Tibetan Accessories

Tibetan Accessories: Burma Bells and Prayer Wheel Key Rings

This is the place for the smaller pieces that sit beside our main dharma tools. Right now it holds two things: the Burma bell, a spinning bell with a long, wavering tone, in three sizes, and miniature prayer wheel key rings in sets of five.

Short answer

A Burma bell, also called a Kyeezee or Burmese spin gong, is a flat bell that spins when struck and gives a long, wavering tone. It is Burmese, not Tibetan, and it is used in meditation and sound practice. Choose the 5.5 inch for the highest voice, the 8 inch for the deepest. The prayer wheel key rings are miniature Tibetan prayer wheels, handmade in Nepal, sold in sets of five as small gifts.

How to choose

Choice	Pick this	Reason
Burma bell size	5.5 inch	The lightest bell, with the highest voice. Easy to hold up and carry.
Burma bell size	6.5 inch	The middle size and the middle voice.
Burma bell size	8 inch	The deepest voice and the longest ring.
Key ring type	Plain metal	A simple miniature prayer wheel.
Key ring type	Stone inlaid	The same key ring with inlaid stones for colour.

How to play a Burma bell

Hold it by the cord. Let the bell hang freely, away from your body.
Strike one lower corner. Use the wooden striker, with a short, light tap.
Let it spin. The strike sets the bell turning on its cord.
Listen to the tone rise and fall. This wavering sound is what the Burma bell is known for.
Let it ring out. Wait until the sound fades before you strike again.

Where the Burma bell fits beside singing bowls

A Burma bell does a similar job to tingsha: one strike to mark a beginning or an end. Singing bowls carry the body of a session, the bell gives a steady tone, and the gong is the deepest sound. If you are new, Sunita's free singing bowl healing course is a good place to begin.

What is in the accessories collection

Burma bells. Burmese spin gongs in three sizes: 5.5 inch Burma bell, 6.5 inch Burma bell, 8 inch Burma bell.
Prayer wheel key rings. Miniature prayer wheels handmade in Nepal: set of 5 prayer wheel key rings, stone inlaid key ring set of 5. For full-size wheels, see Tibetan prayer wheels.

Not sure which Burma bell to choose? Tell us how you will use it, and we will suggest a size.

Ask us

Burma bells in three sizes Key rings handmade in Nepal Dispatched in 3-4 business days DHL Express from Kathmandu Secure card payment

Tibetan accessories: common questions

What is a Burma bell?

A Burma bell is a flat metal bell that hangs from a cord. When you strike it at the corner it spins, and the spinning gives a long, wavering tone. It is also called a Kyeezee or a Burmese spin gong.

Is a Burma bell Tibetan?

No. The Burma bell is Burmese in origin and comes from the Buddhist temples of Burma, now Myanmar. We list it here beside our Tibetan and Himalayan pieces because it is used in the same kind of meditation and sound practice.

Why does a Burma bell spin?

It hangs from a single cord at the top, so a strike on one corner sets it turning. As the flat face turns toward you and away again, the sound seems to rise and fall.

How do you play a Burma bell?

Hold it by the cord so it hangs freely, and strike one lower corner with the wooden striker. Let it spin and ring until the sound fades.

What size Burma bell should I choose?

The 5.5 inch bell is the lightest, with the highest voice. The 6.5 inch bell sits in the middle. The 8 inch bell has the deepest voice and the longest ring.

Can I use a Burma bell with singing bowls?

Yes. Like tingsha, a Burma bell is struck once and left to ring, so it suits the start or the end of a session, with singing bowls carrying the sound in between.

What are prayer wheel key rings?

They are miniature Tibetan prayer wheels made as key rings, handmade in Nepal and sold in sets of five. One set is plain metal and one has stone inlay. They are popular as small gifts.