Simple (and possible stupid) question.  Do Theravedic buddhist use malas/prayer beads for meditation?  Just curious.  

My Thai massage teacher gave me a mala, indicated I should use it as a counter when I meditate.  I use it now and I asked another Thai buddhist if she can get them from her temple and she said they don't use it (in the US).  I also noticed at my gf's temple in Khorat that they don't use them....

Simple (and possible stupid) question. Do Theravedic buddhist use malas/prayer beads for meditation? Just curious.

My Thai massage teacher gave me a mala, indicated I should use it as a counter when I meditate. I use it now and I asked another Thai buddhist if she can get them from her temple and she said they don't use it (in the US). I also noticed at my gf's temple in Khorat that they don't use them....

Some do, some don't. I think it's more common in Burma. I think they use them to count to help establish concentration.