Bodhi seed malas
Re: Bodhi seed malas
Magnus is right. This is the bodhi seeds lamas talk about and use. The best quality is from Nepal. But there is a a bead, or seed, that comes from India too. That is not as nice. I have seen DKR use one for his personal use. Wheat her or not it is the same species as the primary bodhi tree, don't know. But it is these beads that are said to be bodhi.
It isn't the easiest thing to only get the Nepali bodhi bead alone. You usually have to buy a whole mala already strung.i guess if you really try hard you can get the seed before it has a hole drilled into it. But, it would still be expensive
Rudraksha doent look even close to bodhi seed. Even if it is polished down. And it is used for all wrathful practices. I know many lay phurba practicenors using this, even more then kapala malas.
It isn't the easiest thing to only get the Nepali bodhi bead alone. You usually have to buy a whole mala already strung.i guess if you really try hard you can get the seed before it has a hole drilled into it. But, it would still be expensive
Rudraksha doent look even close to bodhi seed. Even if it is polished down. And it is used for all wrathful practices. I know many lay phurba practicenors using this, even more then kapala malas.
- Kim O'Hara
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Re: Bodhi seed malas
If you have been reading the thread you should by now know for sure that this "bodhi seed" is not the seed of the "bodhi tree", Ficus religiosa. The Ficus seeds are far too small.Rroman wrote:Magnus is right. This is the bodhi seeds lamas talk about and use. The best quality is from Nepal. But there is a a bead, or seed, that comes from India too. That is not as nice. I have seen DKR use one for his personal use. Wheat her or not it is the same species as the primary bodhi tree, don't know. But it is these beads that are said to be bodhi.
Kim
Re: Bodhi seed malas
I've read the post...I started it....what I'm saying is that whatever is being sold for bodhi seed is what is called bodhi seed. Which in a reality, it is bodhi seed. We can get technical on species but if the collective think and beleive it is such, then in a realitive level it is so. Maybe it is a level of conceptual obscuration. But for that matter, what isn't?
Re: Bodhi seed malas
Rroman wrote:I've read the post...I started it....what I'm saying is that whatever is being sold for bodhi seed is what is called bodhi seed. Which in a reality, it is bodhi seed. We can get technical on species but if the collective think and beleive it is such, then in a realitive level it is so. Maybe it is a level of conceptual obscuration. But for that matter, what isn't?
Thats a fair point. Whether the beads are actually derived from a specific botanical source is not the important issue. What is important is the fact that THOSE kind of malas have been found by many practitioners to be highly efficacious in terms of certain tantric sadhanas.
“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.
- Kim O'Hara
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Re: Bodhi seed malas
That's fine.Simon E. wrote:Rroman wrote:I've read the post...I started it....what I'm saying is that whatever is being sold for bodhi seed is what is called bodhi seed. Which in a reality, it is bodhi seed. We can get technical on species but if the collective think and beleive it is such, then in a realitive level it is so. Maybe it is a level of conceptual obscuration. But for that matter, what isn't?
Thats a fair point. Whether the beads are actually derived from a specific botanical source is not the important issue. What is important is the fact that THOSE kind of malas have been found by many practitioners to be highly efficacious in terms of certain tantric sadhanas.
But there is no reason while we shouldn't also be aware of which species of tree the seeds come from, and of the fact that (as I said here a day or two ago) the seeds are therefore "enlightenment" seeds, not "bodhi tree" seeds.
Kim
Re: Bodhi seed malas
I have no idea where they come from, but this is how they look: http://bodhimala.com/index.php?route=pr ... duct_id=64
The little sharp point on each bead is clearly visible.
/magnus
The little sharp point on each bead is clearly visible.
/magnus
"We are all here to help each other go through this thing, whatever it is."
