Your 3D Sound Bath

Thirty minutes of crystal singing bowls, made for headphones. It's a separate listening experience, not a recording of a Silent Mind bowl. Settle in, press play and listen. There is nothing to learn and nothing to get right.

Download the recording (30 minutes, 18 MB) · Download the three-page listening guide (PDF)

On iPhone: tap the download link, then the share button, then "Save to Files".

What it is

A sound bath is simply time spent resting while sound fills your attention. This is a stereo recording: the tones drift between your left and right ears, so the bowls seem to move around you.

Before you press play

• Use headphones, over-ear or in-ear. Speakers work, but you lose much of the movement.
• Choose a quiet place where no one needs you for a while, and silence your notifications.
• Sit or lie down: in a supportive chair, or on your back with a cushion under your head.
• Start with the volume low. The opening is very soft and some later passages are much fuller, so set the level a little quieter than you think you need.

While you listen

• Close your eyes if you like.
• Follow one tone from its first sound until it fades completely.
• Notice where each sound seems to come from, and the quiet in between.
• When your mind wanders, and it will, come back to the next sound. That is the whole practice.
• You don't need to feel anything in particular. If you doze off, that's fine too.

When to stop

Pause or turn the volume down whenever you like. Stop if the sound feels uncomfortable, if you feel dizzy or uneasy, or if your ears ring or feel muffled. You don't need to finish the track. When you finish, sit up slowly and take a moment before you stand.

Listen safely

• Never listen while driving, cycling or operating machinery, or anywhere you need to hear what is around you.
• Keep the volume comfortable (the World Health Organization suggests no more than 60% of your device's maximum) and take breaks.
• If you are sensitive to sound or the high notes feel sharp, begin with a few minutes at a very low volume.
• If ringing in your ears lasts, or everyday sounds become harder to hear, see a hearing professional.

If you have a Silent Mind bowl (optional)

When the recording ends, tap your bowl once with the wrapped end and listen until the note has gone.