The Mala
I lived in a family that was Mongolian and my Mongolian stepmother in Howell, New Jersey was very religious and at the same time, extremely superstitious. Every Mongolian household in Howell – and there were a couple of hundred of us – would have a Buddhist shrine room or shrine area in their homes. That means they would have a room dedicated to the Buddha where they would have shelves there, they would have images, pictures, tsa tsas, paintings, thangkas and statues of the Buddha and that’s where they would keep their blessed items, their rosaries and all that.
Just like every other Mongolian house, our house had a shrine room and the shrine room was right next to my bedroom. That shrine room was basically used for when the monks came over to do chanting and prayer occasionally. So, the shrine room was pretty much off limits to me because my mother felt that the shrine room was very sacred and that people shouldn’t just go in and out and touch it or move this and that around and defile it. That was how she used to think.
So, our shrine room had a Medicine Buddha statue on top and it was very beautiful. It was made of clay, fully painted and was about 16 inches. It was brought from the ‘old country’ where they emigrated from. There was also a Green Tara framed photo, there was a Tsongkhapa photo, there was a photo of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, there was also a Green Tara tsa tsa and a 4-armed Avalokiteshvara tsa tsa in a ghau (container box) along with our malas and offerings would be made in the front.
So, I wasn’t really allowed to go in there all the time because I was a kid and my mother was afraid that I would touch this and that and defile the place. But I used to sneak in there anyway and just hang out and look at the Buddhas and offer incense because I liked the room very much. I felt very connected. She had around five malas or rosaries which are Buddhist prayer beads. A mala has 108 beads that are used for doing mantras. So, we had five in our family. We had one red one that, I don’t really know what it was made from. It’s red, shiny and it’s beautiful and I like that one. Then, there was a bigger wooden one, a sandalwood one, and another wooden one and there was a big plastic one.
This is the exact street I was playing in the rain and found the mala. The white house on the right is my family home where I grew up in New Jersey.
And so, whenever we go to the temple, everybody would take their own mala. So, my mother would grab the mala tray from the altar and we pick the mala we want to use on that day. My father would always grab the big plastic one that was brown in colour because his hands were big and my mother would grab the little red one and if I could grab the red one myself, I would grab it myself because it was shiny and I liked it.
But I wasn’t allowed to touch those malas on non-temple days. So, on days we are not going to the temple to do prayers, I am not allowed to touch the malas. It’s a no-no because it’s sacrilegious, my mom said. I didn’t really know what that meant but that’s what she said.
I would always be in my room doing Manjushri mantras and prayers or Avalokiteshvara mantras and prayers but I didn’t have a mala. But my mother would not let me use the one in the prayer room because she felt that we shouldn’t be using that unless we are in the temple. That’s her thinking so and it was like that when I was very young.
Sometimes, it would rain outside and my mother would allow me to go outside in the rain to play. I liked to play in the rain. I liked to walk in the rain and sometimes, huge puddles or ‘mini-rivers’ would form from the rain on the sides of the road, washing the rain down the road. I liked watching the gushing of the water.
I often played on our street or ride bikes with friends. We lived on 233 West 3rd Street in Howell. I remember once, I was just playing in the rain on our street and I had an umbrella and I had my feet in the water and my mother was screaming in the window for me to come in because she heard the thunder. But I was playing and I saw something really unusual. The road was tarred black and it was kind of rough back then. There were places that were not even so water and mini puddles would gather. I saw a little area in the road right in front of my house that a little tiny puddle of water had gathered in. It was very tiny and shallow. In the puddle was a dark brown mala and it had a white string, and I walked up to it and I looked at it. I was like, “I can’t believe this!” I looked up and down the street to see if there was anybody around who might have dropped it. There was nobody around! I knew I hadn’t seen this mala the day before or the day before that because I played on the street every single day with my friends. It was just that day I was playing alone because it was raining and the little puddle was very shallow, like a quarter of an inch. The water around it was stained with a little bit of dark brown reddish water because the mala was losing some color due being soaked in rainwater.
