Byrd's Chicks

Excuse me while I interject a pet peeve. It seems that every "leader" in my area has a cracked bell. Greg and I took great care in finding just the right bells. We have had 3 or 4 - each one bigger than the last. Greg wanted one of those really big temple size bells, but I thought it would be too loud. The last one we bought over the phone. We had the owner of the store ring the bells while we discussed the pros and cons of each. Then I move here and everywhere small cracked bells. They drive me crazy! When we upgrade the last time, we gave our old bell to a family that had the worst sounding bell I have ever heard. They are divorced now. Hay, I hope it wasn't because of the bad karma associated with that bell. ;^P

OK, I'm done... carry on.
Nancy

Nancy you make me laugh. Your comment "Hay, I hope it wasn't because of the bad karma associated with that bell. ;^P" tells me you are most certainly an icchantika. Or very funny. More likely the latter.

How in blazes do you manage to break a bell? Aren't the typical SGI ones fairly thick?

One bell of mine really IS a food bowl. I accidentally discovered it had a really nice tone when struck, and recruited it to a Buddhist practice since I liked the sound so much. Both bells are also good at harmony when struck simultaneously. How cool is that?

May your bells alway be harmonious!
Kris

Bells do have distinctive sounds. About 20 years ago
I bought one of those tapes with nature sounds for
relaxation. The company I bought it from was based in San Diego.

We blew out a part of the speakers in
the stereo and it somehow took off a "layer" of
sound. What was left was a recording of a service
in the San Diego Community Center. The sound of the
bell was what I recognized, having heard it for
years and years. The sound of the Sutra recitation
and daimoku had been under that sound of a burbling stream all along.

That's my bell story. They each have a voice all
their own. I still have a lovely bell given to me
by a Zen Buddhist friend years ago.

I could be flippant and say better a cracked bell than a cracked head. But seriously I have never seen anybody with a cracked bell. We have had our bell forever and it still seems good as new. I have seen various things used for bells including fancy bells to ring the servants and recordings of "bell" sounds. Personally as long as the bell isn't too loud or sounded too often I am fine with it.

Patty, interesting story.

Jean, I've seen some pretty interesting bells, too, including water glasses and a spoon. I'm not too picky. The point, I suppose, is that the bell sound helps us get focused on the Ceremony in the Air, return ourselves to the Dharma. That's the important thing. I can't remember who specifically pointed out that our daily practice has elements to touch all our senses so that we can participate as fully as possible.

The sound of the bell goes back to the history of buddhism itself.

I do not let other speoples practice effect me in a negative fashion, "as they are all practicing the way" (LS)

Patrick

jean.. how can i get in touch with you? bj