How to Use a Singing Bowl
A "singing bowl" is a metal bowl --- originally made in Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal and India --- that when struck or vibrated with a wooden mallet produces a tone. Each handmade bowl has a unique sound determined by its shape and the metal or metals in it. Traditionally, a singing bowl is made from one of the seven sacred metals in Tibetan culture: gold, silver, mercury, copper, iron, tin and antimony. Modern singing bowls may contain a combination of metals. The singing bowl produces a bell tone that is sometimes used in New Age music. Singing bowls can also be used for meditation and to promote natural healing.
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Instructions
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Playing the singing bowl
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1
Hold the bowl flat in the palm of your hand, or place it on a round pillow to support it. If the bowl is smaller than 7 inches in diameter, hold it on your fingertips.
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2
Grasp the middle of the mallet in your other hand. Hold the mallet so it is perpendicular to the floor.
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3
Gently but firmly rub the mallet around the outside of the bowl. The friction will cause the bowl to vibrate and "sing" a note.
Meditating with a Singing Bowl
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4
Lie down in a comfortable position in a quiet space.
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5
Place the singing bowl on your chest. You may want to place a rubber mat of some kind under it so it doesn't slip.
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6
Strike the bowl gently with the striker. A striker may also be a mallet, but the wooden end of the striker should be wrapped in cloth, felt, leather, or another soft material to protect the bowl from the wood.
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7
Breathe and listen to the sound of the bowl.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If you have difficulty getting the bowl to "sing," warm it up by gently striking the bowl with the mallet before rubbing it.
Experiment with different speeds and pressures to vary the tone.
Putting water in the bowl will also change the sound.
