I recite several different mantras and have set goals of 100,000 recitations per mantra for myself.
My question is should I have a single mala, with counters, for each mantra or should I just stick with a single mala for all mantras and attach multiple counters?
I think it would be too distracting having different counters for different mantras on one mala, because after every round you'd have to sort out which counter to use.
An alternative solution would be to have just one mala with one set of counters and to transfer the number of malas onto a list after each day/session and then set the counters back to zero.
Personally I found the use of counters never very practical in counting my mantra recitations.
What I do find very convenient is to use a secondary 'small' wrist mala (27 beads) to count the number of 'big' mala's (108 beads) that I have completed.
May your practice be profound and with ease.
A Mala is not just used to count Mantras.
One of the purposes of using a Mala for Mantras is to infuse the Mala with the power of that Mantra.
A Mala that is infused with say one million Green Vajrapani Mantras possesses great power.
It can be used for divinations or as protection against evil spirits.
You should also try not to let anyone else touch or use your Mala.
Wow, what a goal! I got a nice rudraksha one that I like to use. I only use that one.
There's a lot of superstition around malas... they're a tool for counting. A special one, in some ways, but still just a tool. Their specialness comes from the history of an individual mala, the people who have made, used and/or blessed the one that you're using, and the respect paid to it based on the meaning that it holds for you personally (in terms of positive imprints related to your teachers and Dharma friends, and so on).
By itself, the mala doesn't contain any power, but it builds up spiritual power in you by reminding you of important things and by being an aid to your practice (in some cases, motivating you to practice). The practice is the important thing; the mala is just an abacus.
Absolutely, treat it with respect -- put it in its own bag, don't wear it as jewelry, and don't take it in the bathroom, put it on the floor or step over it. This would be showing disrespect to the role that it plays in your life, like any other Dharma item. Other than that, no need to get bent out of shape -- just do what's easiest. Otherwise, you could easily collect more malas than you're able to appropriately use.
As for advice, I would recommend you to have a "private" mala that no one else is allowed to see, with the exception of your teacher(s) and your vajra brothers/sisters, as well as one you can take in more public settings, such as practice sessions with people you don't know, or public teachings. It may also be helpful to have a wrist mala, for doing mantras silently on the bus, etc.
If it were me, I would keep track of just the mantras I did during each session, and write the number/label down in a journal of some kind before resetting the counters, if any.
I've seen Buddhists wear malas round the arm before. What is the problem with that? Also, what do you do if you need to go to the bathroom in a public place and you have a mala with you? Do you take it off/take it out of your pocket and place it somewhere where it might get stolen?
The advice I've gotten from my teacher is that in this situation, you do put it around your neck & under your shirt.
A single mala is fine, but some practitioners use a bone mala for certain mantras.
The large "bodhi bead" type mala is the best for counting but it is large and more cumbersome to carry around than the smaller ceramic or jade bead malas that are available. The mala should be 108 or 111 beads, but you only count 100 for each round. This is to allow for mistakes.
You can use several strands of dental floss wound together, if you need to restring a mala.
The mala string should be tight enough so that there is no space between the beads, and the beads can turn easily. You will sometimes see the Tibetans turn the beads slightly as they count, but this is not necessary.
You can keep track of your accumulations in a notebook.
And now there is the app.
Always best to ask your Teacher about these things.
Who is your teacher? Its only fair that i ask since you mention "your teacher"
so much but never give a name.
Those "mala Counters" move of their own accord, sometimes. They're useful if you're engaged in long recitation sessions, but I write down counts daily, after sessions, as do some of my teachers--I know this first-hand. If you're engaged in accumulation, it is good to have a private written record.
With regard to malas, generally, it is said in regard to some yidam practice traditions that once one has embarked on the accumulation of the yidam's mantra, one needs no other "protection cord" or amulet than one's recitation mala. So, you should keep it with you, on your body, but as others have noted, it's good to wear it hidden. It is also okay to maintain different malas for different mantras, if you've engaged in accumulation commitments for multiple mantras. But mala collecting can be yet another samsaric pursuit.
Where do you get good counters that don't fail after 50 to 60k? Or million counters that are better than a piece of thread. Most are just crap made for show. Like my comment, but still others should know where to get durable ones that last.
Where do you get good counters that don't fail after 50 to 60k?
Not quite sure if I understand what you mean by "fail". If the rings don't stay where they should you can simply restring the counters. I'm using the kind of thread that's used for embroidering. It's quite thin which is an advantage, because you can adjust the thickness by the number of threads. And it comes in all sorts of colors.
You can restring your mala.You don't have to wait till it breaks.
If I remember the Lama at the Drikung centre said it doesn't matter, you can have one for all or different malas for different practices. But as it has been said above, don't get attached to a new time consuming art. But best would be to ask your teacher.