~Kurt Vonnegut
"The principal practice is Guruyoga. But we need to understand that any secondary practice combined with Guruyoga becomes a principal practice." ChNNR (Teachings on Thun and Ganapuja)
~Kurt Vonnegut
"The principal practice is Guruyoga. But we need to understand that any secondary practice combined with Guruyoga becomes a principal practice." ChNNR (Teachings on Thun and Ganapuja)
Re: Bodhi seed malas
I can't imagine that the price has gone so high...US$800++!!!!!heart wrote:I have no idea where they come from, but this is how they look: http://bodhimala.com/index.php?route=pr ... duct_id=64
The little sharp point on each bead is clearly visible.
/magnus
I thought I just saw it sold at less than $100 recently.
I probably suggest the monasteries can grow some "bodhi" trees that produce this kind of phoenix eye seeds as a source of financial support and also to help buddhists who need such mala to practice.
How about the benefit of red coral mala? I managed to secure one before the price took off.
Re: Bodhi seed malas
Yeah,the prizes are crazy. Coral is good for all lotus deities.WeiHan wrote:I can't imagine that the price has gone so high...US$800++!!!!!heart wrote:I have no idea where they come from, but this is how they look: http://bodhimala.com/index.php?route=pr ... duct_id=64
The little sharp point on each bead is clearly visible.
/magnus
I thought I just saw it sold at less than $100 recently.
I probably suggest the monasteries can grow some "bodhi" trees that produce this kind of phoenix eye seeds as a source of financial support and also to help buddhists who need such mala to practice.
How about the benefit of red coral mala? I managed to secure one before the price took off.
/magnus
"We are all here to help each other go through this thing, whatever it is."
~Kurt Vonnegut
"The principal practice is Guruyoga. But we need to understand that any secondary practice combined with Guruyoga becomes a principal practice." ChNNR (Teachings on Thun and Ganapuja)
~Kurt Vonnegut
"The principal practice is Guruyoga. But we need to understand that any secondary practice combined with Guruyoga becomes a principal practice." ChNNR (Teachings on Thun and Ganapuja)
Re: Bodhi seed malas
Why don't we start a farm to grow these kind of trees?heart wrote:Yeah,the prizes are crazy. Coral is good for all lotus deities.WeiHan wrote:
I can't imagine that the price has gone so high...US$800++!!!!!
I thought I just saw it sold at less than $100 recently.
I probably suggest the monasteries can grow some "bodhi" trees that produce this kind of phoenix eye seeds as a source of financial support and also to help buddhists who need such mala to practice.
How about the benefit of red coral mala? I managed to secure one before the price took off.
/magnus
Red coral is expensive because it is really rare. Nobody can cheaply cultivate and grow them in a water farm. But why these bodhi seeds which is produce by a type of plant has the reason to be so expensive. The Buddha recommended it, I believe one of the reason is that it can be readily obtained. Buddha will never make it very expensive to practice genuine Dharma.
But I just manage to find this website selling 12 mm phoenix eye at 200-320 yuan which converts to less than US$50. But don't ask me how to order as I have never used a China website before.
http://detail.1688.com/offer/36945394551.html
- ClearblueSky
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Re: Bodhi seed malas
Red coral is said to be the most beneficial for the "powerful/magnetizing" practices. It's mentioned specifically in the Kurukulle Kangyur.WeiHan wrote: How about the benefit of red coral mala? I managed to secure one before the price took off.
Re: Bodhi seed malas
But maybe in modern times now the use of coralle is doubtful, for my taste.ClearblueSky wrote:Red coral is said to be the most beneficial for the "powerful/magnetizing" practices. It's mentioned specifically in the Kurukulle Kangyur.WeiHan wrote: How about the benefit of red coral mala? I managed to secure one before the price took off.
