How And Why To Use A Tibetan Singing Bowl

A traditional Tibetan Singing Bowl goes by many names. Over the millennia, they have been humbly referred to as a: singing bowl, himalayan bowl, singing bell, standing bell, meditation bell, sound bowl, vibration bowl and many others.

The history of these instruments isn’t clear; they are believed to be at least 3,000 years old. Made originally by pre-buddhist cultures, they may have been created as mundane, daily use serving bowls that happened to be made with perfect harmony. A lesson to remember in an era of single use, throw away products — these tools serve multiple purposes in one’s home, studio, classroom, temple or church. And can last for generations.

When a singing bowl is played, it will produce a special, resonant tone that will be unique to that bowl’s history, shape, size, weight and dimension. Each bowl is as unique as you are.

Why Are Singing Bowls Used

There is a concept in neuroscience called “plasticity,” that refers to your brain’s ability to change, even as an adult. Regular singing bowl users report that practice with their bowl allows them to “train their brain” to access peaceful states more easily every time they practice.

The culture of singing bowls is filled with non specific and vague reasons why they are useful. A simple way to understand the real benefits of singing bowls, is to understand what’s at stake.

Deep Relaxation

Regular use of your cell phone and technology have you caught in a cycle of constant beta brainwaves – logic, thinking and overthinking. Use of a himalayan singing bowl can help you access theta and alpha brainwaves and open you up to insight and calm, beyond the rational mind. Another consequence of experiencing a sound bath or using a singing bowl in your own practice, is that it allows us to temporarily place technology to the side and focus on the present.

Healing And Immune System Function

Experiencing constant, and chronic, levels of stress takes a toll on your body’s ability to heal itself. In the emerging field of epigenetics, we are learning that the environment one’s body is in affects the genetic expression of disease states. By using a regular meditative practice like a singing bowl, we can place our body into an “environment” more receptive to healing.

Creative Renaissance And Problem Solving

Theta brainwave are found in talents creators of the world. Folks like Albert Einstein, Aristotle, Salvador Dali and many more have become known for their regular power nap schedule. Creative insight often strikes at the most interesting times – walking up out of a nap, or a deep sleep with that “AHA” moment is a common occurrence. And it’s because napping takes one out of a beta state, and into the states of brain that are more receptive to big ideas. We can use a singing bowl to access these states while awake.

Subconscious Training

While you don’t remember everything that’s ever happened to you with your logical brain, there is a part of you that always has deep access to this. Operating in more beneficial brain states opens you to the collective intelligence that you have access to – beyond your rational brain.