MU HUAN 无患子 Bodhi Bead Couple/Brother/Cousins Bracelets with Monkey King Pit Carving Bead
Edition 1
MU Huan (木患子) Bodhi is probably the oldest type of seed that are first used to make a Buddhist mala. The popularity originated from an ancient Buddhist mantra where it was taught by buddha how to use MU Huan bodhi seed to meditate, release your mind from anxiety, depressing and things that kept you awake at night.
佛说木槵子经 (The chanting script of Mu Huan Bodhi Seed )
失译人今附东晋录
闻如是 -stating as I was told:
一时佛游罗阅祇耆阇崛山(1)中，One day the buddha was giving a seminar at the The Vulture Peak summit (1)
与大比丘(2)众一千二百五十人俱，菩萨无数，名称远闻，天、人所敬。There were 1250 great 比丘 (2) – pronounced ‘BeeChew’, many have reached equivalent of buddha and are well known to the eastern world, respected by the heaven and earth.
时难国王，名波流离，遣使来到佛所，顶礼佛足，白佛言：“世尊！我国边小，频岁寇贼，五谷勇贵，疾病流行，人民困苦，我恒不得安卧。At that time, there was a king named (波bo流liu离lee) whose kingdom was under “the great depression”, he send a messenger to the seminar seeking if there is away to save his people and kingdom for suffering, the messenger went to the buddha and showed great respect to the buddha and went on ” Your great majesty ! (appropriate use?） I came from a small kingdom near the continent, each year we were invaded by bandits and gang of robbers, because of them, we don’t have enough to feed our people and food are always expensive. Our people always suffers from disease and sickness. Therefore, I can not go to sleep at night and always concerned about tomorrow.”
如来法藏，多悉深广；我有忧务，不得修行。唯愿世尊特垂慈愍，赐我要法！使我日夜易得修行，未来世中远离众苦. He went on, the great buddha, you have the great wisdom and have many ways to teach us how to meditate and cultivate our conduct; however, I am depressed by everything going around in our kingdom, as a result, I cant not focus on meditation. Please teach me a way to meditate and cultivate my conduct so I can be free from the endless torment.
佛告王言：“若欲灭烦恼障、报障者，当贯木槵子一百八，以常自随。若行、若坐、若卧，恒当至心，无分散意，称佛陀、达摩、僧伽名，乃过一木槵子，如是渐次度木槵子，若十、若二十、若百、若千，乃至百千万。若能满二十万遍，身心不乱，无诸谄曲者，舍命得生第三焰天，衣食自然，常安乐行。若复能满一百万遍者，当得断除百八结业，始名背生死流，趣向泥洹，永断烦恼根，获无上果.” Buddha replied to the messenger and ask him to deliver the messenger to his king” If your goal is to completely free your mind from these annoyance, things that make you depress and caused you anxiety, please make a mala with 108 MU Huan (木患子) bodhi beads, carry it with you anywhere you go. When you are walking, sitting down, laying down, be truthful to your heart and with a focused mind, read the name of buddha, Bodhidharma and Sangha (3), each time you finish reading the names, count 1 of your bodhi bead by moving 1 bead. Repeat it 10,20, 100, 1000, even 10 million times. If you can achieve 200,000 times without distraction, without 谄曲, your next life will reach the 3rd heaven of sky of flame. A place with abundance of food, clothing to wear and peaceful life. If you can achieve 1,000,000 times, your will completely free from annoyance and obtain the truthful fruit and Nirvana.
信还启王，王大欢喜，遥向世尊，头面礼佛云：“大善！我当奉行。”即敕吏民，营办木槵子，以为千具，六亲国戚，皆与一具。王常诵念，虽亲军旅，亦不废置。又作是念：“世尊大慈，普应一切。若我此善，得免长沦苦海，如来当现我身，为我说法。”愿乐迫心，三日不食。The messenger returned to the king and told him as exactly what buddha has said verbatim. King was delighted, faced the direction of buddha, 头面礼足 “the great kindness of buddha! I should do as told.” The king ordered citizen of the kingdom to make 1000 malas with MU Huan (木患子) bodhi beads, send it to the alliance and neighbor kingdoms and the loyal family. King has carried one by himself as well, chanting the names of three – buddha, Bodhidharma and Sangha anywhere he goes even he was traveling with his army, with consistency and never left it behind. The king said one day ” The great kindness of buddha is showing the mercy, buddha is answering all calls from the living. I will do this to help my people in my Kingdom if buddha is going to support my spirit.” The kind has eager to achieve the ?????, he has not consumed food for three days. (need improvement on translation).
佛即应形，与诸眷属，来其宫内，而告王曰：“莎斗比丘，诵三宝名，经历十岁，得成斯陀含果；渐次习行，今在普香世界，作辟支佛。”王闻是已，倍复修行。The great buddha has finally revealed himself. Told the King: Once upon a time, there was a 比丘 from Śramaṇa (5), practice by chanting the name of buddha, Bodhidharma and Sangha for 10 years, finally has achieved Sakadagami (6).
佛告阿难：“何况能诵三宝名，经历万数；但能闻此人名，生一念随喜者，未来生处，常闻十善。”
说是法时，大众欢喜，皆愿奉行！
(1) The Vulture Peak summit-Rajgir is located in Bihar, India. It is so named because it resembles a sitting vulture with its wings folded.
(2) 大比丘– they are the highest ranked monk among the student of buddha, similar to an archangel in the western system. Below the 比丘 , there are the Great Arhat or Arahant then arhat or arahant.
(3) Sangha- means “association”, “assembly”, “company” or “community”; Sangha is often used as a surname across these religions.
(4) 谄曲 – pronounced chan qu – 《高僧传·译经下·求那跋摩》：“浊世多谄曲，虚伪无诚信。
(5) Śramaṇa –修行苦行、禁欲，以乞食为生的宗教人士.
(6) Sakadagami 斯陀含– someone who practice Buddhism and have achieve the state of partially enlightened person, who has cut off the first three chains with which the ordinary mind is bound, and significantly weakened the fourth and fifth.
Design:
Two bracelets made by hand selected fine Mu Huan bodhi beads 12mm size with round shape. One had a buffalo horn guru bead and the other had a DZI one line medicine bead. The main beads of both bracelets are made by a large olive pit carved with Monkey King with exquisite detail. The facial expression is slightly different but both showing dignified and a slightly concerned (reminded me “The Cousins” from Breaking Bad).
Black elastic string is used for the bracelet. 7 inch wrist size.
Surface of these beads will turn glossy with shinning coating as you wear them for long time.
Hand Made by ZenMu edition # 1.
Truly an amazing item to be added to your collection or gift choice.
Bracelet
Wrist Mala, Rudraksha, Horn – The Horn Dragon III