Mala help

Inc88

Hello everyone, i wanted to post here and ask for the advice of the community on a good website to purchase a mala. Ive been on a few sites like the dharma shop, buddha groove, even amazon, and ebay but the thing is the mala im trying to find is a bone mala and while the sites ive mentioned are nice and i like their malas but the bones ones they have are either above my price range not exactly what im looking for or with amazon and ebay im doubtful on if its even bone.

I myself would say i practice as a Theravada while my family is Vajrayana so while i dont really count mantras often ive grown up around having and seeing family wear one. So for me the purpose on having this bone mala is the reminder of impermanence and that death could come at any moment so live a good life.

I like the look of the old Tibetan kapala malas, made from human remains, that are barrel or disk shapped and if your looking close enough noticeably bone but no way i want one made from a humans...any other type of bone is fine. A strong visual reminder like that would be nice.

karasti

Try etsy, there are some really good shops on there. Overall you are going to pay more for bone because it's harder to get. You should be able to get Yak bone or something similar for more like $40 though, which is pretty reasonable for a mala.

MaryAnne

I don't recall if they specifically sell bone malas, but try:

http://www.shakyadesign.com/bodhiseed.html

All their malas are very well made, high quality and really beautiful. You didn't specify if you were looking for a hand mala, wrist mala or a full length counting mala.... But this site carries all three and in some really stunning, artful designs.

They aren't 'inexpensive' but they are fairly reasonable considering the quality. I bought two (adjustable) wrist malas there for (Christmas) gifts- one was amethyst, and one was turquoise and the were both under $40. Another was child size made from Bodhi seeds and it was under $25.

Takuan

there is a seller on Amazon called "hands of tibet", they have a couple of ox bone malas available. They're reasonably priced and the customer service is great.

BhanteLucky

I went to a bead shop, bought a lot of nice beads, (including some bone ones) and made my own mala. It was then more significant to me than a store bought one.

carolann

I don't know if they are genuinely bone but some here ..... http://www.pinklotus.co.uk/view_shop.asp?cat=27&subcat=164&subcategory=Bone

Dobs

What about these?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yak-Bone-Inlaid-Disc-Shape-Prayer-Tibetan-Mala-/400137602174?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d2a0f447e

Inc88

Thanks everyone! I haven't heard of most of these sites and im looking at some of these malas on them and already thinking gift ideals for family :]

Sorry i didnt say earlier but i am looking for a full mala and i do like the look of that natural inlaid mala from ebay(not a fan of the colored white red or black ones so much) and iv also been on the hands of tibet site before looking at this mala

http://handsoftibet.com/Antiqued-Extra-Large-Yak-Bone-Mala-P2429334.aspx

Only issue for me is, at a closer look, it looks more like wood then bone so id be a little worried about wasting my money if it turned out not to be bone