Now & Zen Zen Timepiece User Manual

The Zen Timepiece

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™

CONTENTS PAGE

The Zen Timepiece

™

By

®

Now & Zen

quality of thought, stillness of being

All Zen Clocks are the creation of Steve McIntosh

Designed in Boulder and made in Shen Zhen, China

by Now & Zen, Inc. P.O. Box 110, Boulder, CO 80306

[phone] • [phone] • [e-mail]

WWW.NOW-ZEN.COM

The names “Zen Timepiece,” “Zen Clock,” “Now & Zen,” are

trademarks of Now & Zen, Inc.

© 2005 Now & Zen, Inc.

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I. Introduction 5

“Balloon Help” Diagram of Control Panel 6

II. Operation Instructions 9

Install Batteries 9
Getting Started and Setting the Time 9
Testing and Adjusting the Sound of the Strike 10
Setting the Alarm Time 13
Countdown Mode 14
Repeat Mode—Interval Timer 15
Strike on the Hour Function 16
Alarm Terminal Cycle 16
Power 17
Clock Display Light 17
Care of Your Zen Timepiece 17

III. Suggested Uses 19

Progressive Awakening 19
Using the Clock for Dreamwork 20
The Practice of Affirmations 24
Using the Clock for Meditation 24

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CONTENTS PAGE

Using the Clock for Yoga and Other Practices 26
Mindfulness 27
Using the Clock to Begin and End Meetings 28

IV. The Clock’s Golden Ratio Progression 31

V. The Tradition of Bells, Gongs,

& Singing Bowls 35

VI. Now & Zen’s Guarantee and
Limited Warranty 37

VII. About Now & Zen 39

I. INTRODUCTION

Your Zen Timepiece is designed to add elegance and aesthetic
sophistication to your environment, both visually and audibly.
From a visual perspective, the clock is most beautiful when its
digital display (“LCD”) and controls are turned to the back, as
shown on the title page of this booklet. Placed in your
environment with its controls to the rear, the clock performs
its various functions (alarm clock, timer, or hour chime) while
its technology is obscured from view, thus leaving your
environment free from the visual clutter of modernity. Yet
even with the LCD display turned to the front, the Zen
Timepiece remains an attractive digital clock that will look
good in any room.

However, the Zen Timepiece’s greatest beauty is in its sound.
Once you take a moment to adjust the strike force and position
of the bowl/gong (as described below) to your liking, your ears
will be treated to the lovely tones of the bowl’s long-resonating
ring. We recommend you set the clock so that the bowl is
sounded in the lower end of its range, because this is where it

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5

Zen Timepiece
“Balloon Help”
Diagram of
Control Panel
Functions

The “SECONDS
ON/OFF” button
turns the seconds
display off and on
when in the regular
clock mode.

LIGHT
Press any button
to make the LCD
light come on for
10 seconds.

The "COUNT­DOWN MODE"
button changes the
clock into a timer.

Chime on the Hour Function
Icon. Activated (when the
alarm is off) by holding down
the “SET CLOCK/TIMER”
button for 3 seconds.

Alarm Time. Asmall
bell icon appears on
the left when activated.

Icons indicate
active mode
functions.

ALARM ON/OFF
In the Clock mode
this large wood button
activates the alarm and
turns it off, both
before and after the
alarm is triggered.

COUNTDOWN
START/PAUSE/RESET
In the Countdown and
Repeat modes this large
wood button begins and paus­es the timer when pressed
once. Resets timer when
held down for 3 seconds.

STRIKE VOLUME
Indicates whether the chime strike
force is set to strike the chime on
the “Hi” or “Lo” setting. This fea­ture is only visible when the "SET
ALARM TIME" button is pressed.

Pressing the "SET CLOCK/TIMER" button once
causes the programmable hour and minute numbers
to begin flashing so they can be set to the correct
time (seconds can only be programmed in the count­down mode). Hours, minutes and seconds are pro­grammed by pressing the indicated buttons to the left
of the “SET CLOCK/TIMER” button.

The "REPEAT MODE" button changes
the countdown function so that the
clock strikes only once when the count­down timer reaches zero and then auto­matically begins counting down again
at the programmed countdown time.

The "SET ALARM TIME" button allows the alarm time to
be set to the minute. It also allows the chime strike force
to be set at “Hi” or “Lo” using the “RING HI/LOW” but­ton. Once the desired alarm time and strike force have
been set, pressing the "SET ALARM TIME" a second time
exits the set mode and sets the alarm time and strike force.

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RING HI/LOW SECOND
This button toggles the strike force
setting between “Hi and “Lo” when
in the “SET ALARM TIME” mode.
It programs seconds when setting the
countdown time.

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Introduction

sounds the sweetest. However, it can be set to strike quite
loudly if volume is required.

II. OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS

Your Zen Timepiece is the result of ten years of product
evolution at Now & Zen, and we trust that you will find it a
delight and a pleasure. Thank you for bringing this unique
creation into your life.

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Install Batteries

Using a small Phillips head screwdriver, remove the battery
door on the bottom of the wood platform and install two new
"C" size alkaline batteries. Be sure to install the batteries as
shown on the inside of the battery case and make sure both
ends of the batteries are making contact with the terminals.
Battery life is typically one year with normal use, but battery
life will vary depending on individual use preferences. The
clock includes a “low battery” indicator (see “Power” on page
17 for details). Replace the battery door using the screws.

