Buddhist Prayer Tools
Buddhist prayers are used to guide meditation. They are not necessarily prayers to a deity or spirit, as is the case in theistic religions. There are a variety of prayer tools used in different Buddhist traditions. These include beads and incense, which are common in many Buddhist traditions, and Tibetan prayer wheels and flags.
1 Buddhist Prayer Beads
Prayer beads, also called malas, are used in Buddhist prayer. The beads are strung together on a necklace. In Buddhist traditions, most malas have 108 beads for counting mantras. Mantras are short strings of words or syllables that have a spiritual effect when recited. The beads are held in the hands during prayer. Reciting mantras with prayer beads serves as a form of guided meditation that gives the praying person something to focus on.
2 Buddhist Prayer Wheel
Prayer wheels are metal cylinders with Buddhist prayers written on their surface. Buddhists who use prayer wheels believe that spinning the wheel has the same effect as reciting the prayer on its surface. Prayer wheels come in many sizes. Small and medium sized wheels are easily spun by hand, while larger wheels may require water power to spin. Some Tibetan temples include rows of prayer wheels that visitors can spin before entering.
3 Incense in Buddhism
Incense is made of natural materials that produce sweet smelling smoke when burned. The use of incense is common in most Buddhist traditions. It is offered to the Buddha during prayer, and the pleasant smell can contribute to relaxation during meditation. The incense is also seen as a way to heal and purify the body. The incense can be held in hand during prayer or laid in an incense burner inside of the temple.
4 Prayer Flags
Tibetan prayer flags come in five symbolic colors: red stands for fire, blue for water, white for iron, yellow for earth and green for wood. Symbols and Buddhist proverbs called sutras are printed on the flags. The flags are then strung together and hung outside, where they are blown by the wind. Tibetan Buddhists believe that the wind carries the prayers printed on the flag, producing the same effects that come from reciting sutras aloud.
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