Materials

All of the beads sold here are hand-strung on the most durable cord available: coated forty-nine strand stainless steel cord. The wooden beads are typically Chinese Littleleaf Boxwood (Buxus Microphylla) or sometimes Sugar Maple (Acer Saccharum) tree wood. I use these since they're more environmentally friendly to use because they're fast growing "softer" woods than the "exotics" (typically slower growing and definitely rarer hardwoods) that some other people use. This type of wood has another advantage that I find particularly attractive. The beads become softer and scuffed with use over time and have a use-worn friendly feel and look about them that, at least to my way of thinking, endears them to the user all the more. There's something comforting about using soft well-worn beads while chanting. It's another reason I personally won't use anything but soft-wood beads.

Pom-pom bead ends are not available here. If you want to purchase beads with pom-pom ends, there are plenty of other sources. To understand why we don't sell anything other than tassel-end beads, please read "The Use and Symbolism of Nichiren Meditation Beads" on this site.

Any metals used in the making of the beads are certified lead-free by the manufacturer.

Learn About Practicing Buddhism

If you just want to try chanting meditation on your own, or are interested in learning more about Buddhism we recommend that you visit www.NichirenBuddhist.org .

Why I Started Making Chanting Beads

Making Buddhist chanting beads was something that I started doing several years ago while staying home rehabilitating my knee after minor arthroscopic surgery. I just decided that it would be a creative and also useful outlet for my time spent sitting at home rehabilitating my knee to start making beads. I got books, took good advice and encouragement from a friend in the business (Connie at Lily Chartier www.BuddhistPrayerbeads.com), bought hundreds of dollars worth of materials and equipment and set out making chanting beads for myself and my friends. Two years later, I find myself still making chanting beads.

I've come to the conclusion over these years that there are two main types of bead users: those who are naturally and calmly motionless while holding their beads and those who, like me, are full of nervous energy and who rub their beads without really realizing that that's what they're doing. If you're one of the high-energy types like me, there's really no need to try to change this about yourself. I mean, there are so many other more important concerns to focus on than arbitrarily deciding that rubbing your beads is "bad" and needs to be changed. But if we're going to accept this about ourselves, it is going to be important for us to only select wooden beads for their natural "give" and longer use life. If you chant a lot, and I encourage you to do so, it's really going to be impractical if you try to use a harder material, like gemstone, for your beads. The sharp edges of the beads will cut the strongest cord in no time at all. But if you're a person who is calm and gentle (my wife comes to mind as I describe this type of Buddhist practitioner), a person who rarely if ever rubs their beads, then you really can use any kind of beads you like.

Over the years, making chanting beads has become a fulfilling and relaxing hobby for me. So many people have asked about beads that I decided to make them available here. My greatest hope, though, is that no matter where you get your chanting beads and no matter what kind they are, you use them to chant Namu-Myoho-Renge-Kyo lots throughout your lifetime. This practice of Buddhism really works. But its effectiveness depends not on your belief in it as much as it does your actual practice. By chanting every day you can strengthen your life condition and become the most compassionate and happy person imaginable. I make my beads for people to use and I'll be happiest to hear back from you that you've been chanting and using my beads and have discovered a new, better and happier aspect of yourself in doing so.