ONE BEAD, ONE BREATH

One bead. One breath. Then another.

One Bead, One Breath: A Beginner’s Guide to Buddhist Prayer Beads is an invitation to discover an ancient practice in a simple, approachable way.

In this newly revised 2026 edition, Dojin Kodo Genki introduces the history, meaning, and practical use of Buddhist prayer beads—known in Japanese as Nenju—and shows how they can become more than an object held in the hand. They can become a companion to breathing, meditation, mantra, and everyday practice.

Beginning with the history and symbolism of prayer beads, the book gradually moves from understanding to experience. You’ll learn the KODOAN Nenju Method, a simple practice built around a single rhythm:

One bead. One complete breath.

From there, the journey deepens into Buddhist teachings and contemplative practices, including mantra meditation, OM MANI PADME HUM, the Heart Sutra, mudra meditation, the Five Elements, and Goshin-Bo protection practices.

This expanded edition also preserves photographs, illustrations, exercises, and teachings from the original work while presenting them in a newly revised format for today’s reader. A glossary is included to make unfamiliar Buddhist and Japanese terms easier to understand.

You do not need to be Buddhist.

You do not need previous meditation experience.

And you do not need to believe anything before you begin.

You need only a strand of beads, a breath, and a willingness to practice.

Inside you’ll discover: the history and meaning of prayer beads; how to choose, hold, and care for Nenju; the KODOAN Nenju Method; breath-counting and meditation exercises; mantra practice and OM MANI PADME HUM; the Heart Sutra; mudra and Five Elements practices; Goshin-Bo protection practices; photographs and practice illustrations; and a glossary of important terms.

The practice is deliberately simple.

Count. Breathe. Return.

And when the mind wanders—as minds do—come back to the next bead.

One bead. One breath.

KODOAN — A Place to Breathe.