I was involved in meditation and Tibetan Buddhism in the late 1970s before I
immersed myself in Zen Buddhism and astrology. Tibetan meditation and singing
bowls were certainly fringe at that time, but have become part of relaxation and
therapeutic methods, along with the use of gongs. Using the bowls and gongs is
even found in many public schools.
The widespread adoption of Mindfulness and other forms of Eastern-based
meditation are bringing related practices such as the singing bowls and gongs
closer to the mainstream. The article below was in the May 4, 2018 print edition
of the Washington Post.
Quote==Never heard of the ancient sound-healing practice? The relaxing musical
presentations, which predate Christ and have been scientifically linked to
reductions in stress and anxiety, are becoming more popular in the United
States, likely linked to the country's increased interest in health, wellness,
meditation and mindfulness.==End quote
Notice the words "ancient" and "healing" combined in the excerpt above, a phrase
often used as an attempt to give validity to a spiritual practice or spiritually
based form of healing. These two words offer a perceived credibility due to the
culture's false belief that anything deemed ancient must be valid, and anything
connected to healing must be tried or explored, even absent any medical or
scientific basis. However, since we are in a time when the denial of objective
truth is the norm, those standards no longer matter, and, in fact, are often
dismissed or even denounced.
Note that these practices are said to "predate Christ." Why mention Christ?
First, it emphasizes that the practice is truly ancient; secondly, it is likely
a subtle bashing of Christianity to indicate that there are valid forms of
healing possibly equal to or even superior to the healing ministry of Christ who
might be viewed as an imitator or student of Eastern beliefs and practices. In
fact, this has been alleged. Or it is an implication that whatever Christ did is
not necessary since previous peoples had already discovered these alleged
tremendous healing secrets.
The problem is that Tibetan Singing Bowls and gongs were never meant for
healing. They were designed and are used now for spiritual purposes, grounded in
the belief that these vibrations have a spiritual effect, and that the
vibrations themselves are sacred.
Other words in the article to note include '"wellness" and "mindfulness," which
are used to market primarily spiritually established methods. The Washington
post reporter visits a meditation place, Recharj, which is a block from the
White House, goes through a session of the singing bowls, and then interviews
two men who led the meditation sessions. These men own a meditation company in
Virginia called Human Activation.
Excerpt=="We have companies approaching us asking to help them integrate
meditation into their wellness programming."
...Every meditation is different, and the number of bowls used can range from 10
to 40. Selection of bowls also varies depending upon which chakra, or energy
meridian system in the body, we are focusing on that day. For example, if
someone wants to have a grounding meditation, we use bowls that primarily
resonate the C note because it affects that lower chakra. If they are looking
for a heart-opening session, we select bowls that resonate the F note."==End
excerpt
Note that the selection of bowls is supposedly related to which chakra they
decide to target that day. Chakras, which are invisible and have no
scientifically or physically-determined existence, originate in Hinduism and are
thought to be wheels of energy (not physical) in the body ranging from the
pelvic floor to the top part of the head (though this latter point is sometimes
considered a culmination point and not a chakra). Tibetan Buddhism retained many
Hindu concepts and practices, more so than other forms of Buddhism.
The chakras are considered to be portals for the kundalini, an energy believed
to be coiled at the base of the spine which must be aroused to travel through
supposed invisible channels, entering each chakra. This is connected to progress
toward enlightenment. Chakras actually do not exist, but those who believe in
them and do meditation or yoga can have powerful experiences that give credence
to those beliefs.
The so-called "energy meridian system" alluded to in the article, is an integral
part of Taoist views of the body, with no proven biological basis.
Since chakras and experiences with them are tied to worship of Hindu deities as
well as, in this case, Tibetan Buddhist deities, these experiences are dangerous
and are not from God. Although Buddhism does not acknowledge a supreme creator
God, Tibetan Buddhism possesses belief in deities stemming from Hindu influence
as well as the indigenous animistic religion of Tibet, Bon.
The reporter refers to a study that using singing bowls is better than
meditation so I went to that link at goo.gl/zTMcf1 only to discover the study
used only 51 participants who did two 12-minute sessions of the singing bowls or
only silence, followed by a 20-minute direct relaxation session. This supposedly
showed that those who did the singing bowls had lower blood pressure, but this
is a test with a small number of people and was short term. Moreover, there are
other ways to lower one's blood pressure.
The Human Activation company has a website referring to inventor Nikola Tesla
(d. 1943) and quoting him in order to make the singing bowl meditation seem
scientific. The New Age is always trying to gain scientific credibility. Many
New Age practices disguised as scientific ones often refer to Tesla. However,
Tesla is not as great as he is often made out to be (search for "Debunking the
Cult of Tesla" at Metabunk.org and "The Cult of Nikola Tesla" at
Skeptoic.com).
Also, many misappropriate Tesla's work and ideas in pseudoscientific claims.
There is a distinction between the physical effects of measurable vibrations
(such as those found with radio waves and sound) versus vibrations alleged to
have spiritual effects or to be spiritual in nature. However, the word
"vibration" does not indicate by itself which meaning is being used, so context
is crucial.
When a claim is made to diagnose or heal via emitting or detecting unseen and
unquantifiable energies, forces, frequencies, or vibrations, especially with no
objective verifying data, you have entered New Age, occult, and/or
pseudoscientific territory. This is also true when a healing claim is being made
for electromagnetic vibrations. This is especially true if such machines or
methods are used by a Naturopath or chiropractor, neither of which is practicing
medicine. However, these and other spiritually rooted practices are being
accepted under the New Age category of "wellness."
There is a vast pseudoscientific field founded on the discredited field of
Radionics (such as the Rife machine) claiming to diagnose or treat illnesses
with machines that read "vibrations" or "frequencies." These machines are found
under a variety of names, with new ones popping up regularly. These methods have
been thoroughly debunked and yet still attract a population increasingly open to
pseudoscience. These machines thrive in the alternative industry which is rooted
in spiritual beliefs rather than scientific or medical facts.
The Tibetan Bowls movement draws from Tibetan Buddhism (which includes the
animistic Bon religion), Hinduism, and Taoism, a veritable Eastern/New Age
spiritual stew.
For the Christian: Is it possible to use the Tibetan Singing Bowls just for
relaxation and avoid spiritual effects? It may be, but why do this? There are
other ways to relax. And why use this method since it honors the Eastern
spirituality undergirding it?
For the non-Christian: Relaxation and feeling peaceful is always temporary.
There is no method that can give a lasting peace or total healing. Eastern
spirituality teaches that it is all on you to spiritually progress and free
yourself from what is termed a false reality, perhaps necessitating thousands of
lifetimes or rebirths. There are no clear answers as to what lies after death,
or at the end of the alleged spiritual progression. Only one, Jesus Christ, was
able to be on earth totally at peace with and at one with the Creator God, fully
God and fully man. Willingly, Jesus took on the suffering and penalty for sins
on the cross, bodily resurrected and ascended to God the Father. Forgiveness and
peace with God is offered to all who believe in him.
"I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me
will not remain in darkness." John 12:46
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still
sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
"For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes
in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day."
John 6:40