Saturday, December 21, 2013

How Singing Bowls Have Been Used For Therapy

By Eugenia Dickerson


Among traditional forms of healing in Tibet, singing bowls hold pride of place. They are used for much more than just playing music. People who speak of suzu gongs are referring to the same instruments. When they want to use these standing bells, musicians position them to that the bottom is securely braced on a surface.

These bells are used with a striker. The mallet is applied with force to the metal repeatedly. The consistent peals are used to indicate that a period of meditation has begun. Similarly, the sound is sent out at the end of such a time. It is the only thing that can be heard during what is otherwise, a singularly quiet interval.

This is one of several ancient pieces of art from the Himalayas. Quite a few sculptures and other artwork such as paintings sometimes include a bowl or two in the scene. Using this historical evidence, researchers can learn more about how everyday people utilized them back then. Some older vessels are made with bronze while others are formed using other substances that were readily available thousands of years ago.

Examples of these old and well known symbols of healing are easily seen in several countries. They consistently appear in nations outside of Tibet, such as India, Nepal and China. The Japanese and Korean people have also employed them for similar purposes. In some societies, Christian music is occasionally linked with pipe organs. The gongs have a somewhat similar connection with Buddhism.

Meditation is used by many people in the West and East who practice Buddhism. However practicing mindfulness for inner focus is a daily habit of several persons, regardless of their religious beliefs. For Buddhists, using the gongs during walking or sitting mediation helps. They may also apply it during standing sessions to effectively encourage mindful thought patterns.

Samples of this sort of music are available on video sharing sites. These will allow you to get a better idea of what the instrument sounds like. It may also allow you to see it being used in temples or other locations where it is often found. Some people may find the sound pleasing while others may not. However the objective is not to just listen to the sound but to focus on inner healing.

Beautiful antique Tibetan singing bowls are sometimes kept in private collections. Here, though fewer people are able to admire them, they still have an effect as they represent the historical and cultural traditions of Himalayan people. Galleries and museums that display them allow more people to view them and onlookers may notice that they all are different. The fact that they have been made by hand means that unique traits exist in each one.

As time passes more objects from the East become a part of life in the West and it becomes easier for people from different cultures to appreciate these vessels. Collecting Tibetan singing bowls can be an interesting and educational experience, both for the collector and those they come in contact with as they explore history.




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