So, I picked up the mala and I looked at it. You know, it had a 108 beads or so and a ‘head’ on it. It had a white string and I just couldn’t believe my luck! I couldn’t believe that in the middle of the street in Howell, New Jersey, I would find a mala – rosary. I was really happy and I wiped it down and a part of me was really happy but a small part of me was thinking, “Oh! I wonder who it belongs to and I wondered if somebody would claim it back.”
I remember I took the mala, cleaned it up and dried it. Then I hid it in my drawer so my mother wouldn’t see it. In next few days, I showed it to one Mongolian lady down the street who also was quite religious. Her name is Carmen and I was wondering if it belonged to her and she had lost it as she would walk up and down the same street sometimes. She said no. It didn’t belonged to her. So I was thinking I am scot-free. It is mine and I can keep it now. So, I used that mala and I kept that in my drawer for Manjushri mantras and I was doing that. It was really weird because I was doing my practice and when I needed a mala and I literally found one! Where in Howell, New Jersey you know, back in the 70s are you going to find a mala just on the street. But I found it in the middle of the street in the rain and I took it and used it. When I looked back in hindsight, I guess I had a real strong affinity to do Dharma practice because when I needed it, a mala appeared literally in the rain on the street for me to use.
Tsem Rinpoche
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Malas have been used in so many different spiritual traditions for so long because these beads have great spiritual meaning, which makes them an important piece of mindful meditation. Malas has many powerful benefits and helps to create a divine connection between heart and mind. At the same time, it helps the mind stay focused and present in the moment.
It’s good to note that you don’t have to be religious to wear or use a mala. It is important though to understand its use and respect its significance. We need to have faith and just keep on holding the vows and have strong affinity to practice dharma, no matter what.
Thank you for this valuable information sharing, I am very fond of the mala, and I would love to keep using it.
https://bit.ly/3okl7zH
May the story of mala shared by Rinpoche will become the inspiration to many people for treasuring and appreciating the Dharma teachings receive from their respective spiritual guides.
Nowadays we should invite Mala to create a cause for future use.we should invite more Mala for others to ensure that they can use for recite mantra.Thank you very much for the article.
This is a very interesting story about Rinpoche’s first mala. I believe miracles happened because we believe in Buddha and Protector. We may not be able to see or understand how it happens but I believe with the blessing of Buddha, it will happen. A mala appeared when Rinpoche wishes to have it. When a genuine practitioner needs anything related to Dharma I think Dharma protector will manifest to him or her. Thank you Rinpoche and blog team for sharing this beautiful story.???☘️?
1984 Los Angeles-Left to right: Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, monk assistant to Zong Rinpoche and the 18-year-old Tsem Rinpoche prior to ordination. Read more- https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/category/me
Beautiful story of how Rinpoche got his first mala. Rinpoche just found one which came from nowhere on the road. As Rinpoche needed the mala for dharma practice at those difficult times in Howell, New Jersey and Rinpoche literally found one. Good things will come when we do good and have good thoughts.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
View
A poem inspired by seeing a picture of my teacher, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche…
In the sport of correct views,
all that is correct is just a view,
without permanence or substance.
As long as we hold onto views,
our sufferings are gathered
to be experienced without end.
Without the strong methods of emptiness
and compassion, bereft of merit,
we sink deeper without respite.
To arise from this samsara is but
a dreamscape on the deluded mind.
Therefore seek the guru, who confers the yidam,
hold your vows and fixate on liberation
free of new creations. Free of new experiences as
there are none.
~ Tsem Rinpoche
Composed in Tsem Ladrang, Kuala Lumpur on July 7, 2014
View
A poem inspired by seeing a picture of my teacher, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche…
In the sport of correct views,
all that is correct is just a view,
without permanence or substance.
As long as we hold onto views,
our sufferings are gathered
to be experienced without end.
Without the strong methods of emptiness
and compassion, bereft of merit,
we sink deeper without respite.
