One hundred eight,
as beads on a mala,
one for each of the 108 intrinsic aspect of awakened mind.
One hundred eight,
one bead for each activity of distorted mind.
One for every deep method of transformation.
One hundred eight,
one each for distinctly different self-resounding dancers,
dancing points of light within the subtle body.
One for each of the sublime peaceful and wrathful deities.
As you gently move each bead through your fingers,
let each bead be a reminder that every state of mind is by nature pure.
Let the touch of each bead affirm the self-existing mandala of incarnated existence.
Let each bead be the drop-off point where dualistic mind waves goodbye
before vanishing into the vastness of wakeful knowing.
A cord runs invisibly through each bead.
Through every moment of human experience, invisibly,
is the space of wakeful knowing.
It continues beyond beginning, beyond end,
in you, me and everyone,
from the biggest to the smallest,
without exception.
One bead ties one hundred eight together.
One person in our life confirms certainty.
It’s called the guru bead.
The outer guru shows you the way of wakeful knowing, beyond duality.
The ultimate guru is the wakeful knowing that knows itself.
Holding the sacred mala is a profound gesture of taking charge of our life,
in this wonderful amazing world,
the magical net,
the essence of secrets,
the mystery beyond compare.
Painting of the Hundred Peaceful and Wrathful Deities.
Featured image by Alexander Husum.