[VastDrura]

I recently bought a moss agate mala with 108 stones. I have been chanting OM Shanti, Shanti, Shanti 9 rounds at night. A friend of mine sent me some information on mala's and in the article it says that women should not chant the word OM because it will generate too much heat and will cause problems with the reproduction system. Now I do not believe everything I read, so I am asking here, if any women have experienced this? I have not and in my mind heat generated can be very healing.


Thankyou kindly.

LLB

[Kokomoxcvcv]

Hi Littleladybug and welcome !

I am not familiar with the mantra that you mention. There is some information and a recording of the chant here:

http://www.wildmind.org/mantras/figures/shanti


However, in the past, over a number of years, I have chanted many, many hundreds of Tibetan Buddhist mantra recitations all beginning with 'Om' without any problems (I'm female)

As far as your mala is concerned, in crystal therapy, Moss Agate is considered to be a a very beneficial and healing stone.

So in general, I don't see that there should be any problems other than those that we normally encounter during the course of our lives as human beings !

Kind wishes,

Aloka-D

[lE3l6Lgn]

Hello Aloka-D,
Thankyou, experienced answers are the best
Shanti means peace. That mantra is what i am charging my mala with. Thanks for the link.

smiling,
LLB

[BodoidearoLew]

post script: the link helped because i did not know if i was saying shanti right, turns out i am so
thank

[AnetTeilor]

post script: the link helped because i did not know if i was saying shanti right, turns out i am so
thank

I don't know anything about too much heat, maybe if it is the main chant...? I have seen the bollywood movie OM SHANTI OM lol

[JennaJJxoxoxo]

Ah, "heat."

I have been told about "heat." When I was in India I wore my hair tightly pulled back in a bun because a woman's unbound hair radiates "heat," a sensual energy that can turn destructive until unbridled feminine energy runs amok like Kali through the countryside. I didn't want people looking at me and worrying that I was going to go on a rampage and ruin all their lives and swallow their rickshaws whole, so I just put my hair away, lest people fear that my rampaging shakti energy would escape without a man holding my leash and channeling my terrible destructive power.

I don't buy the metaphysical notion of "heat" at all, frankly. The idea that chanting certain words channels the cosmic energy down into an ascetic, potentially fueling formidable magical powers that could cause a sadhu to become a threat even to the gods themselves is an idea from Hinduism that I've chosen not to allow to contaminate my dharma practice. If it unsettles you or fails to make any sense at all, then I'd say ignore it. It will certainly not cause you reproductive problems any more than blowing a didgeridoo will make you sterile. It's just superstitious nonsense, intended to keep women from doing certain things that were considered inappropriate or culturally unacceptable for our sex.

Seriously, every time somebody doesn't want women participating in something, they say, "It'll make you sterile and no man will ever want you if you're sterile, so watch out! Put down the didgeridoo!"

[Roker]

or does it have a social purpose?

Enslaving women as "social purpose"...? Perhaps, but such a "social purpose" seems to not have womens' best interest in mind.

I should also point out that none of the practices, beliefs, or concepts described in the OP were taught or recommended by the Buddha. They are products of the influence of other cultural and religious superstitions on later versions of "Buddhism" Nothing at all to do with what the Buddha taught. Why worry about any of it?

[andrekuper]

i am woman hear me roar as my hair flies in the wind. smiling. i think i will continue to chant om. i like the affect and effect it has in my life.

[zlZ95pjt]

Hi Cobalt,
Originally Posted by Cobalt It's just superstitious nonsense

Is it superstitious nonsense, or does it have a social purpose? As you describe further it may serve to be " intended to keep women from doing certain things that were considered inappropriate or culturally unacceptable for our sex " The fact that it has a social purpose doesn't make it any less superstitious, or any less nonsensical. So yes, it's still superstitious nonsense. It's just also stupid because it's also sexist.

i am woman hear me roar as my hair flies in the wind. smiling. i think i will continue to chant om. i like the affect and effect it has in my life.

You wild woman, you! =O

[illilmicy]

That article is right but it is only when you are having your 'period' that the hand that holds the mala has to be above the navel point or the navel cakra.

Or else... what?

[kneexyFreedly]

That article is right but it is only when you are having your 'period' that the hand that holds the mala has to be above the navel point or the navel cakra.Even when sitting in meditation while having your period, the two palms should not be resting on your legs.They should be held just above the navel point.It may be uncomfortable at the start but you'll get used to it.

Erm..... I was an offline practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism, for most of my life and was instructed on quite a number of different practices and nobody ever mentioned anything about menstruation !


Oh and its Om Mani Padme Hung by the way.

[DoctorDulitlBest]

Another thought has come to mind, as I was dropping the children to school. The ideas as expressed by the behavior of individual practitioners and even more so in the accepted customs and cultures of instituitions rarely actually reflect its great teachings in its entirety as people are involved.

[OWV9LSxH]

so in all honesty, does buddha say anything about mala's. i did some research today and i learned that coral in tibetan cultures is said to stregthen blood and act benifically for the menstration of women. It is also associated with stopping the flow of the blood from a wound. this is hans weihreter writings. I cant say if it is true or not.

so what does buddha say about malas? I can't seem to find anything on this.

[assohillA]

Hi LLB,

As far as I know malas has nothing to do with what buddha taught.

[jackie Obrian]

Yeah, there's a lot of stuff in the cultures of Buddhist countries, ethnic groups, etc. that is not actually rooted in Buddha's teachings (just as nominally-Christian cultures like American culture or wherever have influences from outside Christian scripture).

I'd say that just because Tibetans do it, doesn't make it reasonable or right. In fact, it doesn't even necessarily make it Buddhist just because the Tibetans in question have a long history of practicing Buddhism.

[Hmwmzian]

so what does buddha say about malas? I can't seem to find anything on this.

Malas are a product of the tibetan religions. The tibetan religions, honestly, have very little in common with what the Buddha actually taught.

The Buddha never taught malas, or deity worship, or 10 million prostrations, or guru worship, the list seems endless....

[VoriEremiagem]

10 million prostrations

It's a hundred thousand prostrations. ....part of foundation practices along with Guru Yoga etc

[Freeptube]

well thanks everyone, i certainly learned something new.

llb

[Siliespiriulk]

It's a hundred thousand prostrations. ....part of foundation practices along with Guru Yoga etc

Heyyyyyyyy!!!! If everyone else can make up their own "Buddhism", why can't I???






P.S.: Yes, I knew, and yes I was exaggerating the perfectly arbitrary, astronomical number just a weeeeeeeeeeeeee bit....

[JulieSmithXIV]

Heyyyyyyyy!!!!