To arise from this samsara is but
a dreamscape on the deluded mind.
Therefore seek the guru, who confers the yidam,
hold your vows and fixate on liberation
free of new creations. Free of new experiences as
there are none.
~ Tsem Rinpoche
Composed in Tsem Ladrang, Kuala Lumpur on July 7, 2014
A poem by Tsem Rinpoche
I was walking past a second hand shop on Western Ave selling old things. They had a Japanese-style clay Buddha which was beige in colour on the floor, holding the door open. I thought the shopkeeper would collect a lot of negative karma without knowing if he kept such a holy item on the floor as a doorstop. So I went in to talk to him, but he didn’t look like he wanted to talk or that he even cared. So I asked him the price and he said US$5. I purchased it so he did not collect more negative karma. I was 17 years old and that was in 1982.
I escorted my new Buddha home and washed it lightly and wiped it. I placed it on my altar and was happy with the Buddha. I would do my meditations, prayers, sadhanas, mantras and prostrations in front of this shrine daily. When I left for India in 1987, I could not bring this Buddha along and gave it to a friend. It was a nice size and I made offerings to this Buddha for many years in Los Angeles. In front of the Buddha I placed His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s photo. I remember I was so relieved that the price was affordable. But US$5 that time was still expensive for me but worth it I thought. But I was happy to have brought the Buddha home. Tsem Rinpoche
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com
Tsem Rinpoche at Kechara Forest Retreat, Bentong, Malaysia
H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche is very devoted to his root guru, H.H. Zong Rinpoche.
Dear Rinpoche,
This is a very interesting story about Rinpoche’s 1st mala.
A mala appeared when Rinpoche wishes to have it. When a genuine practitioner need anything related to Dharma I think Dharma protector will manifest to him or her. Rinpoche since young have been related to Dharma. When I read this story, I was thinking could this be the mala that Rinpoche use in previous life?
Thank you Rinpoche
Love
Freon
♥️
Good morning. I wanted to know the use of the Tibetan mala and the relative esoteric significance to the fingers and hands used. Thank you
Hi Piero Scalella,
Welcome to tsemrinpoche.com. For those who practice father tantras, they will use the right hand. Using the left hand is permissible, but usually they use more on the right hand. Right represents father tantras, which is based on method. Left represents wisdom, which relates to the mother tantras. So if one does the mother tantra practices like Vajrayogini, Heruka or Kalachakra, then they will concentrate on the left hand.
As for the fingers, the index finger is used to gain peaceful abilities, peaceful forms of powers and clairvoyance. For the purpose of increase, such as to increase wealth, knowledge, harmony or prosperity, with those deities you will use the second finger. If you wish to engage in controlling activities, such as controlling weather, spirits, exorcisms, then you use the third finger. For wrathful methods, you use the last finger.
This is general information, but if you have a teacher who has given you a practice, it is best to consult your teacher on this. H.E. Tsem Rinpoche has a Youtube video explaining about the above info, as well as more about the use of a Tibetan mala here:
All about ROSARIES (mala)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srI1vH6bGXg
You can also read the transcript/text here on the blog:
All About Rosaries
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/all-about-rosaries.html
I hope the above info answered your questions. Feel free to drop by again if you have more questions.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this beautiful story. I believe miracles happened because we believe in Buddha and Protector. We may not be able to see or understand how it happens but I believe with the blessing of Buddha, it will happen. Importantly we have the right motivation and towards the benefit of others.
Nice story…
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you so much for sharing such beautiful and auspicious story. This clearly shows us that we need to have faith and just keep on holding the vows and have strong affinity to practice dharma, no matter what. We will always be helped by the buddhas and protectors if we are true to our guru and practice.
_()_
Dear Rinpoche,
This is such a beautiful story! When Rinpoche told us the other day in the room. I could visualise or imagine cos I have a vivid imagination, that a dakini came down and placed it there for young Rinpoche! Then when Rinpoche said it was like a Mahasiddha who threw his mala, and then a dakini retrieved it and told him to continue his practice… everything sort of clicked! Because that Mahasiddha who is Virupa is one of Rinpoche’s previous lives! Wow how it is all so mysteriously and beautifully connected simply amazes me!
