If you hold the bowl in the palm of your hand, that leaves it free to vibrate.  Then, you run the wooden mallet along the rim of the bowl, gently.  This will create the sound, or "singing" noise.  You can also gently strike the side of the bowl.  This creates a sound like a bell ringing.  Either way you play Tibetan singing bowls, it is the vibrations that produce the sound, just as if you rubbed your finger around the edge of a wine glass.  The pitch of the noise can vary depending on the size of the bowl and the density of the metal.  Bowls can range in diameter from 5 to 13 inches.  You can also speed up the mallet movement to change the sound.

In the Hindu and Buddhist religions, sound is an integral part of spiritual practice.  In the Buddhist tradition, 9 methods of realization of reaching enlightenment exist.  The seventh way was sound.  Because of this, the bowls' sounds are used by Buddhists as one element of their religious music and rituals.

The singing sound is both relaxing and captivating.  It helps with Tibetan meditation, and helps induce a sense of calmness.  It also helps those meditating remain in the present moment, which is an important Buddhist concept.

Tibetan Singing Bowls are works of great beauty, and we hope this page has helped to shed some light on their beauty and history.

14FROSTED CRYSTAL SINGING BOWL 3rd EYE CHAKRA NOTE A    US $34.33

NEW FROSTED B CROWN QUARTZ CRYSTAL SINGING BOWL 10    US $53.00

NEW FROSTED D SACRAL QUARTZ CRYSTAL SINGING BOWL 12    US $11.50

NEW FROSTED D SACRAL QUARTZ CRYSTAL SINGING BOWL 10    US $35.70

NEW FROSTED A 3RD EYE QUARTZ CRYSTAL SINGING BOWL 10    US $34.00

Antique singing bowls sometimes display decorations such as circles, lines, and other shapes engraved into the surface.  Decorations also sometimes are on the outside of the rim, or inside of the bottom.  Tibetan singing bowls are highly sought after and considered collectible around the globe.  This is because of their great craftsmanship and lovely sound.  The tone and sound of the bowls only improves with time, as the tone gets richer and more beautiful.

Modern singing bowls that are made in current times are also decorated and can containg religious and spiritual symbols or images, like Buddha.  They are also constructed with bronze, but not with gold and silver.  They can also be crystal singing bowls, which are obviously more delicate than their bronze counterparts.  Japan and Korea are known for having high quality bowls, but they usually are not exported from the country.  The sound created by the bowls can be used in some therapies to produce vibrations, which are believed to help bring harmony to an unhealthy person.  There is some scientific backing to this hypothesis.  It is believed that the tones can affect left and right brain synchronization, which would create a balancing effect.  Whether you want antique, modern or crystal singing bowls, remember that you should take your time when shopping for one.

Though in the past they were manufacured in Nepal, India, Tibet, China, Bhutan, Japan and Korea, nowadays Tibetan singing bowls are manufactured in only Korea, Japan, Nepal and India.  The best known types are from the Himalayas.  The origins of Tibetan singing bowls lie in Buddhist tradition.  In Buddhism, singing bowls are used in conjunction with meditation and prayer.  For instance, Buddhists in China use the bowls to go along with the wooden fish while chanting.  They strike the bowls during a specific phrase in a mantra or hymn.  In Vietnam and Japan, singing bowls are used in a comparable fashion, or can also signal the passage of time or a change in activitty.

Superb tibet blue copper buddhism singing bowl    US $.08

Tibet Brass Buddhism Singing Bowl dia5 inch    US $.05

GREY VELVETEEN MED TIBET SINGING BOWL PILLOW CUSHION NR    US $6.00

Excellent Chinese tibet silver buddhism singing bowl    US $.01

BLACK VELVETEEN MED TIBET SINGING BOWL PILLOW CUSHION    US $6.00

Some people say that Tibetans use the bowls for meditation, but other people say that they were used as magical tools for transforming themselves and other matters.  Neither of these hypotheses are confirmed by reference to any religious sources, however.  There are no references that Tibetans even used the bowls in any religious context, for anything other than holding items in them. The use of Tibetan singing bowls in Tibet is the subject of much debate and many stories. Some people say they were used for meditation while others say they were magical tools for transformation of self and of matter. However, neither theory is supported by reference to any Tibetan religious sources and indeed there is no evidence that Tibetans ever employed bowls in a religious context for anything other than receptacle purposes.  It is probably that the bowls were used in rituals.

Third Eye chakra Tibetan singing bowls are associated with clairvoyance and intuition.  The third eye chakra is believed to have the capability of seeing things that normally cannot be seen.  Crown Chakras are associated with the head, and some use these meditation bowls during Tibetan meditation, or to heal different types of head pains like headaches.  Buddhists will use the Healing Grade C singing bowls to create feelings of insecurity, for instance with someone who is trying to get used to a new situation like school or a new location.  These Grade C bowls are associated with the Root Chakra.  The Sacral chakra is associated with the spleen, and is tied to the Grade D Tibetan singing bowls.  The note generated by these bowls resonate in the body with creative energy, sexuality and emotions.  It may bring out emotions that have not been felt before, or sexual energy as well.  In Tibetan meditation, the Grade E chakra is tied to the Solar Plexus, and the Tibetan singing bowls in this group are used to stimulate gut feelings and self esteem.

25 Tibetan 108 Red Coral Meditation Prayer Beads Mala    US $8.99

Tibetan Tantric Meditation Shawl Silk for Yogis Yoginis    US $90.00

Tibetan 108 Black Onyx Meditation Prayer Beads Mala    US $9.99

Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche Tibetan Buddhism Meditation    US $3.50

42 Tibetan 108 Green Jade Meditation Prayer Beads Mala    US $8.99

The last two healing grade Tibetan singing bowls, F and G, are associated with the heart and the throat, respectively.  The note generated by F grade bowls symbolizes love and compassion.  It can be used t obring love and peace back into the lives of those who feel it faltering.  Those going through difficult periods with family or loved ones can use these bowls to restore a relationship.  It can also raise one's self esteem.  Finally, Grade G Tibetan singing bowls are associated with attributes of truth and self expression.  It can be used to heal someone suffering from a throat illness.  It is also great for someone struggling to communicate with another person.  It can give them the energy needed to express themselves clearly.  There is a lot to learn from Tibetan meditation traditions, but it is all very interesting and has a deep and rich history.