: Do not always feel unfortunate; there are many more suffering people in the world.
60. **Transcending Words (离字)**: Handle life with humor, and it will be better.
61. **Cutting Off Conditions (断缘)**: Focus more on others and less on self-reflection; understand this principle.
62. **Indestructible (不坏)**: Do not let arrogance mix with wisdom; humility must coexist with wisdom.
63. **Signlessness (无种相)**: Those whose minds are filled with their own views cannot hear others’ hearts.
64. **Nowhere to Go (无处行)**: Accepting what has happened is wiser than resisting it—this is called acceptance of fate.
65. **Transcending Ignorance (离蒙味)**: If you cannot forgive others in your heart, you will not find peace.
66. **Non-Departure (无去)**: It is easy to destroy people but hard to nurture them—practice restraint in speech.
67. **Unchanging (不变异)**: Do not always keep your eyes wide open; what will belong to you a hundred years from now?
68. **Transcending Conditions (度缘)**: It is not pitiable to be confused, but it is most pitiable to be unaware of your confusion.
69. **Accumulating Virtues (集诸功德)**: Hatred cannot resolve hatred; only compassion can.
70. **Abiding in No-Mind (住无心)**: Fools want others to understand them; the wise strive to understand themselves.
71. **Wonderful Pure Flower (妙净华)**: When facing the faults of others, repent promptly to reflect on yourself.
72. **Awakening Mind (觉意)**: Adversity is a necessary path for growth; accepting it courageously will make life stronger.
73. **Infinite Discernment (无量辨)**: Do not look down on others; instead, reflect on your own shortcomings in practice.
74. **Beyond Comparison (无等等)**: All afflictions are illusory; face them with the right attitude.
75. **Transcending All Dharmas (度诸法)**: Envious and hypocritical people cannot be called virtuous.
76. **Distinguishing Dharmas (分别诸法)**: When advising others, consider their feelings; otherwise, even the best words are ineffective.
77. **Dispelling Doubts (散疑)**: Many people lament the world’s helplessness and bleakness when they die.
78. **No Abode (无住处)**: Before learning Buddhism, things seem displeasing; after learning Buddhism, one can view everything with equanimity.
79. **One Adornment (一庄严)**: Express dissatisfaction with compassion and gentleness, and it will be more easily accepted.
80. **Action in Life (生行)**: Do not always be dissatisfied with others; instead, reflect on yourself.
81. **One Practice (一行)**: Why choose the negative over the positive when faced with the same thing?
82. **Non-One Practice (不一行)**: Neither happiness nor suffering is eternal; treat them with equanimity.
83. **Wonderful Practice (妙行)**: Envying others does not help self-improvement nor diminish their achievements.
84. **Reaching the Bottom of All Existence (达一切有底散)**: To know if someone is sincere, observe whether their starting point and destination align.
85. **Entering Names and Words (入名语)**: If you do not create your own afflictions, others cannot give them to you. If your heart cannot let go, it will trouble you.
86. **Transcending Sounds and Words (离音声字语)**: Do not deliberately speculate on others’ thoughts; judgments lacking wisdom and experience often lead to mistakes.
87. **Lighting the Torch (然炬)**: Facing unchangeable facts, acceptance is wiser than complaint.
88. **Pure Appearance (净相)**: Do not create afflictions because of others’ ignorance, nor suffer because of your own ignorance.
89. **Breaking Appearances (破相)**: A person who does not bathe will not smell good even with perfume; virtuous people naturally exude fragrance.
90. **Perfectly Adept in All (一切种妙足)**: If you can find your own shortcomings as accurately as you find others’ flaws, your life will be extraordinary.
91. **Beyond Joy and Suffering (不喜苦乐)**: Everything you own now will become someone else’s property after your life ends; why not give it to those in need now?
92. **Infinite Appearance (无尽相)**: When poor, you can give through physical acts like sweeping or watering.
93. **Dharani (陀罗尼)**: To be alive is a blessing; cherish life and be content.
94. **Gathering All Right and Wrong (摄诸邪正相)**: Those lacking merit often hear gossip; those with abundant merit do not. Practice accumulates bit by bit.
95. **Eliminating Hatred and Love (灭憎爱)**: Forgive others, let go of resentment, and you will find true happiness.
96. **Adversity and Prosperity (逆顺)**: Those with heavy karmic obstacles often see others’ faults; true practitioners do not.
97. **Pure Light (净光)**: Evil dharmas are illusory, and so are good dharmas; do not be self-abasing or arrogant.
98. **Firmness (坚固)**: Do not mind those who curse you; just as a mad dog’s bite should not be returned.
99. **Full Moon’s Pure Light (满月净光)**: Practitioners should not focus on others’ faults; otherwise, they cannot practice.
100. **Great Adornment (大庄严)**: Maintain equanimity in evaluating others; good and bad exist, and it depends on how you respond.
101. **Illuminating All Worlds (能照一切世)**: Face life with a smile, without complaint, and follow your heart, nature, and fate. What changes a life is only the moment a flower blooms a hundred years later.
102. **Samadhi and Equality (三味等)**: True mentors do not merely praise or admire us but point out our shortcomings and guide us. Only through such constructive criticism and advice can we progress and grow in knowledge.
103. **Gathering All Pure and Impure (摄一切有净无净)**: Disasters in the world often stem from a disregard for life. Do not only complain about your own illnesses and misfortunes but reflect on how your actions affect others.
104. **Not Delighting in Any Abode (不乐一切住处)**: Everyone has life, but not everyone understands its value. Those who do not understand the meaning of life often feel it is a punishment.
105. **Abiding in Stability (如住定)**: Love is not charity and should not be given casually. There are no fixed formulas or principles in emotions, yet people still pursue them obsessively.
106. **Decay of Body and Speech (坏身衰)**: Human nature is not inherently bad; it is habits that make it so. Everyone’s habits differ in depth. If someone has a desire to do good, be tolerant rather than label them as bad.
107. **Decaying Speech Like the Void (坏语如虚空)**: Life becomes easier when you tolerate those with different opinions. Trying to change others only brings pain; learning to endure and tolerate is the path of wisdom.
108. **Transcending Attachment to the Void (离着虚空不染)**: What you cannot attain seems beautiful because you lack understanding. Upon deeper understanding, you may find that reality is not as beautiful as imagined.