Sometimes in this cold, materialistic world, we easily forget and lose ourselves from the beauty of the magical, mystical, spiritual realm of divine sacred energies which we are connected to and is a part of. Sometimes we forget that miracles and spiritual beings and powers do exist and it is such stories or experiences, that we get a glimpse of this existence, and with that enhances of faith to keep at it… to keep on working hard on our practice. To keep on battling our inner maras so that we, I do not become the outer mara who ends up tormenting others and myself further.
Thank you Rinpoche for such a mystical sacred sharing, I love stories like this as it connects us with the enlightened beings and realms.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the beautiful story about the mala found in New Jersey. I understand during Rinpoche’s younger time, Rinpoche needed a mala the most in order to practice Dharma, recite prayers and mantras every day. A mala is like a vehicle helping us to reach to a destination required and if Buddhist practitioners are without the mala, we will be heading to no where and difficult for us to sustain the Dharma practice smoothly. Buddha and Protector can help us to fulfill our Dharma aspirations and wishes if we do our part to work hard consistently and diligently in our Dharma practice.
May the story of mala shared by Rinpoche will become the inspiration to many people for treasuring and appreciating the Dharma teachings receive from their respective spiritual guides.
With folded hands,
kin hoe
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this very unique story. While i was reading it, a beam of light shine through the cloud in the sky direct on this dark brown mala on the street came into my mind. I believe it was sent due to Rinpoche’s wish, cause, merits and karma to have this male to pray. Is this called miracle? To many YES.
But as a Buddhist, we know that miracles does not happen if we do not have the karma or merits to have it. Karma come from causes that we created in our lives. We may seems to have nothing in your life or things that we want to do seems impossible to achieve, but with our effort that we have done, created the causes to manifest. But we may have doubt and ask when will i see the miracle? Hang on to there, it is just right in front of us.
Happy New Year to all, may we all go all the way to create lots of causes for our wishes in our lives to come true. May Dorje Shugden our Dharma protector lineage spread to every conner of the world. May He connect us to others and He will help whoever have seen or heard of His name.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this interesting real story!
The strong inclination of young Rinpoche wanted to own a mala came true and the mala really appeared out of the blue. I always believe good things will come when we have good thoughts.
I remember Rinpoche gave me a beautiful pearl mala 7 years ago. I like the mala so much, it’s a meaningful first gift that I received from Rinpoche together with a book about Dalai Lama. Unfortunately, my car window was crashed by a robber and he stole everything including my beautiful mala, that’s the lost thing that sadden me the most because it’s priceless to receive things from Rinpoche, it’s so precious.
But when I think about it, I was wrong because the most precious thing that Rinpoche gives me is not the pearl mala, but Dharma, which no one can steal from me. Dharma is a lifetime wisdom that changes my life and others’ life. From then I let go that I have lost a mala but learn a lesson to understand what is real preciousness.
I have a few pearl malas after that and given to some monks when I was visiting some monasteries. My friend Kien Wong know my pearl mala story and made one nice pearl mala that resembles the one I lost. The mala is still with me after so many years and I always remember Rinpoche’s kindness to teach me a lesson through this way.
Thank you.
As always Rinpoche will choose to take the most unassuming approach in all the miracles and auspicious events that takes place in Rinpoche’s life.
Rinpoche will always choose to be humble and potray most of the miracles as a coincidence. However, its too unusual to categorise them as mere coincidences.
At every juncture of Rinpoche’s life, from birth until today clearly defines Rinpoche is one with the Buddha Dharma. There is no other reason for Rinpoche’s existence in this life except to teach and share the Dharma to benefit as many beings as possible. This life’s mission is only possible because Rinpoche has created the causes in past lives to have the merits to continue to do so in this life, and likely in all future lives too.
