Description
The number 108 is sacred to the traditions of the Hindus River Valley, from the ancient Vedas to the Sutras of the Buddha. 108 is an essential seed-number representing mystical meaning, and it has an architectural symmetry which is universal throughout human experience. From the very Sanskrit alphabet itself (there are 54 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet; each has masculine and feminine, Shiva and Shakti; so, 54 multiplied by 2 is 108), to the physical properties of our solar system (the diameter of the sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth; the distance from the sun to the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the sun), to the relationship between Moon and Earth (the average distance of the Moon from the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Moon), there are deep and omnipresent numerological meanings for 108 for the study of Mind, which is, ultimately, the study of Reality itself.
Our gingko wood 108 OM beads are originals. They are handmade exclusively for Hyon Gak Sunim by a Korean handworker in Seoul. Due to changes in the Buddhist economy in Korea, these particular beads were discontinued, and are no longer available in Buddhist shops. Each bead is engraved with the character “OM”, representing universal sound, primordial nature, “kwan um”, our original substance. Unlike beads mass-produced in China, the string on these beads is extremely durable, and will last for many years.
These beads are used to count bows during your daily 108 bowing practice, and to count mantras.