The beads used to recite mantras aiming at subduing beings through forceful means should be made from raksha seeds or human bones in a string of 60. Again, as the purpose should be absolutely altruistic, the only person capable of performing such a feat is a Bodhisattva motivated by great compassion for a being who can be tamed through no other means, for example extremely malicious spirits, or general afflictions, visualized as a dense black ball.
Bone is used in practice because the more we contemplate death the more fruitful our life becomes. We begin to live life differently and accept that death is inevitable while the path to the end of this life is about service to others, loving all, and being happy (without the pursuit of happiness) in each moment…through the supposed good and bad.
Yak is an important animal in Tibet as they are used as packing animals for the nomadic tribes and to honour their passing they are used in practice. Continuing to be of service as they pass from this consciousness to another.
Why a skull bead? Some people look at the malas with a certain curiousity when they see a swastika or a skull…I have explained the meaning of the swastika in another post.
The skull is meant to have the meditator reflect on death and impermanence and know that death is a fact and the closer that we can relate to death and embrace it the sooner we can start living with love and compassion and realizing that in this cyclic existence death will come when it is time…live life and embrace death. Acceptance is key to the inevitable passing of time and body.
![victoriousvocabulary:
THE FLOWER OF LIFE
[noun/proper noun/title]
the modern name given to a geometrical figure composed of multiple evenly-spaced, overlapping circles. They are arranged to form a flower-like pattern with a sixfold symmetry, similar to a hexagon. The centre of each circle is on the circumference of six surrounding circles of the same diameter. It is considered by some to be a symbol of sacred geometry, said to contain ancient, spiritual value depicting the fundamental forms of space and time.
[word requested by amythia]
[Other depictions: #1, #2, #3. If you have an image of the flower of life on your blog and it’s not pixellated, let me know and I will link it to this post]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4rfz2gSDU1r47bczo1_1280.jpg)
![victoriousvocabulary:
CONSANGUINITY
[noun]
1. a close relationship or connection.
2. a relationship by descent from a common ancestor; kinship ( distinguished from affinity).
I remember my connections.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyu1h2e4s21r2miuno1_1280.jpg)
![victoriousvocabulary:
COMPASSION FATIGUE
[noun]
(also known as a secondary traumatic stress disorder); a condition characterised by a gradual lessening of compassion over time. It is common among trauma victims and individuals that work directly with trauma victims. It was first diagnosed in nurses in the 1950s. Sufferers can exhibit several symptoms including hopelessness, a decrease in experiences of pleasure, constant stress and anxiety, and a pervasive negative attitude. This can have detrimental effects on individuals, both professionally and personally, including a decrease in productivity, the inability to focus, and the development of new feelings of incompetency and self doubt. Journalism analysts argue that the media has caused widespread compassion fatigue in society by saturating newspapers and news shows with often decontextualized images and stories of tragedy and suffering. This has caused the public to become cynical, apathetic and become resistant to helping people who are suffering.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzvsjkyUUP1r47bczo1_1280.jpg)
![victoriousvocabulary:
PENUMBRA
[noun]
1. a) the partial or imperfect shadow outside the complete shadow of an opaque body, as a planet, where the light from the source of illumination is only partly cut off. Compare umbra. b) the grayish marginal portion of a sunspot.
2. a shadowy, indefinite, or marginal area.
There are always grey areas. The second parts. The outside. The other worldly lover. What draws one to the outside and stray from normal path. Thank goodness I can travel on both paths at once. I just need to remember I have the ability to do so. We all do.
Other lives, other careers, other personalities, other lovers… There is no one straight and narrow path. The Universe is too large to come to the truth through one single equation.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lznzreaplB1r47bczo1_500.jpg)