This is a great teaching for us to realise that miracles can happen for us if we create the causes for them to manifest; create the causes with sincerity, wisdom and deep faith in the Buddha Dharma and all the neccessary conditions will appear to serve our pure motivations.
This is a lovely story that shows us how, if we are close to the Dharma, as Rinpoche has always been even from a very young age, whatever we need for our practice will come to us somehow. When Rinpoche needed a mala badly,to recite his mantras, it just appeared! Howell, New Jersey, in the 70s, was the most unlikely place to find a mala,in a puddle of water in the rain. Yet Rinpoche found it under this most extraordinary of circumstances.
This story also highlights a point that we should not miss.That is – what is “culturally wrong” is not necessary wrong. Rinpoche’s mother was a highly superstitious woman and many of her beliefs were merely superstition. A mala is a blessed holy item for us to use and bless further when we recite mantras and blow on them.
Holy beings’ malas are very precious because they have been blessed many times over by this holy being. Even a bead from their frequently used malas is a powerful source of blessing and healing. Hence, for Rinpoche’s mother to forbid Rinpoche from using a mala on non-temple days means that Rinpoche had been greatly deprived of the blessings from using malas.
Alls well that ends well though. Rinpoche found a mala!
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this meaningful article.
Rinpoche has always been incline towards spiritual. Rinpoche experienced may sound miracle by how Rinpoche found the Mala but for me it’s the good cause that Rinpoche created that causes the result for Rinpoche spiritual practice.
How the old time culture practices Buddhism doesn’t stop Rinpoche practices in fact with Rinpoche pure motivation a conducive condition manifest for Rinpoche.
What I learn from this post is that if we have created the cause for good thing the good result for it will manifest as long as we don’t give up and continue to move on.
I do not believe in mere coincidences as that would imply that things happen at random and are not in fact ‘çaused’. This is especially so when it comes to Tsem Rinpoche and the Dharma.
It is too simplistic merely to say that Rinpoche found the mala by ‘luck’. As Louis Pasteur said so aptly, “Luck favors the prepared mind” and we see in Rinpoche’s biography that Rinpoche came into this world prepared to live a life completely in the Dharma. And in that preparedness, Rinpoche drew the Dharma and high lamas to him.
Is it all a coincidence was born into natural parents that are so close to the Dharma? Rinpoche’s father was an ex-monk who was close to His Holiness the Dalai Lama who would end up ordaining Rinpoche. Rinpoche’s mother was a student of Guru Deva Rinpoche who would play such a vital role in Rinpoche’s life.[https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/great-lamas-masters/my-recollection-of-h-e-guru-deva-rinpoche.html]
Rinpoche just so happened to live a few streets away from a Dharma centre where such an incredibly high Dharma King, Kensur Lobsang Tharchin was [https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/me/my-first-guru-in-new-jersey.html], many miles away from the monasteries in India. Kensur Lobsang Tharchin was a devoted student of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche. Was it a coincidence that the dots would soon join to reconnect Rinpoche with his root Guru, Zong Rinpoche [https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/me/kyabje-zong-rinpoche-cuts-my-hair.html] and that Rinpoche would so early on meet a student of Trijang Rinpoche with whom Rinpoche was extremely close to in Rinpoche’s previous life?
And such ‘coincidences’ would continue in Rinpoche’s life from meeting Kyabe Ling Rinpoche to Kyabje Zong Rinpoche to His Holiness the Dalai Lama visiting Howell and was a mere 10 minutes away from where Rinpoche was at [https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/me/requesting-ordination-in-1987.html] And let’s not forget how Rinpoche ‘accidentally’ met Gangchen Rinpoche in Nepal who would send Rinpoche on a path to resume Rinpoche previous life’s work.[https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/invocation-to-namkar-barzin.html]
What are the odds that a small boy who was so displaced and faced resistance to his love for the Dharma would have all there great Masters go to him instead?
It is not coincidence or luck but the force of karma that hurls us along a path and along the way, a very kind Protector seizing every kernel of karmic opportunity to create conducive conditions for us to return to the Dharma and to practice.
