Tibetan Singing Bowl Cushion

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A Tibetan singing bowl cushion gives your instrument a stable base where it can vibrate freely without rattling against a table or sliding at the first strike of the mallet. You can enjoy a clearer tone that resonates longer, whether you play one bowl or several. It also makes a beautiful decorative piece. Choose a round cushion, a square cushion, or a mat sized for your bowl to set it up in your practice space.

Cushion for singing bowl

Singing Bowl Cushion

A$23
Singing bowl O-Ring

O-Ring for Crystal Singing Bowl

A$19
Cushion for Tibetan singing bowl

Tibetan Singing Bowl Cushion

A$27
Tibetan singing bowl mat

Tibetan Singing Bowl Mat

A$25

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Why place a Tibetan singing bowl on a cushion instead of a hard surface?

A woman meditating surrounded by several Tibetan singing bowls, all resting on rugs and cushions

A Tibetan singing bowl placed directly on a table or the floor can move under its own vibrations when struck or rubbed. Its base vibrates against the hard surface, producing a rattling sound that interferes with listening. On a table, the bowl could eventually fall. A cushion prevents these problems by letting the bowl vibrate freely while keeping it in place.

You can still play a bowl while holding it in your hand, especially if it’s small. During a relaxation session, however, your attention and muscles relax, so the instrument could slip, fall, and crack or become deformed.

If you own several bowls or one large, heavy bowl, you’ll need a support. Larger bowls are played while resting on their cushions on a stable surface.

Between sessions, the cushion gives your bowl a designated place and protects the base of the bowl from scratches and impacts. It also protects your furniture when you strike the instrument.

Does a cushion change the sound of a Tibetan singing bowl?

Yes, the cushion changes how your instrument resonates, even though it produces no sound itself. On a suitable cushion, the hard surface no longer muffles the instrument or adds unwanted noise, allowing its sound to last longer and ring more clearly. The fewer points of contact a Tibetan singing bowl has with its support, the longer and more freely it vibrates. The ideal cushion therefore touches only the bottom of the bowl, since contact with its sides dampens the sound.

For example, a cushion that is too thick or too soft lets the instrument sink in, bringing the fabric against its sides and dampening the resonance of the bowl. Conversely, a cushion that is too thin still lets unwanted noise through. A ring cushion that is too large for the bowl also absorbs its power. Thick square cushions tend to dampen vibrations more, while a ring cushion produces a purer tone. Above all, you need to find the right thickness, even though we find square cushions more elegant for displaying a Tibetan singing bowl.

Close-up of a Tibetan singing bowl resting on its cushion with a mala

In most cases, the cushion filling is cotton, and the cover is sewn from cotton, satin, velvet, or brocade—a heavy, tightly woven fabric with decorative patterns. Workshops in Kathmandu, Nepal, sometimes use reclaimed cotton, which they call kapas, but you’ll also find cushions filled with wool or foam and others made of felt. No one material is better than another. Good filling must be firm enough to support the instrument without letting it sink in and soft enough to absorb the impact when the bowl is struck. The firmness of the filling, more than the material itself, allows the sound to resonate.

Brocade is a traditional fabric made from silk or synthetic fibres, often with gold or silver threads woven into it. Many singing bowl cushions are sewn by hand in workshops in Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley, although others come from India. To make a ring cushion, artisans trace and cut the fabric by hand, sew it into a tube and then a ring, and fill it—all by hand.

A Tibetan singing bowl vibrates down to its base when struck or rubbed, so it can slide if the surface beneath it doesn’t provide enough grip. The mallet may grip the bowl’s side more firmly than the bowl’s base grips its support, causing the bowl to rotate on its cushion as you rub it. To keep it centred, use a fairly firm cushion that is slightly larger than the bowl’s base. The bowl may tip when struck if the ring cushion is too small or its filling has flattened. A decorative cushion with fabric that is too smooth may also let the bowl slip when you rub it with the mallet. Even a small bowl can move if struck hard. In that case, strike it more gently or hold it in your hand.

To care for your cushion, remove dust with a soft brush, then wipe it with a barely damp cloth only if the fabric can tolerate it. Avoid harsh cleaning products, since brocade and silk require different care from cotton. A worn or dirty cushion transfers dust and moisture to the bottom of the Tibetan singing bowl. Check its shape and condition from time to time, and store it in a dry place away from sunlight.

A flattened cushion lets the bowl sink in, muffling the sound and causing the instrument to wobble. Once the cushion no longer springs back, replace it with a firmer or thicker one that fits your bowl.

Tibetan singing bowl cushions often feature bright colours and patterns inspired by Tibet or Nepal. You’ll find lotus flowers, mandalas, Buddhist motifs, and symbols of the seven chakras.

In Buddhist tradition, the lotus embroidered on many cushions symbolises purity and rebirth. According to legend, the Buddha was born on a lotus flower.