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Originating in the shamanic Bon Po culture of the Himalayas, "Tibetan Singing Bowls are part of the bell family, whose culture dates back at least 3000 years. Today there are two main styles of Tibetan singing bowl: the traditional hand beaten antique style: and a modern style produced using the time consuming etching process and decorated with mantra and auspicious designs.
Black 'Om' Wisdom and Compassion Mantra Design
Brown 'Om' Mantra Design
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At your first encounter a Tibetan Singing Bowl appears to be simply a musical instrument but then an instrument that anybody can play. They are at the same time mystical, beautiful and harmonic. They are mystical, the simple action of rubbing a stick around the edge produces the beautiful harmonics. These harmonics are affected by the nature of the bowl; is it hand beaten, is it machine cast? The size, the exact shape, the metal constituents within the alloy and even the shape and the material of the stick used to rub the bowl also affect the sound.
With hand beaten bowls more options are available you can also hit them with a mallet. But for me the best method is to rub the stick around the edge, to feel the vibrations, to listen with expectations for the sound, and of course to improve with practice.
You can try other things you can put water in the bowls and create a fountain whilst playing. The choice of singing bowl and design is of course yours. So welcome to this new world, you do not need to be a new age romantic to enjoy a bowl, since we believe that everybody can afford, own, play and most importantly of all enjoy, a Tibetan Singing Bowl.
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Machine Cast Singing Bowls Nepalese Style
Antique Style Tibetan Hand Beaten Singing Bowls
 'Eight Auspicious Symbols'
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