| The knowledge of singing bowl production would have | | | | no one can be entirely sure who produced the earliest |
| spread throughout Asia along established trade routes. | | | | singing bowls as there is no concrete evidence to |
| Many believe that the Buddha, Padmasambhava, | | | | support either theory. |
| crossed the Himalaya mountains from India into Tibet. | | | | Ancient singing bowls were traditionally made of seven |
| He bought the teachings of the Buddha into the | | | | various metals, each one symbolising a different planet |
| country and also the knowledge of singing bowls. | | | | in the solar system. The sound produced by the singing |
| Contrary to popular belief, singing bowls were not used | | | | bowls would vary depending upon how the different |
| during any religious practices but were used instead as | | | | quantities of metals were mixed together. The metals |
| begging bowls and for food. During this period | | | | would be combined to form an alloy which would be |
| monasteries only used the singing bowl as a chalice. | | | | left to cool before being beaten into the familiar bowl |
| If the singing bowl was not produced for religious | | | | shape. However, each of these ancient bowls varies |
| practice then the obvious question is: what were they | | | | and can have more or less than the seven traditionally |
| used for? There are accounts of travelling smiths who | | | | used metals. This would support the theories that it |
| would make the bowls with materials gathered during | | | | was the travelling smiths who produced the bowls as, |
| their travels. Other theories suggest it was the monks | | | | during their travels, not all the metals would have been |
| themselves that produced the bowls. If so though, why | | | | available which explains why each bowl might be of a |
| were they used for eating and not meditation? What | | | | different composition. |
| was the reason for having the bowls 'sing'? The fact is | | | | |