Candles, scents, and low lighting can help calm yourself down and bring yourself closer to your prayer.
Om mani padme hum: Pronounced ohm man-ee pad-mae hoom, this translates to “Hail to the jewel in the lotus. " Oṃ Amideva Hrīḥ: Pronounced “OM Ami-dehva re. " Or, in English, “To overcome all obstacles & hindrances” Om A Ra Pa Ca Na Dhih: This chant is believed to help with wisdom, critical thinking, and writing. Emphasise the “Dhih” (pronounced Di) when chanting. There are many, many other chants out there to practice, and listening to audio tracks is a great way to learn them quickly.
Sangha translates as “community, group, or assembly. " It usually refers to the community of believers in Buddhist ideals. [2] X Research source Dharma is the overall universal truth common to all people. It is the common force, of sorts, that binds and holds the universe together. [3] X Research source
There are a vast array of prayers, and no right way to pray as a Buddhist. This frees you to practice your prayer and spirituality how you desire it, not how you are told.
Counting the beads activates your body in the prayer, allowing you to work the body (beads), mind (prayer), and spirit (visualization) at once. You can use whatever prayers or mantras you desire with your beads. Prayer beads can be found online, or purchased at many Buddhist temples or Tibetan shops.
Some people believe the head bead has special significance, and it is sometimes called the “guru bead. " This bead is your teacher, leading you through the prayer cycle. [8] X Research source
You may use your right or left hand to count on. Don’t worry about getting it all “perfect. " Focus on visualizing your prayer as you say it, staying completely in the current moment. Ground yourself in the physical world by keeping your hands on your current bead.
This is mostly symbolic, indicating that you would not “step-over” your teacher, guru, or head. [9] X Research source
