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I got some mala/prayer bead necklaces from an antique store in a discount bag. All I could make out were cool wooden beads and some stone ones, I didn’t realise it was mala until I got home and realized the actual design of the necklaces.

I got them originally as material for my crafts, but someone more informed please advise. I don’t wanna disrespect anything even if it’s not my personal faith.

Got four: three are Bodhi beads and one Rudraksha.

#prayer beads #mala #Buddhist prayer beads #Buddhist question #buddhism #mediation beads #Hinduism #Hinduism prayer beads #tibetan buddhism #tibetan Buddhism prayer beads #bodhi seeds #rudraksha seeds #Hinduism question

So I've recently converted myself to Buddhism, I considered myself an atheist before, but Buddhism is so beautiful and fullfilling, but could you summarize the different types of Buddhism so I could decide which to follow. Thanks! -Reply privately :)

Hello and Tashi Delek so-inadequate, thanks for your question! First I would like to say I am so happy you have found Dharma, it is such a wonderful thing given to us direct from the Buddha Shakyamuni.

Each of the three schools is vastly different from each other, while still holding the core teachings of the Buddha in common. The First school is Theravada, also known as Hinayana (meaning smaller or broken vehicle) by the other two schools. The Second is called Mahayana (Great Vehicle) but also goes by the name of Sutrayana. Finally, the last school is called Vajrayana (Diamond Vehicle) also called Tantrayana.

In Theravada, they practice the early and more public teachings of the Buddha. Relying on early Sutra, and many hold the idea they’re the “purest” and “oldest” school of Buddhism. They work towards their own liberation (enlightenment), but according to the other schools, the highest a Theravadan can achieve is Arhat (enlightened, but not Buddha). This school is practice in most of East Asia, with Sri Lanka and Thailand being it’s “capitols”. Finally, all Theravadan chants are spoken in Pali, a language spoken in Sri Lanka sometime after the Buddha’s paranirvana (the death of the physical body and ascension from Samsara).

In Mahayana, they hold all the same teachings of Theravada, but rely upon compassion. They believe that the only true way to become a Buddha is through 100% compassion for all sentient beings. They embark on the path of a Bodhisattva, a being of pure compassion, who works tirelessly for the liberation of all sentient beings. Also, other than Shakyamuni Buddha, they rely heavily on Amitabha Buddha (in the pure land sects). This school is practiced in most of Central Asia: China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and Vietnam.

Finally, in Vajrayana (my school), they hold all of the same practices as Mahayana and the core teachings of Theravada, but implement Tantra. Vajrayana is, in my opinion, the most unique and complicated form of Buddhism. According to Tantra Master Lama Thubten Yeshe “each one of us is a union of all universal energy. Everything that we need in order to be complete is within us right at this very moment. It is simply a matter of being able to recognize it. This is the tantric approach.“ We also reply heavily on already realized Bodhisattvas to help us help ourselves and all sentient beings. We also stress the importance of a Guru (teacher) on our spiritual paths, who guides us in the right direction and protects us. Finally, we rely on reincarnated masters to be our greatest guides. These people are called Tulkus, and they are realized Bodhisattvas who continue to be reborn out of compassion. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is an example of this.

In the end, all three schools practice and teach the core of the Buddha’s teachings: They stress the four noble truths. 8-fold path, and refuge in the Triple Gem. Each school is widely more complicated, but these are some basic differences and aspects of each, I hope it helps you.

I wish you blessings on your most wonderful Dharma journey, Emaho!

Metta, JollyJ