Thursday, December 19, 2013

The History Of Utilizing Singing Bowls 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.

The bell is used with a mallet or striker, which is used to hit the metal repeatedly at intervals. The sound is often a signal that meditation is about the begin. A peal also announces the end of a period of reflection. Usually, in Buddhist practice, this is the only sound that is heard during a period of introspective silence.

Older pieces of art from the Himalayas sometimes feature a bowl in a prominent place. This artwork includes sculpture and paintings, all of which are quite detailed. This allows researchers to easily study the ways in which these objects were used in the past. More ancient pieces are made of bronze. Some have been found in private collections and are often made of similar materials that were available thousands of years ago.

While these gongs have pride of place in the Himalayas, they definitely have gained acclaim in other regions. In Japan, China, India and many other nations, examples of these ancient symbols of healing can be seen. The Korean and Nepalese people are known to employ them as means for facilitating healing as well. Just as pipe organs are sometimes associated with Christian music, this instrument is often linked 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.

If you have never heard this bell before, you may be interested in learning what it sounds like. Video sharing sites make it easy to hear samples of this and other uncommon audio. Some may find it appealing while others have an opposite reaction. However it mainly serves to focus ones attention on personal 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.

People who come in contact with objects from outside of their culture often have lots of questions. Hopefully this article answers many of them. Collecting Tibetan singing bowls can be a rewarding experience. It allows the collector to learn more about another type of art and broadens understanding of other cultures.




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