Take up a Buddhist mala, and right away you notice how good it feels in your hands. There is the soothing feel of the beads themselves, which only increases as they become smoother or darken with use. Then there is what they symbolize—the tangible link to an age-old tradition. Run a string of beads through your hands and you are touching an ancient practice. Worn about the neck or wrist, malas are imbued with the meaning you give them. They are a physical reminders to continuously cultivate a calm and aware mental texture.