Blog - Tibetan Mala Shop Buddhist Prayer Beads for Mantra and Meditation

Posted on 18/01/202518/01/2025 by TibetanMalaShop

How to Meditate – A Beginners Guide to Meditation

Would you like to learn how to meditate? Meditation is a fantastic way to relax and clear your mind. Here’s a simple guide to get you started:

Find a Quiet Spot: Look for a comfortable, quiet place where you won’t be disturbed.
Sit Comfortably: You can sit on a chair, cushion, or floor—just ensure your back is straight and you’re comfortable.
Close Your Eyes: This helps to minimize distractions and focus inward.
Breathe Naturally: Don’t try to control your breathing; just let it flow naturally.
Focus on Your Breath: Pay attention to the sensation of your breath entering and leaving your body. Feel the rise and fall of your chest or the air flowing through your nostrils.
Notice Your Thoughts: If your mind starts to wander, gently bring your focus back to your breath without judgment. It’s natural for thoughts to arise.
Stay for a Few Minutes: Start with just 5-10 minutes. You can gradually increase the duration as you get more comfortable with the practice.
End Gently: When you’re ready to finish, open your eyes slowly and take a moment to appreciate the calmness before getting up.

Remember, meditation is a practice, learning how to meditate is a process and gets easier with time. Try to be patient and kind to yourself. How do you feel about giving it a try?

Preparing for Meditation

Meditation on the Breath

Mantra Meditation

Chakra Meditations

Posted on 10/12/202411/12/2024 by TibetanMalaShop

Eightfold Path

The dharma wheel, or dharmachakra in Sanskrit, is one of the oldest symbols of Buddhism.
When the wheel has eight spokes, the spokes represent the components of the Eightfold Path.

The Noble Eightfold Path

Principles to create lasting positive change within daily life

The noble eightfold path, also known as the Buddhist eightfold path, goes beyond a simple self-help concept. It serves as a complete roadmap to guide and improve every aspect of our lives – from thoughts and actions to daily habits and relationships. The Eightfold Path originates from the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, who became known as the Buddha after achieving enlightenment.

What is the Eightfold Path?

A balanced approach to life

In Buddhism, the significance of the Eightfold Path lies in its ability to address the fundamental causes of suffering, known as the Four Noble Truths. The path offers a practical means to navigate the complexities of existence, encouraging practitioners to cultivate qualities such as compassion, mindfulness, and insight. By engaging with each aspect of the path, individuals can gradually transform their thoughts, actions, and perceptions, leading to the cessation of suffering and the attainment of enlightenment. The Eightfold Path consists of eight components: Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration, Right Intention and Right View.

correct action

tigers eye

Right Action emphasises the importance of ethical behavior, promoting actions that do not cause harm to oneself or others.

correct effort

carnelian

Right effort means cultivating positive and wholesome qualities through persistence and following through our positive intentions.

correct livelihood

citrine

Right Livelihood guides practitioners towards professions that are beneficial and do not contribute to suffering, encouraging a lifestyle aligned with ethical principles.

correct mindfulness

fluorite

Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment by observing the body, mind and feelings with non-judgmental awareness.

correct speech

blue lace agate

Right Speech encourages individuals to communicate truthfully, kindly, and constructively, recognizing the power of words to uplift or harm.

correct concentration

lepidolite

Right concentration is the development of a well focused mind. Insight and mental calmness is achieved through single pointed meditation by holding the mind steady on a single object.

correct view

amethyst

Right View refers to understanding the nature of reality as it is, which includes comprehending the Four Noble Truths and the impermanence of all things.

correct intention

selenite

Intention or motivation toward non-violence and striving for a positive outcome.

Eightfold Path Bracelet

Eightfold Path Mala

Eightfold Path Wrist Mala

Eightfold Path Knotted Mala

Posted on 05/10/202431/12/2024 by TibetanMalaShop

Making a Bronze Statue

Yellow Hat Buddhist Monk Bronze Statue

The process of making a cold cast bronze statue starts with sculpting the original statue using sculptor’s plasteline. Plasteline is a much more detailed medium than clay, although it does take longer to get a smooth finish. Creating the original takes hours and hours of detailed work – this is by far the longest part of the whole process.

The subject is a Buddhist monk sat in meditation in the lotus position with hands holding a bowl of nectar. He wears traditional monks robes and the distinctive and beautiful yellow hat. The yellow hat is associated with the Gelug Pa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The Gelug Pa, or Gelug, tradition was founded in the 14th century by Lama Tsongkhapa (1357 – 1419).