Every aspect of Rinpoche’s life, even now and especially now is the expression of tremendous merits that accrues to an enlightened mind. It cannot be helped and avoided.
Thank You Rinpoche for sharing Your wonderful life story about mala. ?
For my knowledge and I understand that mala is a holy item and after using for many years of prayers and mantras, it will become very powerful for protection. And I noticed that mala is also been used in others religions too.
It’s wonderful to know that since young Rinpoche is always attracted by all Dharma items.
Pastor Henry n I were extremely blessed to have one of Rinpoche’s mala beans with us. And I will always treasure and keep it very close to me until end of my life. Thank You Rinpoche. ???❤
Thank you for sharing this very nice story to us Rinpoche. I echo what both Pastor Antoinette and Pastor Adeline said, Rinpoche’showing affinity with Dharma is very strong that whatever Rinpoche needed in order to benefit others, Rinpoche’s wish will just come true. This is a result of all practices and not everyone will be experiencing this. I am very confident that this was made to happen for what Rinpoche had wished for.
This story is very nice to read and it brought out the following points to me:
1. When we have a good intention, good things will happen.
2. Good things happen to us daily. We just need to pay more attention. Also, it happens when we least expected it.
3. Our good wishes do come true when we pray.
4. Miracle is logical as it follows the law of karma. If we do not have the cause for a result, it will not happen to us.
5. Most labelled Buddhist do not understand the teaching of the Buddha. Buddhism to them is doing prayer on a certain day and having an altar with Buddhas’ images. This part of the culture is beautiful but it doesn’t bring any change in our mindstream that is very necessary for real good things to come. Being able to be connected with the Three Jewels is very precious and we should not waste the opportunity to apply the teachings and become better.
This is such a beautiful story. Rinpoche has a very good connection to the Buddhas so that when he needed a mala for his daily practice, the mala was just lying in front of his house, where he always used to play.
The same with Rinpoche’s teacher and the Dharma center. All that Rinpoche needed was close to Rinpoche’s home. Rejoice!
May we create the causes to be always close to Rinpoche and the Dharma in our future lifes.
Thank you for sharing with us.
From finding a mala in a time of need, one should also think that the Buddhas will come to our time of need, should we keep our faith. Through thick and thin, in moments of faith and in moments of doubts, one has to keep at our sadhanas and propitiating the Buddhas. If one wants the dharma enough, the Protectors and Buddhas will clear the way for us, just as the mala was there for Rinpoche in the hour of need to show the way.
Thank you, Rinpoche for sharing this. It is a touching and timeless story.
What a magically heartwarming story of Rinpoche finding a mala in the puddle at the time when Rinpoche needed it for his mantra recitation. Rinpoche’s affinity with the Buddhas is so strong that miracles happen to fulfil Rinpoche’s needs for practise. Even then, I am sure that the Protector Dorje Shugden had been close Rinpoche keeping a watchful eye to assist when needed. This goes to show that when we commit ourselves to the Dharma, we need not worry for lacking anything as the Protector will be there for us. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this beautiful story with us.
Thanks Rinpoche for sharing .Nowadays we should invite Mala to create a cause for future use.we should invite more Mala for others to ensure that they can use for recite mantra.this is one of the way to collect merits.mala can make us focus on mantra and right way to practice dharma action.
What a nice story that Rinpoche shares with us. In the Lamrim, it is mentioned that for dharma practitioners who practice in the high mountains, dumplings will roll up to their door step to me it shows the power of Buddha dedication so that no member of his Sangha will ever starve to death.
Dear Rinpoche, your precious story is amazing. It make me pays extra concentration while I’m going anywhere or walking around, maybe there are some precious malas/tools out there waiting for the right person to pick up and practice dharma. Thank you for sharing.
After reading this post, I have some thoughts here:
1. If compared to previous ancient time, nowadays most of the children are very fortunate as their parents are more educated and affordability to provide the necessities to the children. But the different is the children hands now most likely is holding I Pad or Iphone or Notepad or etc and not the mala.
