Bell Talks
A bell is a directly struck idiophone percussion instrument. Most bells have the shape of a hollow cup that when struck vibrates in a single strong strike tone, with its sides forming an efficient resonator. The strike may be made by an internal "clapper" or "uvula", an external hammer, or—in small bells—by a small loose sphere enclosed within the body of the bell (jingle bell).
Bells are usually cast from bell metal (a type of bronze) for its resonant properties, but can also be made from other hard materials. This depends on the function. Some small bells such as ornamental bells or cowbells can be made from cast or pressed metal, glass or ceramic, but large bells such as a church, clock and tower bells are normally cast from bell metal.
Bells intended to be heard over a wide area can range from a single bell hung in a turret or bell-gable, to a musical ensemble such as an English ring of bells, a carillon or a Russian zvon which are tuned to a common scale and installed in a bell tower. Many public or institutional buildings house bells, most commonly as clock bells to sound the hours and quarters.
Historically, bells have been associated with religious rites, and are still used to call communities together for religious services. Later, bells were made to commemorate important events or people and have been associated with the concepts of peace and freedom. The study of bells is called campanology.
Title | Speaker | |
---|---|---|
2010.08.12-serial.00134 Breath, Bell, Interview, Repentance, Religion, Attachment, Describe, Precepts... |
Aug 12 2010 |
|
2008.10.05-serial.00199 Meditation, Posture, Bell, Lay, Instruction, confusion, Attachment, Passions,... |
Oct 05 2008 |
|
The Teachings of Chao ChouSerial: SF-00927 Sunday Lecture: the stories of Chao Chou; Hsin Hsin Ming - koan("I alone am the World-Honored One"); mu - cutting through yes and no; not holding to preferences Discrimination, Blue Cliff Record, Buddha's Birthday, Ordinary Mind, Buddha... |
Mar 11 2007 Green Gulch |
|
2007.01.15-serial.00116E Hindrances, Beginners, difficulty, Vows, Interdependence, Nirvana Sutra, Buddha... |
Jan 15 2007 |
|
Stopping and ListeningSerial: SF-00945 Sunday Lecture Children's Lecture: Baby beluga; why are you here?; Dogen's Three Minds: joyful mind, kind mind, big mind; mother's love as essence of spirituality (Dalai Lama... Big Mind, Bell, Silence, Gratitude, Birth-and-Death, Zendo, Hate, Suzuki Roshi,... |
Sep 03 2006 Green Gulch |
|
Why Become Abbot of Zen Center? Bodhisattva Vow, Practice Period, Precepts, Gratitude, Vows, Commitment, Bell, Suzuki... |
Aug 09 2006 Unknown |
|
Treasury of LightSerial: SF-00926 Sesshin Lecture: light can't be seen - only reflections off objects; Koun Ejo's Treasury of Light Samadhi; myth of Phaeton and Helios - driving the sun chariot; Yunmen: What is... Lotus Sutra, Bell, Delusion, Discrimination, Subject-and-Object, Zendo, Nirvana,... |
Mar 31 2006 Green Gulch |
|
The Great MatterSerial: SF-00085 How awareness of death, and our own mortality, spurs us to greater effort in practice. Birth-and-Death, Suzuki Roshi, Impermanence, Gratitude, Heart Sutra, Ceremony,... |
Mar 11 2006 City Center |