Blog 21 Prayer Beads and My Dear Friend Mosen

Blog Post 21
Prayer Beads and My Dear Friend Mosen
May 6, 2018



Gentle Reader,

These prayer beads were made by my dear friend Mosen, who volunteers in the Chai Shop in Kara Tepe Square.  I feel that I can refer to Mosen's real name because he is no longer a resident at Kara Tepe; however, I don't feel comfortable posting a photo of a former resident's face, for security reasons.  Mosen, his wife, and two children were once residents here, but now he is living in town.  He is one of the many former residents who volunteer at Kara Tepe, giving back to a place that was life-giving to them at one point in their own lives.

Mosen is one of the most gentle, genuine people I have ever met.  He always signals me to come over to the Chai Shop for a tea.  Even on a day I did not have a cup, he found one for me.  What I have found is that, even on hot days, a hot cup of tea (well, room temperature after a while) is both refreshing and calming.  I prefer the unsweetened version, but the sweet version has the beautiful flavor of honey, which I also love to drink.

I saw Mosen with his prayer beads one day and asked him if he would be willing to tell me about them.  I had seen so many men in Myteline Port with prayer beads, sometimes called worry beads.  Mosen was happy to share...

He made the beads himself.  There are 101 beads on the string.  They are divided into groups of 33, 33, 33, and then two extra beads as dividers.  Here's what he told me about the meaning of each of the 33 bead sections:

1st 33 beads =  God is big.
To Mosen, this means God is everywhere, available for everyone, all the time.  God hears every prayer and request.  God is so big that we cannot even begin to understand.  But God is everywhere.  He talked, too, about how some people, when fasting, sneak into the toilet and devour food there.  They think that God would not ever go into a place like a toilet.  But that is wrong, Mosen told me.  God is so big that he is everywhere, and there is no place that he would not go.

2nd 33 beads = God is good.
Mosen talked about how God wants the very best for each of us.  How he wants goodness in each of our lives.  Prayers will be heard.  When he prays on these 33 beads, he meditates on all the goodness that is in his life, and how God wants goodness for each of us.

3rd 33 beads = Gratitude
Mosen told me that the last 33 beads are where he meditates about all the things he is grateful for in his life.  He began with his face, telling me he prays gratitude prayers for his eyes that allow him to see.  He prays gratitude for being able to hear and taste.  He prays gratitude for his feet, that enable him to walk freely from place to place.  And so on...  He talked about how grateful he is for every aspect his living, even ones we rarely talk about.  "I am so grateful, " he told me, "and the praying of these 33 beads allows me to say and show my gratitude."

And I am grateful for knowing Mosen, and for being the recipient of his generous kindness every day at Kara Tepe.  He is light in the darkness for so many at Kara Tepe.  Mosen offered to give me the beads, but then he held them to his heart and talked about how important they are to him.  I thanked him but told him that the sharing of the story behind the beads was a gift I will always remember.



I will end today's blog, then, with some quotes about the power of prayer beads, to honor my friend Mosen...

There is a value in repetition. When we repeat certain phrases and even actions, like fingering prayer beads, we create a quiet rhythm within our spirits. The beating of our heart is a repetition as is the rhythm of our breathing. All of life has its rhythms, and the repetition of familiar prayers can bring our interior spirits into harmony with the Divine Heartbeat.

Stephen J. Binz

To sweat is to pray, to make an offering of your innermost self. Sweat
is holy water, prayer beads, pearls of liquid that release your past.
The more you dance... the more you sweat, the more you pray. The more
you pray, the closer you are to ecstasy.

Gabrielle Roth

And here is some advice from Red Wheel about incorporating the practice of meditation on prayer beads in your life...

Beginning a New Day

Each morning when you wake, reach for your prayer beads, let the texture awake your fingers, and allow this vitality to permeate your entire body. Now you are ready to set your intentions for the day. These can include anything you would like to emphasize during your day: listening to people more carefully, telling the truth, being grateful for small things. Later, as you make your way through your day, touching the beads will return you to your initial intentions.

Walking in the Present Moment

As you move from one place to another during the day, use these moments as a time to acknowledge the transition between tasks. Bring your beads into the palm of your hand, and as you feel their texture, let that be a reminder to feel your feet on the floor and take a breath -- feeling both the inhalation and exhalation. Focus your mind on the physical activities of walking and breathing. Bring yourself into the present, and this focus will slow down the pace of your mind and heart.

Grounding Practice

During important conversations or even thinking about things by ourselves, we can find ourselves getting caught up in "what was" and "what if." You can use your beads to ground you when you find yourself worrying about the past or the future. When things get difficult, take up your beads and allow their pleasing weight to bring you into the present moment. You will then be able to see more clearly into the current situation. By remaining grounded in the present, you will be more open to listening and accepting life as it is, rather than as you wish it to be.

Ending the Day

When you are in bed and ready for sleep, pick up your beads and let their texture resonate in your body. As you rediscover each bead passing through your fingers, let yourself feel grateful for your day. It's also important to recognize the pain we might have caused or experienced. By acknowledging the truth of who we are, we can change and grow. As you approach sleep, breathe in and out with an awareness of your body. As you breathe in, focus on your toes, and on the exhalation, relax them. Continue breathing and moving up your entire body until you reach to the top of your head. It's perfectly okay to fall asleep while you are traveling.

Battling Addictions

Addictions come in many forms, but usually two things are involved when engaged in them: a certain amount of time, and your hands. Whether you're trying to quit smoking, stop drinking, spend less, or eat more mindfully, creating prayer beads as a symbol of your intention can be a powerful aid. And one of the benefits is immediate: You can't engage in an addiction and make prayer beads at the same time!

Your prayer piece could help you visualize freedom from your addiction. For instance, someone who is trying to quit smoking might make a bracelet or hand-held piece out of pink beads to represent clear lung tissue. A compulsive shopper might want to craft something out of gold-toned beads or coins to represent abundance already at hand. You might use alphabet beads to spell out an affirmation, or a rune charm that symbolizes freedom. Pick whatever elements speak most strongly and clearly to your desire to be free from your addiction. Keep your piece with you at all times and let it be a companion and comfort as you begin your recovery.

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May your day be filled with moments where you simply be still, meditating on what matters to you in a way that is filled with mindfulness....

Namaste,

Marianne