Originally such bowls were found outside certain types of Buddhist temples in central China mounted upon solid marble waist height pillars. Their function was for worshippers to wash their hands in the bowl prior to entering the temple. However, then to wash their face they had to rub the two handles of the bowl with their hands simultaneously, then quite amazingly the bowl would resonate which in turn causes the water to bounce onto the face. As the bowl resonates it emits a calming reverberating sound similar to that of a Buddhist Mantra. The bowl will only work if one is suitably relaxed and it is said that if one cannot make the water move then one is not worthy to enter the serenity of the temple as they are probably not in the correct frame of mind.
Other Buddhist’s around the world use different methods to produce their own ‘Mantra sound’ such as gongs, long horn shaped bamboo pipes and even their own larynx. Thus far there would appear to be no scientific evidence to prove any human benefits of such low frequency sounds, however, I may point out that feline creatures do appear to create their own form of mantra by using their larynx when they purr. So if such a thing should occur in nature maybe there is some sense to it. One of these bowls is currently being analysed as part of a research project exploring the psychoacoustic effects of sound on humans, at Coventry University. |
For best effect the bowl should be placed upon a sturdy solid stone surface ideally at waist height when being used. The idea is that when using the bowl, the resonance will try to take the easiest route to earth which should be ones body rather than what it is stood upon. If the body is relaxed, one can feel the resonance sending a tingling sensation through the hands and arms, making them feel temporarily numb. With relaxation practice it is possible to have the same sensation reach your toes provided ones diaphragm and knees are relaxed. At this point it can feel like you are floating on thin air. Use of the bowl may be a daily relaxation process or used as many times as
felt necessary.
Each bowl measures 38cm in diameter and stands 13cm high including the handles. As mentioned before they are made entirely of solid brass and weigh approx. 1.8kg each. In China the bowls would normally be bedded down on 4 blobs of a special gum secreted from a cherry tree to prevent it from slipping when being used. Unfortunately we do not have such a gum available in the UK, however, we have found that blue tack works just as well. Four balls of blue tack of about 2.5cm diameter are all that is needed and they should be pressed onto the base of the bowl and bedded down onto the stone surface of the stand. To help the blue tack bed well it is preferable if it is warm. |
