THIS IS A FREE ARTICLE FROM SACRED HOOP MAGAZINE. Sacred Hoop is an independent magazine about Shamanism and Animistic Spirituality, based in West Wales, published four times a year since 1993. You may share this in any non-commercial way but reference to www.SacredHoop.org must be made if it is reprinted anywhere. To get a very special low-cost subscription to Sacred Hoop please visit : www.SacredHoop.org/offer.html ‘Within your own mind, you already have what you need to succeed, the ability to put others ahead of yourself. This is called virtue, the wish-fulfilling jewel’ Buddha Shakyamuni BLAZE WITH MAJESTIC BRILLIANCE An introduction to Himalayan dZi beads James Wainwright he people of Tibet and the There is one sacred bead those who wear them. As the Ancient Himalayan regions have long however, that stands out from all Tibetan Buddhist master, Sakyong Tadorned their bodies, temples, others. This is known as the dZi Mipham Rinpoche says: “A person banded agate, known as statues and ritual items with bead or dZi stone. with ziji has dignity, the radiant power Bhaisajyaguru dZi heirloom and prized beads. The most widely adopted of a mind that has relaxed into its Marco Polo, the famous spelling in the world today is dZi, own inherent strength”. medieval Italian explorer and however, it is also commonly trader, mentions how important spelled gzi or zi. The word dZi I first encountered dZi beads Mediterranean coral was to the translates as bright, shine or whilst I was an ordained Buddhist Tibetans, as far back as the luminous and should be pronounced monk, and became immediately Below: two-eyed dZi with red coral C13th. Other beads are also held zee or in some regions of Tibet züh. fascinated by them. The magical beads, and two in high esteem as amulets and The Tibetan word for confidence claims of healing and protection longevity dZi continue to be used today for their is ziji, which is made up of zi meaning plus their association with the medicinal properties. These include shine and ji meaning splendour, gods and mythical creatures amongst others; amber, radiance or dignity. I personally feel captured my imagination, and turquoise, pearls, that when we connect this Tibetan since that time I have been a carnelian and lapis word to dZi beads, it gives us a close custodian of an ever increasing lazuli. meaning to what dZi represent to collection of Himalayan beads. THIS IS A FREE ARTICLE FROM SACRED HOOP MAGAZINE. Sacred Hoop is an independent magazine about Shamanism and Animistic Spirituality, based in West Wales, published four times a year since 1993. You may share this in any non-commercial way but reference to www.SacredHoop.org must be made if it is reprinted anywhere. To get a very special low-cost subscription to Sacred Hoop please visit : www.SacredHoop.org/offer.html Tibetans have a deep reverence GIFTS OF THE GODS Tibetans have a deep reverence and trust that dZi can avert illness Tibetans believe that a genuine dZi and other unfavourable conditions. bead is not created by human and trust that dZi can avert illness A bead might be used as a hands, but instead is of divine or defence against poison for even miraculous origin. Even the or defend against poison. Some example. They are sometimes hole through the bead is believed believed to absorb illness and as a to be a natural occurrence and not say dZi attract unseen beings who result become a much paler colour. drilled by people. act as personal protectors to the The weaker the colour the less There are many stories that tell potent the bead is believed to be. us how dZi appear in the wearer. Some claim that they shield Beads with a dark brown to black Himalayan regions. In the ‘Epic of base colour with a well contrasted King Gesar’, a poem believed to be against knife and bullet attacks design, are considered to be the 1000 years old, it mentions that most powerful. many dZi were brought to Tibet by Some say dZi attract unseen King Gesar of Ling, after his army beings who act as personal defeated the King of Tajik in the protectors to the wearer. I have also Persian Empire. heard claims that they shield against Other stories tell us that dZi knife and bullet attacks (don’t try were concealed as terma by this at home). When a bead breaks Padmasambhava, the Indian it is believed to have absorbed master, revered by Tibetans as the significant misfortune for the owner, second Buddha. A terma is a and in some cases may even have sacred text or special object that driven away an untimely death. has been hidden for future I personally wear a stone bead generations, they are then revealed Small ancient dZi and decorated agates necklace, comprised