Material: Lotus seed rosary/Buddhist prayer beads

Size: 7mm / 108 beads + GB

Description: Composition, origin, and significance of lotus seed rosaries in Buddhism

Ltus seed rosaries (also known as lotus flower rosaries, the most common type of Bodhi seed rosary) are one of the most commonly used and symbolic rosaries among Buddhists, especially prevalent in Han Chinese Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, and healing-oriented Buddhism circles.

I. Composition and Material Genuine lotus seed rosaries are made from **lotus seeds (lotus seeds)**:

- Raw material: Mature and dried lotus seeds (usually larger varieties of Indian lotus or Hunan lotus from China).

- Processing method: The outer shell and inner embryo (bitter heart) of the lotus seed are removed, leaving the hard lotus seed fruit. Then, holes are drilled, polished, and strung into 108 beads (or approximate numbers such as 54, 27, 21, 18, etc.). - Color: Naturally ivory white or off-white, it gradually turns reddish-brown, jujube red, and even deep red and translucent after years of handling (commonly known as "patina").

- Characteristics: Each lotus seed often retains natural tiny pits or textures on its surface, becoming increasingly warm and lustrous with prolonged handling.

Some inexpensive lotus seed prayer beads may be counterfeited with "Phoenix Eye Bodhi" or "Star Moon Bodhi," but genuine lotus seed prayer beads must be made from real lotus seeds.

II. Origin and History

- Its origins can be traced back to the Indian Buddhist period. During the time of Shakyamuni Buddha, various seeds or fruits were already used as tools for counting mantras.

- The lotus flower is an extremely important symbol in Buddhism (see meaning below), therefore, "lotus seeds" naturally became one of the most sacred materials for prayer beads.

After the Tang Dynasty, with the eastward spread of Esoteric Buddhism, 108-bead lotus seed prayer beads became mainstream in China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Tibet.

- Tibetan Buddhism also extensively uses lotus seed prayer beads, especially the Nyingma and Kagyu schools, where "old lotus seed" prayer beads, passed down through generations, and even "patriarchal lotus seeds" with hundreds of years of history, are commonly seen.

III. Symbolism and Influence on Buddhism (The Most Important Spiritual Meaning)

In Buddhism, the lotus symbolizes "rising from the mud unsullied," carrying multiple profound meanings, which the lotus seed prayer beads fully embody:

1. **Purity and Freedom from Defilement**

The lotus seed grows from the mud, yet the flower is pure white, representing the practitioner's ability to maintain a pure mind even in a defiled world.

2. **The Indestructibility of Cause and Effect**

The lotus seed's outer shell is extremely hard, remaining intact for thousands of years, symbolizing the inherent Buddha-nature, the eternal and indestructible Tathagatagarbha, unchanging even after countless eons.

3. **Rebirth and Liberation**

The lotus seed is hollow (after removing the bitter core, symbolizing emptiness), yet it can sprout and grow, representing that within "emptiness" there is still wondrous existence, enabling liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

4. **Painstaking Removal**

The lotus seed has a green, bitter sprout (the lotus heart) at its center, which tastes extremely bitter. This must be removed when making prayer beads, symbolizing the need to "remove the bitterness of ego" in spiritual practice to achieve perfection.

5. **108 Beads Corresponding to 108 Afflictions**

Stringing 108 lotus seeds together perfectly represents using the pure merits of the lotus to counteract the 108 kinds of afflictions of sentient beings, ultimately achieving supreme enlightenment.

IV. Usage in Different Sects

- Han Chinese Buddhism: Almost all monks and laypeople can use it; it's the most common type of prayer bead.

- Pure Land Buddhism: Using lotus seed prayer beads when reciting Amitabha Buddha's name is extremely auspicious, as Amitabha Buddha's Pure Land is filled with seven-jeweled lotus flowers.

- Tibetan Buddhism: High-ranking monks often bless old lotus seed prayer beads and even use them as tokens of Dharma transmission.

- Japanese Shingon and Tendai sects: Also regard lotus seed prayer beads as the highest quality material.

In conclusion, lotus seed prayer beads are not merely a counting tool; they are a condensed embodiment of Buddhist teachings:

"Growing from the mud, painstakingly removed, hard and indestructible, hollow yet capable of growth, ultimately blossoming into a pure lotus flower." This perfectly encapsulates the spiritual practice of every Buddhist, thus the lotus seed prayer beads are revered as the "King of Prayer Beads," holding an irreplaceable and exalted position in Buddhist culture.

Many experienced practitioners say, "Playing with a string of genuine old lotus seeds is like constantly holding a lotus flower of the Pure Land in your hand."