The goal of this sculpture, as with all works of art, is to transmit the energy and feelings of the sculptor’s intention through the medium, in this case through a bronze statue. We wanted to convey calm, steady, uplifting and aligned energy through the sculpture so when viewed this energy is imparted to you, giving meaning and purpose to the artwork.

The 7 step process is detailed below. The finished sculpture can be purchased here in our online shop. We are now in the process of making the next sculpture, so watch this space!

STEP 1.

Preparing the sculpture for casting with a circular cardboard barrier to prevent the silicone from flowing away

STEP 2.

The first coat of silicone is applied with a brush ensuring all detail is covered with no air bubbles

STEP 3.

The silicone is thickened and applied in a thick paste. Each layer is applied when the previous layer is touch dry.

STEP 4.

When the silicone is an inch thick it is left to fully cure and dry for several days

STEP 5.

The silicone mould is cut at the back with a sharp scalpel, in a zig zag style, to release the statue inside

STEP 6.

Powdered bronze is applied to the inner surface of the mould before adding a mix of 70% bronze powder suspended in 30% resin

STEP 7.

The statue is released from the mould, then the final and 7th step is to lightly sand and polish the figurine to reveal the beautiful deep golden sheen of the bronze.

Posted on 20/09/202425/10/2024 by TibetanMalaShop

Transformation with Love

Laurels of Light

It is a new day. The lush fresh light beams heavy through the dense forest of life. We are one and new to the changes afoot. It is not difficult or easy, it is different. Each one has a goal and path of understanding, and learning for the future of the human race.

We teach and bring forth the message of oneness to assist the transition with ease and flourishing light, to bring harmony within to troubled minds, and illuminate the direction of peace and healing. They can change in an instant with the correct supportive environment of love. The energy of love is all around and yours for the taking, use it wisely and surround yourself with its vibration, bringing steady calm and balance of the opposites and extremes.

The middle way is a finite line between the love and the hatred, each to their own preference of mode, but with the same result. The goal is love. Humanity needs this shift, for the love and joy is welcome amongst many, and brings ultimate peace for the planetary system of light and all things. Each man needs love, it is a forgiven right, in the hierarchy of flight and gain, we overcome the tribulations of trouble, and strive for the betterment of the way in all things.

Rest now in your laurels of light for this will show you the path of wonder and delight and gratitude will comfort the cause for your betterment and release the bounds of restriction and allow light to flood the work of all men. We are peace keepers of harmony, known only to the best of us who try the method with persistence gleaned to all at one.

Posted on 20/09/202425/10/2024 by TibetanMalaShop

Into the Light

The Path

We are the children of earth, waking from the slumber, rising from the ashes of ignorance, blessed with hindsight and growth, deep in the fathoms of desire, loosening the chains, releasing the grip of resistance and hardship into the realm of light, blessed with divinity and growth, longing for renewal and freedom. The freedom to be and think.

The parallel universes are wide and a steep learning curve but we are here, you are not alone in your thinking, there is support in bringing the oneness to humanity. The gentle lapping waves of outgrown desire will take thee forward to new lands of hope, glory and sustenance.

There is much to do, there is plentiful guidance, trust and hope for the future is yours. Take my hand and follow the way, the path of joyful freedom from thought and perception. All is new in this field, outstretched beyond limitations, here is life anew awaiting in the dusk and shadow for your return.

The new light is bright in the distance, we can make it, make the journey across the wildlands and pasture of unknown cherished territory and lands of the free. The time is upon us for change of direction and guidance to the new pasture of life, flat lands rise and fall with the waves of the path.

We are at one, at peace on the journey, for we know and trust the perfect route of kindness, carrying joy within to release the burden along the way, there is peace inside hearts and all this for the cause. The liberation remains elusive, the dance of death and light is ours for the taking and much ado now, to this end, we are golden and newly spoken, words of gold will release, forming patterns of light to build the new environment of peace, and knowing this, we move forward steady, steadfast in the light of golden sun and worship to the stars. And it is so.

Treading the path, steadfast in determination to succeed with ease, light feet on the surface, gentle with our footprint. We are golden in our approach of the sunlight above and within, shining through the darkness, the darkest of days behind, illumination of the soul will prevail. These days are long and winding with ease, and encourage the meander of truth for all in insight and gold display forth their camels of trust and hope to bring forth in shame and glory.

We go on foot far and wide in the wilderness of hope, and we seal the hope path with our love for each other of perfection of the road along the way. The weak will find liberation in the smallest places, and beyond there is hope and the glory is theirs.