What are the six beads at the end of a mala used for? And what is there meaning if there is one I recently received a Impermanence Mala for Christmas.  I have read The Heart of Buddha's teaching and I couldn't find anything in there.
Thank you in advance for any information.
Depending on your tradition and the design of your mala, they're for counting cycles (if they can be slid around the tassels/cords), representing the Triple Gemn and/or Six Perfections, or just decoration.