Prayer bracelets, which are traditionally made up of 108 beads or smaller numbers divisible by nine, are commonly used by Buddhists to keep count as they recite, chant, or mentally repeat a mantra. According to Buddhist thought, human beings are said to have 108 afflictions or klesas. There are six senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch and consciousness), multiplied by three reactions (positive, negative, or indifference), thus making 18 "feelings". Each of these feelings can either be “attached to pleasure or detached from pleasure”, making 36 “passions”. Each of these passions can in turn manifest themselves in the past, present or future. The combination of all these manifestations makes a total of 108, which is represented by the beads.
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