Meditation is one of the oldest forms of brain and energy manipulation. Though the media picture of meditation often involves monks in red and yellow, quite a number of people still practice or try to practice the art of meditation. It is also somewhat a rare sight in pictures to see anything other than closed eyes and a somber face, there are quite a number of tools used in meditation. Meditation bowls are considered to be one of these tools.

Meditation bowls are used to produce a sound that can aid in bringing the person meditating to a different state of brain activity. It can produce both high pitched as well as low pitched sounds, depending on its size and create different sounds depending on how it is used (hit or stroked). Essentially the bowl should make a sound dependent on what you want to achieve. This is the reason why the bowls should be chosen by the person who will use it eventually. The wrong bowl will not only make an uncomfortable sound to the person using it, it will also not achieve its purpose.

In order to choose between meditation bowls, it’s important to first figure out what you want to use the meditation bowl for. A meditation bowl can be of different sizes and materials with each size or material corresponding to a different chakra or sound.

How do you choose the right size for your bowl? Personal meditation bowls generally come in sizes of six to ten inches. The different sizes correspond to different chakras and as such, the problem area you want to focus on comes into play when choosing between different bowls. Lower chakras, for example, can be targeted by a six inch bowl.

Chakras aren’t the only thing to consider when choosing the size of the bowl. The sound and pitch of the bowl is also dependent on its size. Basically, the bigger the bowl, the lower the pitch; which is why you have to figure out which sound it is that you want to produce. Some people can’t stand high pitched sounds and buying a small bowl that creates somewhat of a shriek will definitely not relax your system.

Once you’ve gotten size out of the way, you have to choose the material your bowl is going to be made out of.  A meditation bowl can be made out of two materials, crystal or metal. Metals produce complicated sounds that are ideal for variety, while crystal bowls create a specific sound. Trying out the bowl a few times will allow you to make up your mind about the sound it makes.

When choosing meditation bowls it’s important that you choose the bowl based on what you like to hear during your meditation as well as what you want to heal or focus on. That way, not only will your bowl be pleasant on your ears, but it will also produce the desired effect. At the end of the day your bowl should speak to you, through its sound.

Technorati Tags: mediation bells, meditation bowls

If you’re a person who loves joining meditation groups or rituals, you’re probably well aware of  tools like mats, tingsha bells, and singing bowls that people use to when engaging in mind-calming activities.  The use of meditation bowls is not a new thing.  They’ve been used by monks to get into a reflective mode and heighten concentration for ages. Nowadays, meditation bowls and other implements serve a decorative purpose (especially those that come with a beautiful, intricate design) while also accompanying people in their meditative journeys.

To get real value for your money, opt for meditation bowls of superior quality and aesthetic beauty.  Deluxe meditation bowls that are made in Tibet, India (where they originated and were first used thousands of years ago) or Nepal are among the good buys. Don’t settle for inferior imitations, nor be duped by merchants passing off their meditation bowls as antique. Deluxe singing bowls may be made of various metals – gold, silver, copper, mercury, iron, and tin.  You’d want to choose one that’s easy to play and produce a humming sound, but if you are only after the sound, some websites offer downloadable audio files of meditation bell and bowl sounds

All that you really have to do to make a meditation bowl “sing” is to use the stick that comes with it to encircle the external part of the bowl in slow, steady manner. Gently rub the striker on the outer rim of the bowl, continuing in a slow tempo. You can do this in a soft or hard manner to create your desired volume. While it’s great if you can consistently make the bowl produce the humming sound, try not to lose sight of the main purpose of singing bowls, which is to help you attain a sense of calm. Let the sound pervade your consciousness, and reap the maximum benefit of letting the sound contribute to your inner harmony.

To simplify things and really focus on your meditation, you can let another individual handle the meditation bowl. Singing bowls usually signal that a meditation session is about to commence. The one handling the singing bowl may also let it ring out when the meditation session is finished. Such bowls, owing to the soothing sound they produce, are also used during yoga sessions. A meditation bowl may be used indoors or outdoors, wherever people find it conducive to meditate or be in reflective mode.

Singing bowls vary in shape, size and design, but range in measurement from a little over four inches to five inches in diameter to over two inches in height. Like other tools originating from the east, meditation bowls can provide energetic balance to those who use them correctly and let the sound they create permeate their bodies. There’s no denying that such tools for meditative purposes have a relaxing effect. The sounds they produce when gently struck can resonate within the consciousness of people, helping them achieve desired mental states and improved physical well-being. Just be sure to get quality bowls that have been hand tested and can serve both ornamental and meditative purposes.

Technorati Tags: meditation bowls, singing bowls