natural Māla stringing material
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natural Māla stringing material
Does anyone know a good natural material for stringing a māla? Something that will not break or stretch easily (would undoubtedly require pre-stretching, which is expected). What were malas typically strung with before we had nylon? Thanks.
Re: natural Māla stringing material
Silk thread. Silk is REALLY strong. I know: it's not vegetarian, blah... blah... blah...dakini_boi wrote:Does anyone know a good natural material for stringing a māla? Something that will not break or stretch easily (would undoubtedly require pre-stretching, which is expected). What were malas typically strung with before we had nylon? Thanks.
"My religion is not deceiving myself."
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE
"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE
"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
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Re: natural Māla stringing material
But doesn't it wear down pretty easily with the friction from the beads?
Re: natural Māla stringing material
There is ways to produce silk without killing the wormsSherab Dorje wrote:Silk thread. Silk is REALLY strong. I know: it's not vegetarian, blah... blah... blah...dakini_boi wrote:Does anyone know a good natural material for stringing a māla? Something that will not break or stretch easily (would undoubtedly require pre-stretching, which is expected). What were malas typically strung with before we had nylon? Thanks.
Equanimity is the ground. Love is the moisture. Compassion is the seed. Bodhicitta is the result.
-Paraphrase of Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tsephel citing the Guhyasamaja Tantra
"All memories and thoughts are the union of emptiness and knowing, the Mind.
Without attachment, self-liberating, like a snake in a knot.
Through the qualities of meditating in that way,
Mental obscurations are purified and the dharmakaya is attained."
-Ra Lotsawa, All-pervading Melodious Drumbeats
-Paraphrase of Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tsephel citing the Guhyasamaja Tantra
"All memories and thoughts are the union of emptiness and knowing, the Mind.
Without attachment, self-liberating, like a snake in a knot.
Through the qualities of meditating in that way,
Mental obscurations are purified and the dharmakaya is attained."
-Ra Lotsawa, All-pervading Melodious Drumbeats
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Re: natural Māla stringing material
Are there any silk producers that use such a method?Konchog1 wrote:There is ways to produce silk without killing the wormsSherab Dorje wrote:Silk thread. Silk is REALLY strong. I know: it's not vegetarian, blah... blah... blah...dakini_boi wrote:Does anyone know a good natural material for stringing a māla? Something that will not break or stretch easily (would undoubtedly require pre-stretching, which is expected). What were malas typically strung with before we had nylon? Thanks.
One should do nothing other than benefit sentient beings either directly or indirectly - Shantideva
Re: natural Māla stringing material
I believe so, but its likely to be hard to find and expensive.practitioner wrote:Are there any silk producers that use such a method?
Equanimity is the ground. Love is the moisture. Compassion is the seed. Bodhicitta is the result.
-Paraphrase of Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tsephel citing the Guhyasamaja Tantra
"All memories and thoughts are the union of emptiness and knowing, the Mind.
Without attachment, self-liberating, like a snake in a knot.
Through the qualities of meditating in that way,
Mental obscurations are purified and the dharmakaya is attained."
-Ra Lotsawa, All-pervading Melodious Drumbeats
-Paraphrase of Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tsephel citing the Guhyasamaja Tantra
"All memories and thoughts are the union of emptiness and knowing, the Mind.
Without attachment, self-liberating, like a snake in a knot.
Through the qualities of meditating in that way,
Mental obscurations are purified and the dharmakaya is attained."
-Ra Lotsawa, All-pervading Melodious Drumbeats
Re: natural Māla stringing material
Not really. My only problem with silk was one time the ants discovered my mala and they ate the silk thread!!! Apart from that it has a much better tolerance to friction than cotton thread does. Waxed cotton is also a good/strong natural material. For heavier (ie stone bead) mala, or those with small holed beads (higher friction) I tend to tie knots between each bead. Malas threaded in this fashion NEVER break.dakini_boi wrote:But doesn't it wear down pretty easily with the friction from the beads?
