According to Osho, wearing a mala—even with its 108 beads—is an innocent, poetic ritual that spices life, fosters belonging, and gently orients the mind, but it is not the essence of religion. Use such symbols as supportive fictions: helpful reminders on the way, enjoyed in moderation, without becoming either slavishly ritualistic or rigidly anti-ritual.
A 108-bead mala is a friendly reminder to stay calm and connected, not magic—use it lightly and don’t cling to it.