____________________________________________________
Your freedom is worthless if someone else in the world cannot enjoy it!
During this Olympics, China again has detained many peaceful demonstrators
LEARN MORE HERE AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT:
Get More Information
____________________________________________________
On 23 August 2008 9:00 p.m. (Your Local time), light a candle for a FREE Tibet... and every day!
Visit link below to learm more:
..
Find more videos like this on Candle4Tibet
____________________________________________________
Helping others is my passion
and
making rosaries is my LIVELIHOOD!!
Please contact me at
E-Mail DharmaBeads
..
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
For more information please email me at:
Dharma Beads Email
Visit my other site and learn more about me and my malas:
Official Dharma Beads Site
____________________________________________________
10% OF SALES WILL BE DONATED TO VIKRAMASILA FOUNDATION
____________________________________________________
TANUA NUT MALAS - THE IVORY ALTERNATIVE
Help save the wild life... Help save the rain forest!..
Looking just like ivory, these beautiful white beads are made from tropical tagua nut, used by the Mayas and Incans for emotional and spiritual health. The beads in both the full and hand malas are approximately 9 mm, with a larger head bead topped with a silky red tassle. In addition, the full mala has smaller beads that work as markers for 7 and 21 repetitions. The hand mala has 21 beads and stretches slightly to slip easily on and off your wrist.
Tagua Nut (Philetelas Microcarpas), also called the Vegetable Ivory Nut, is the ivory alternative. The ivory nut is close grain and very heard. The cellular structure and grain is similar to that of elephant ivory, but is more dense and resilient. It resembles the finest ivory in texture and color. Malas are used to count mantras, prayers, and prostrations. They consist of 108 beads. The largest beads called the GURU bead and it symbolizes the Spiritual Source or the Teacher. There are 108 beads (each size 7mm), with 4 counter beads (size 5mm) at position 7, and 21, at opposite sides of the GURU bead. This makes it easy to locate position 7 and 21 for certain prayers and mantras which are required to be practiced 7 and 21 times. These 3 smaller beads should not be counted. The GURU bead is 9mm. The Mala is hand strung with polyester whipping twine. Tassel is 100% cotton. All beads of the mala are tagua nuts.
Tagua and Animal Ivory
Because of its close resemblance to animal ivory the nut of the tagua palm has had a long history as a useful product .Before the invention of plastics tagua was used in the making of buttons and other common items such as jewelry, dice, chess pieces and cane handles. In fact, some expensive "ivory" pieces from the Victorian era were actually made from tagua nuts.
Tagua products are experiencing a comeback in an effort to protect endangered species such as elephants, whales and walruses that have been a source of animal ivory. In one year a tagua palm produces the same amount of "ivory" as one female elephant. The tagua nuts, however, are harvested by hand without harming the tree.
____________________________________________________