"My religion is not deceiving myself."
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE
"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE
"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
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Re: natural Māla stringing material
Thank you, I am looking into death-free silk cord.
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Re: natural Māla stringing material
i think the insects the silk came from would benefit hugely if you would use normal silk. becoming part of deitys speech.
If the thought of demons
Never rises in your mind,
You need not fear the demon hosts around you.
It is most important to tame your mind within....
In so far as the Ultimate, or the true nature of being is concerned,
there are neither buddhas or demons.
He who frees himself from fear and hope, evil and virtue,
will realize the insubstantial and groundless nature of confusion.
Samsara will then appear as the mahamudra itself….
-Milarepa
OMMANIPADMEHUNG
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls6P9tOYmdo
Never rises in your mind,
You need not fear the demon hosts around you.
It is most important to tame your mind within....
In so far as the Ultimate, or the true nature of being is concerned,
there are neither buddhas or demons.
He who frees himself from fear and hope, evil and virtue,
will realize the insubstantial and groundless nature of confusion.
Samsara will then appear as the mahamudra itself….
-Milarepa
OMMANIPADMEHUNG
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls6P9tOYmdo
Re: natural Māla stringing material
' Ahimsa silk ' is made from the empty cocoons of the silk moth caterpillar AFTER they have pupated and become adult moths. Unlike ordinary silk which is made by boiling the cocoons with the caterpillars inside.
“You don’t know it. You just know about it. That is not the same thing.”
Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche to me.
Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche to me.
Re: natural Māla stringing material
Cool! I wasn't aware of this technique.Simon E. wrote:' Ahimsa silk ' is made from the empty cocoons of the silk moth caterpillar AFTER they have pupated and become adult moths.
"My religion is not deceiving myself."
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE
"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE
"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
Re: natural Māla stringing material
I didn't either until recently. If you google 'Ahima Silk ' a couple of outlets come up.
“You don’t know it. You just know about it. That is not the same thing.”
Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche to me.
Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche to me.
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Re: natural Māla stringing material
Thin strips of leather used to be used typically..
Also different animal fur yarns or strings.
I imagine they used guts also in Tibet(I forget the technical term for gut string), but that is just my speculation. Guts that have been stretched out and waxed are an ideal natural mala string so I can't imagine Tibetans not making use of it.
Also different animal fur yarns or strings.
I imagine they used guts also in Tibet(I forget the technical term for gut string), but that is just my speculation. Guts that have been stretched out and waxed are an ideal natural mala string so I can't imagine Tibetans not making use of it.
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Re: natural Māla stringing material
We happened to have a nice roll of black hemp string at my house. Wonderful stuff!
It doesn't stretch and is really strong.
It doesn't stretch and is really strong.
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Re: natural Māla stringing material
Do you know what brand it is? The hemp string I used stretched a lot rather quickly.dimeo wrote:We happened to have a nice roll of black hemp string at my house. Wonderful stuff!
It doesn't stretch and is really strong.
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Re: natural Māla stringing material
I don't know what you're considering natural or not, but I made mine with steel string, and it has yet to break with years of use.
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Re: natural Māla stringing material
Wow, I never considered that. What is this steel string exactly though? Do you have to use really big beads?ClearblueSky wrote:I don't know what you're considering natural or not, but I made mine with steel string, and it has yet to break with years of use.
If there is a radical inconsistency between your statements and the position you claim to hold,
you are a sock puppet.
Make as many accounts as you want; people can identify your deception with this test.
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Re: natural Māla stringing material
It's a bodhi seed mala, so the holes aren't huge, but I would say they're bigger than some other types of bead. If there's a store with it near you, you could maybe bring in your beads and see what will fit.disjointed wrote:Wow, I never considered that. What is this steel string exactly though? Do you have to use really big beads?ClearblueSky wrote:I don't know what you're considering natural or not, but I made mine with steel string, and it has yet to break with years of use.