Description
Tingshas are antique cymbals, small cymbals, attached in pairs to a strap, used in Buddhism. They are usually struck with their relatively thick rims together, but they can also be struck with a metal rod. Tingshas are sometimes decorated with Buddhist motifs.
Like singing bowls, the tingsha is a ritual implement. Tingshas are generally made of seven metals, just like singing bowls. They are used by Buddhist monks, but were already in use before the advent of Buddhism. The pure sound of a pair of tingshas has a remarkable influence on the mind's functioning. When one tingsha is held to each ear, a "stereo effect" is created: it is as if the sound is singing right in the center of the head, sweeping away any thoughts that remain there. In Tibetan Buddhist meditation rituals, tingshas are used in various ways. In certain collective forms of meditation, the clear sound brings the meditator, who has wandered off during the practice, back to the clear emptiness of non-thought. This sound effect is immediate, from the first tap, and it continues long after the sound has ceased in the physical ears.
