Tibetan sacred music is some truly inspiring and powerful stuff, especially the first time you hear it.. Whether or not you enjoy it musically, it is likely to evoke deep feelings of wonder and reverence in you. After all, this is its intended effect. It has a sonically powerful combination of low, growling tones, rich, resonant midrange sounds, and a series of ethereal and haunting overtones that captivates and overwhelms the senses. A lot of this music takes quite a bit of training to make. Learning Tibetan throat singing is no easy task, and many of the traditions are hidden except to initiates. With Tibetan singing bowls, however, you can take a piece of this unique musical tradition home with you to cherish and revere.
The singing bowl is basically a heavy, simple copper bowl. Apparently, the tradition behind the Tibetan bowl is also rather simple. The Tibetan monks often travel carrying as little as possible and living off the charity of the people they encounter. Singing bowls were used to eat food with, to drink water out of, and as a meditation aid. For a monk, a singing bowl is one of his only possessions. It fulfills all his needs simply and elegantly.
Of course, nowadays singing bowls are used for quite different purposes. The western world has really picked up on the eerie and fascinating tones created by singing bowl, and they are collectors items. There are even variations, such as crystal bowls, which can produce other interesting tones. Crystal singing bowls are usually much larger, louder, and lower in pitch than the traditional ones are. They can produce a low humming that can make the whole room rumble, creating vibrations that are almost earthshaking.
You used to be able to only find singing bowls in the country of Tibet itself and and specialty shops. Nowadays you can find them everywhere. You should be aware, however, that if you look in the wrong spot you might have to put up with excessive markups. People in certain small artistic communities are willing to pay an arm and a lead for Tibetan souvenirs, and these meditation bowls are no exception. Sometimes, you can see them for as much as a hundred dollars, or even more. Before you pick one up, shop around. You would be surprised, but you might find a more authentic one at a fraction of the price you thought you would have to pay.
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