A Tibetan singing bowl is a type of bell that vibrates and produces a rich, deep tone when played. Also known as Himalayan bowls, Tibetan singing bowls are said to promote relaxation and offer powerful healing properties.
Buddhist monks have long used Tibetan singing bowls in meditation practice. In addition, some wellness practitioners (including music therapists, massage therapists, and yoga therapists) use Tibetan singing bowls during treatments. In addition to usage for meditation, Tibetan Singing Bowls are used for relaxation, stress reduction, healing, and during Reiki sessions.
A few different theories have been proposed to explain why Tibetan singing bowls might be beneficial. Such theories suggest that:
- The vibrations that the bowls produce may affect the mind and body.
- The sounds the bowls create may impact brain waves to induce relaxation.
- They may induce the same psychological effects and benefits as listening to music.
The benefits of listening to the bowls may be related to the ancient practice of sound therapy. Often used by indigenous cultures throughout the world, sound therapy involves pulsing sounds, clapping, drumming, and singing for ceremonial, spiritual, and health purposes.
Treatment Ideas
The bowl makes a beautiful addition to your oil presentation for clients. Place bowl on a wooden tray on your table with herbs, stones, and the massage oil options that you’re offering to the client prior to service.
Bowls can be used to signify the beginning or end of a service. A soft tap gently brings awareness to the client. This can be part of your treatment ritual.
Use the striker tool and run around the lip of the bowl to create a gentle harmony and provide guided imagery to your client to begin the massage. Place bowl on the heart chakra and use the striker to give vibrational massage on the body.
Usage
To create sound with a singing bowl, firmly press the accompanying mallet in a circular motion against the bowl's outside edge or rim. When you hear a bright, clear tone, you can slow down the motion. Use your full arm to make the motion, rather than just rotating your wrist.
You can also make the same circular motion against the outside belly of the bowl. Additionally, you can gently strike the bowl before beginning the circular motion.
Key Features
- Each bowl is handmade.
- The sound file and images are typical of a bowl this size, the bowl you receive may vary from this as they are only examples.
- Each bowl includes a striker tool and a cushion similar to the ones shown in the photos.
- This Tibetan hand hammered singing bowl comes unpolished in its original form with superb hammer marks visible and a great smooth patina.
- Each bowl is hand-selected for its tone, size, and quality.
- It has a wonderful tone that carries for a very long time. The multi-layered tone of these bowls lasts a long time!
Historical Information
Since Tibetan singing bowls have a very mysterious history, it is sometimes hard to find information about them. In fact, there’s literally no mention of them in the Tibetan Buddhist canon. They can be found in both monasteries and homes, but when questioned about their existence, vague answers are usually given. It has been rumored that it’s forbidden for monks to speak about the singing bowls. Some say that the bowls are used by high lamas in secret rituals, which gives them the ability to travel to different realms and dimensions. In the end, one thing remains certain–singing bowls are a very powerful spiritual tool.
The history of singing bowls in the Middle East and the Himalayan region that encompasses India, Nepal, and Tibet goes back more than 2,000 years. It’s believed that they were first crafted around the time of Buddha, but there’s little documentation of their history. While they’re associated with the Buddhist religion, the bowls were not a prominent part of the ceremonies. They were sometimes used to hold offerings or burn incense. The use of the bowls was more often in the form of everyday tools, such as for storage and cooking.
The people of the Himalayas learned about metalworking from the East, and the lineage of the bell, the ancestor of the singing bowl, seems to emerge from the East as well. One need only look at the Rin Gongs from Japan or the traditional bells of China to see the Eastern influences on the Himalayan bowls or the Persian bronze vessels that had been made several hundred years before. The region, rich in natural ore deposits, provided plenty of domestic resources to produce high quality metal. At the time, the true science behind metal work was developing and the first artisans had to rely on trial and error to try to get the best bowl.
Over the generations, the people of the region became most adept at fashioning high quality examples. In modern times, the process has been refined to a more exact science. High quality contemporary bowls are designed to precise specifications. They can sing more clearly and transmit more energy through greater vibrations than ever before.
Sounds of Different Size Bowls
