Why do Tibetan Buddhist wear malas?
Tibetan Buddhists wear malas around their necks or on a wrist in order to use them primarily to count mantras during mantra recitation. There are usually 108 beads and the large one is called a Guru bead. Mala beads can be made from a variety of substances such as wood or seeds or semi precious stones. It’s not disrespectful to wear one if you’re not a Buddhist but they aren’t considered to be decorative jewellery.