of beads at the appropriate time by highly collected over many years. On some accomplished Vajrayana [tantric] occasions I simply wear a single dZi adepts known as Tertöns. These bead. Even when I go to sleep I am great Tibetan masters are also unlikely to remove it. I also keep a considered to be Padmasambhava’s mala (string of Buddhist prayer disciples from previous lifetimes. beads) always at hand, so I fully The C19th Tibetan master Terchen understand how deeply connected Barway Dorje tells us that the people of the Himalayas feel Padmasambhava himself wore a six towards their beads, and the eyed dZi bead1. inseparable role they play in their New Six Eyed dZi (front centre) daily lives and dharma practice. There is also the belief that dZi flanked by ancient beads. The word ‘bead’ actually derives beads are the sacred droppings of from the old English word, gebed the Garuda bird - a huge mythical meaning prayer. It is in this spirit, bird or bird-like creature that that for me, the use and wearing of appears in both Hindu and beads has always been a reminder Buddhist traditions with a wing- of turning the mind inwards. span said sometimes to be miles Ancient Phum dZi bead with gold end caps Above: A painted offering of dZi beads displayed on a temple wall in Boudhanath, Nepal Left: Tibetan women display their families’ wealth, wearing necklaces and hair ornaments comprised of amber, coral, turquoise, ivory and dZi SH ISSUE 67 2010 33 THIS IS A FREE ARTICLE FROM SACRED HOOP MAGAZINE. Sacred Hoop is an independent magazine about Shamanism and Animistic Spirituality, based in West Wales, published four times a year since 1993. You may share this in any non-commercial way but reference to www.SacredHoop.org must be made if it is reprinted anywhere. To get a very special low-cost subscription to Sacred Hoop please visit : www.SacredHoop.org/offer.html creature that crawls on the ground. This creature turns into a dZi stone if touched by human hands. Some dZi beads are believed to be found in nests in the ground or recently ploughed fields. In fact the first genuine dZi bead that I acquired, was supposedly found in a farmers field in Nepal. Female Yaks (Tibetan: dri) are also said to give birth to dZi beads, which is similar to a story from the Chin people of Burma, who say that their goats give birth to the Chin’s sacred Pumtek beads. Pumtek are decorated fossilised or opalised wood beads that are not too dissimilar from dZi in appearance and manufacture. THE WISH-FULFILLING GEM One widely adopted belief is that dZi are found near hot springs, which I personally believe associates them with the Naga2 (Tibetan: Lu). Nag is a Sanskrit word that means snake, and these snake-like beings (often depicted as half human and half snake) are generally thought to inhabit water or a subterranean land known as Patala. Tibetans believe that certain Nagas have vowed to protect the Buddha’s teachings and have also been entrusted with important Dharma treasures. Once again, like terma, these can only be released when the right causes and conditions are present. One of the qualities of a Naga is to be able to bestow wealth and abundance, such as good harvests and rainfall, so recognising special Naga days is an important aspect of Tibetan Buddhism. The King of the Nagas is said to possess a ‘wish-fulfilling jewel’ that he wears in his crown or Above: stunningly topknot. Precious gems that can beautiful gilded grant all of one’s wishes are a statue of the recurring theme in the world of Buddha adorned Tibetan Buddhism. Indeed the with coral, patron bodhisattva of Tibet, turquoise and dZi Chenrezig, holds a wish-fulfilling stones. C7th, Jokhang temple, jewel in his hands. So to a Lhasa, Tibet Tibetan, perhaps a dZi bead makes a very real connection to Right: ancient across - or the Khyung bird, a pre- The Garuda is regarded as a the legendary wish-fulfilling jewels chong dZi strung Buddhist shamanic mountain spirit, keeper or protector of hidden that are so often mentioned in with red coral said to have been subjugated by treasures. The droppings of the beads their spiritual teachings? Padmasambhava and converted Garuda (in the form of dZi) fall to the Tibetan medicinal pills called Below: recently into a protector of Buddhism in ground as he flies through the sky. Rinchen Ratna Samphel or made three-eye Tibet. In some cases the Garuda is Other stories tell us that these ‘Precious Wish-fulfilling Jewel’ dZi bead also seen as a manifestation of beads are dropped or discarded by also include ground up fragments Padmasambhava.The Garuda and the gods, thus enabling fortunate of dZi as part of their ingredients.