2. Parents are the best example and very close to the children. If all the parents like Rinpoche’s parents have their own Buddhist shrine room, always go to temple for prayers and keep the blessed items and rosaries nicely, I believe that the children will follow their parents to do this kind of good dharma actions.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing and it reminds me that I need to take very good care for my mala as it is really important especially when we want to recite a thousand or million mantras.
Thanks for sharing this amazing magical story Rinpoche. I am certain that the Buddhas or Dharma protector must have manifested the mala there for Rinpoche.
I remembered when I first started learning how to do mantras, I was wishing to get a mala and not long after I received a very nice mala from FJ, and Rinpoche blessed it for me when I saw Rinpoche is Singapore. It is one of the most precious and treasured things I have in my life right now so I can imagine when Rinpoche found this mala just laying there in the puddle waiting for Rinpoche to claim it. It certainly was meant to be.
I love that story very much… You must feel so happy to be able to send people malas right when they need them like you once did for me and my practice… Sponsoring Dharma is one of the best things you can do at any level (besides practice). Thank you for sharing Them Rinpoche! I fold my hands to you.
Thank you Rinpoche for your sharing on your first mala.What you said on affinity through sincere practice and wishes on dharma did happened to me once , before I met up with Kechara in the past.
During one difficult period in my career,I did turn to taking up refuge in dharma that I did not do so in the past. At that time I did manage to get some dharma text from a Thai temple located at jalan Gasing.Amongst those text that I obtained was a book explaining the different buddhist deities and the significance of certain mantras and sutras.
There was a few times that,when I have a deep wish to attain a certain sutra as it was mention the merits that it would bring upon reading it.I did manage to find it the following visit.Those item are normally donated out and placed in a corner for others to invite for free.
I did remember that there was a time ,I was to return home for good and was not coming back to this temple for an unknown period.On the last visit there I manage to find a copy of Shurangama mantra that I was finding for quite sometime. It was going to rain at that time.But I did manage to run back to my car through a path in center with the least rain without shade.I took it as a good sign as my luck as changing for the better.
I suppose my luck did change for the better as I did find a better job and most of all .It was through this job assignment I manage to meet up with Kechara…That is affinity with Dharma.
Wow…very interesting story.
What are the chances of finding a mala in the states in the ’70s too?
It’s like striking a lottery a million to 1 chance.
All these must’ve been due to Rinpoche’s merits past lives.
All obstacles to practice the dharma simply dissappears and things simply manifest for Rinpoche.
How auspicious..
Perhaps Rinpoche was under the watchful eyes of the Buddhas and Protectors. It’s an indication that if we are sincere, we will be cared for physically and financially. We will have the necessary resources to practice.
Last year one day for some reason I had a strong feeling that I would find a mala at a thrift store. I went to one I frequent every so often on my lunch break. I walked straight to the jewelry case and what do you know I found a mala. So weird how my mind told me to go and look for it and found one that day. After that I been keeping my eye out when I go to a thrift store and I havent seen any. I dont recall ever seeing one even before that. I guess it was meant for me lol. But your story is more amazing of course how it appeared in a puddle of rain. 😀
I agree, Rinpoche! When a practitioner is truly sincere in their practice … materials, resources and help is able to “magically” appear in various forms to assist them. Perhaps, it’s also the help from dharma protectors 🙂
I have a story about my first ever mala also. (Not that I have any infinity or even met dharma back then). It was back in my teens when I visited a temple like a tourist, Chan See Shu Yuen Temple which dates back to 1906 located at the end of Petaling Street. I was walking around and when I was nearby a relatively tall Kuan Yin statue, a monk from the temple took the only mala which was hanging around the neck of the Kuan Yin statue and gave it to me. I thought it was so holy because thousands of people come to pray in this temple and Kuan Yin. So I was really happy about it. I still have this simple bone mala till this day.