Rosary : Tools of Dhamma Practice in Lanna

Abstract

This research aims to 1. study the history of rosary and 2. study rosary as a tool for meditation practice in Lanna. This is a documentary research.
The research results found that rosary, which mean round beads strung together as a symbol for counting while chanting, do not appear during the time of the Buddha or in the Tripitaka. In Lanna, there is no evidence of when rosaries were created or who first created them, but they were widely used during the time of King Kawila. Lanna monks use rosary in meditation to train their minds to be patient against the disturbances of defilements. The method for counting rosary is to bring the mind to mind the virtues of the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha. Use only the thumb and middle finger of the right hand. Count until you have 108 beads and then count back. Rosary are used as a tool for meditation in 4 ways: 1) Parikammanaiya as a tool for chanting, 2) Kananaparikammanaiya as a tool for counting, 3) Anussarananaya. As a tool for remembering and 4) As a tool for creating liberation.