Material Notes

What the beads, bones, woods and symbols in Tibetan jewelry are, where they come from, and how to care for them.

Why Do Malas Have 108 Beads?

Why a mala has 108 beads: what Buddhist tradition says the number stands for, how the count is worked out, and what is still unknown about its origin.

What Is a Dzi Bead?

What a dzi bead is, where it may have come from, what the eyes are said to mean, and how old beads and newly made beads differ.