Buddhist Prayer Beads

Here's a link to a page about Buddhist prayer beads, as per conversation with Marge Roche. We talked about the nature of thought during the repetitive act of chalking the board or drawing in the sand. She brought up the Rosary and Buddhist Malas - how the repetition is creates a space in which one can free thought from the banality of daily life and lead into meditative or prayerful avenues.
http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/things/mala.htm