Re: Bodhi seed malas
Thankyou for your sharing of info. That was the main reason I bought the red coral mala but it is also because I have the opportunity to get it at a great bargain price. I get it because of a Rinpoche's recommendation for Kurukulle practice but I didn't know that it is was specifically mentioned in the Kurukulle Kangyur. Do you know the specific words in the kangyur?ClearblueSky wrote:Red coral is said to be the most beneficial for the "powerful/magnetizing" practices. It's mentioned specifically in the Kurukulle Kangyur.WeiHan wrote: How about the benefit of red coral mala? I managed to secure one before the price took off.
Re: Bodhi seed malas
Do you mean environmental concern? Anyway, there are laws restricting the harvesting and that is why it is ever more precious. Genuine red coral is very nice to look at. In my opinion it has a nicer appearance than gold.Ayu wrote:But maybe in modern times now the use of coralle is doubtful, for my taste.ClearblueSky wrote:Red coral is said to be the most beneficial for the "powerful/magnetizing" practices. It's mentioned specifically in the Kurukulle Kangyur.WeiHan wrote: How about the benefit of red coral mala? I managed to secure one before the price took off.
I like the phoenix eye bodhi seed mala but I am not able to get a 9mm size one with price which I think it should be at. Like I say, I don't believe it justifies that price unless these trees are so difficult to grow.
Re: Bodhi seed malas
Have you looked on ebay?
Re: Bodhi seed malas
yes.ebay don't usually has good deal or the best products. the last time i saw a 9mm us$700 phoenix eye bodhi seed mala was at garuda trading and after that i don't see any one in any website or unless they cost many many thousands of dollars.Lhasa wrote:Have you looked on ebay?
Re: Bodhi seed malas
I checked on the usa ebay site today and they have some that look like phoenix eye and don't cost so much.
Re: Bodhi seed malas
Those very small sized 8mm one isn't the real phoenix eye bodhi seed. I know them...they are actually called raktu seed, not the traditional phoenix eye bodhi seed tibetan buddhist has been refering to. BTW, I have been misled into buying one of that and is in my drawer.Lhasa wrote:I checked on the usa ebay site today and they have some that look like phoenix eye and don't cost so much.
Re: Bodhi seed malas
"We are all here to help each other go through this thing, whatever it is."
~Kurt Vonnegut
"The principal practice is Guruyoga. But we need to understand that any secondary practice combined with Guruyoga becomes a principal practice." ChNNR (Teachings on Thun and Ganapuja)
~Kurt Vonnegut
"The principal practice is Guruyoga. But we need to understand that any secondary practice combined with Guruyoga becomes a principal practice." ChNNR (Teachings on Thun and Ganapuja)
Re: Bodhi seed malas
Since bodhi seed mala is no longer a choice because of the high price, what other type of mala do you guys prefer?
- Tsultrim T.
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Re: Bodhi seed malas
Magnus and Rroman, the picture in the link you posted and the type of bead you described are exactly what is commonly known by Tibetan Lamas as the only authentic "Bodhi seed" mala. I have helped many 3 year retreatants shop for supplies pre-retreat and this as well as the aforementioned 6 face rudraksha bead malas were the only acceptable malas for the retreat. This was both for Dudjom Tersar and Palyul. So for all intents and purposes, the term "Bodhi seed" should refer to the one pictured and this is the main reason why all the other styles mentioned in the article are super cheap throughout Asia while the "Bodhi seed" version continues to increase in price. Also in my experience the smaller the better is preferred and considered superior, however especially for men it is harder to use to there is a point where too small actually hurts one hand in daily use.
Also WeiHan in general as stated coral is excellent for certain practices as are other stone malas, for example lapis, quartz crystal, carnelian, jade, amber, and other natural substances like sandalwood, aloes-wood, rosewood, and bone just to list a few. It really depends on the type of practice and one's Guru's instructions.
Also WeiHan in general as stated coral is excellent for certain practices as are other stone malas, for example lapis, quartz crystal, carnelian, jade, amber, and other natural substances like sandalwood, aloes-wood, rosewood, and bone just to list a few. It really depends on the type of practice and one's Guru's instructions.