Getting Started and Setting the Time

When the batteries are installed the clock “powers up”
displaying the time at 12:00:00 PM. First, set the clock to the
correct time by pressing the “SET CLOCK/TIMER” button
once, which causes the programmable hour and minute
numbers to begin flashing so they can be set to the correct
time using the corresponding “HOUR” and “MINUTE”

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OperationOperation

buttons (seconds can only be programmed in the countdown
mode). Exit the set mode by pressing the “SET
CLOCK/TIMER” button again. To set the clock’s countdown
timer, press the “COUNTDOWN” button (the countdown
mode is initially set at 10 seconds), then press “SET
CLOCK/TIMER” button and follow the same procedure for
setting the time. Please see the “Balloon Help” diagram for a
quick reference to the functions of all programming buttons.

Testing and Adjusting the Sound of the Bell Strike

Your Zen Timepiece is like a musical instrument and can be
adjusted to produce a wide variety of loud and soft sounds.
The clock is designed so that its sound can be customized for
your needs; it just takes a minute of experimentation to find
the volume and timber that sounds best to you. The striking
mechanism can be set to either “Hi” or “Lo”, and each of these
settings can be adjusted further using the black slot knobs on
the wood platform under the pyramid. Once you find a strike
force setting you like, the sound of the bowl can then be
“micro-adjusted” even further by moving the position of the
bowl back and forth relative to the striker’s tip while listening

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to repeated strikes. These adjustment options are explained
below.

To listen to the sound of the bell continuously as you are
adjusting it, set the clock to strike every 10 seconds as follows:
Press “COUNTDOWN”, then press “REPEAT”, then press
the LARGE WOOD BUTTON to the right of the LCD to
begin the repeating strike sequence every 10 seconds. When
the batteries are installed the clock is initially set to the “Lo”
strike force setting, and the countdown timer is initially set at
10 seconds.

High and Low Strike Force Settings
To change the strike force from “Lo” to “Hi”, press the “SET
ALARM TIME” button; you will then see the letters “Lo” in
the lower right corner of the display window; then press the
“RING HI/LOW SECOND” button to toggle the setting
between “Hi” and “Lo”. Both the “Hi” and “Lo” strike force
settings have a range of adjustment that is controlled
independently by turning the black slot knobs (use a coin or a
screw driver) on the wood platform. As shown in the diagram

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Operation

Operation

below, the left knob controls the power in the “Lo” setting and
the right knob adjusts the power in the “Hi” setting.

Find the “Sweet Spot” Position of the Bowl
Once you have adjusted the strike force power, continue in the
“REPEAT” mode (striking every 10 seconds) and move the
bowl back and forth relative to the tip of the striker to find the
“sweet spot,” as shown in the diagram below. For maximum
volume in the “Hi” setting, keep the bowl at least a centimeter
from the striker tip. For a softer strike, position the bowl
within a millimeter or so from the tip. Overall, the most
beautiful sounds are achieved in the “Lo” end of the clock’s
range.

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TOP VIEW

BOWL

DIRECTION OF

STRIKER

ADJUSTMENT

Setting the Alarm Time

In addition to activating the “Lo” and “Hi” strike force
adjustment, the “SET ALARM TIME” button also allows
the clock’s alarm time to be set to the minute. Once the
desired alarm time has been set using the “HOUR” and
“MINUTE” buttons, pressing the “SET ALARM TIME”
a second time exits the set mode and sets the alarm time.
The alarm is turned off and on by pressing the LARGE
WOOD BUTTON to the right of the LCD. When the
alarm is activated a small bell icon appears in the upper
left corner of the clock’s display.

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Operation

10 Minute Progression

of Bell Strikes

First

Strike

Intervals between bell

strikes at the end of

the countdown mode

Terminal

Cycle

Bell
Strikes
Every
5 Seconds

When the clock’s time reaches the alarm time and activates the
alarm, its signature “progressive awakening” strike sequence
begins with a single bowl strike. Then automatically, three
and a half minutes later, the clock strikes again … then in two
minutes … then in one minute … so that you are awakened
gradually over ten minutes as shown in the chart above.

Countdown Mode

The “COUNTDOWN MODE” button changes the clock into

Operation

a timer. Once in countdown mode, the “SET
CLOCK/TIMER” button allows the countdown time to be set
to the second. When the countdown timer reaches “zero”
seconds, the clock strikes once and begins its automatic ten
minute strike progression sequence (the same as its alarm
progression described and charted above). The significance of
the clock’s “Golden Ratio progression” is described on page

31.

When in the countdown mode, pressing the LARGE WOOD
BUTTON once begins the countdown, pressing it a second
time pauses the count, pressed a third time, the countdown
resumes. Holding the LARGE WOOD BUTTON down for
3 seconds resets the timer to the pre-programmed countdown
time.

Repeat Mode—Interval Timer

When the clock is in the countdown mode, pressing the
“REPEAT MODE” button changes the countdown function
so that the clock strikes only once when the countdown timer
reaches zero seconds and then automatically begins counting
down again at the programmed countdown time. When in the

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Operation

repeat mode the clock will continuously countdown to zero
seconds, strike once, and repeat the programmed countdown.
As in the regular countdown mode, pressing the LARGE
WOOD BUTTON once pauses the count, pressing it a
second time resumes the repeating countdown.

Strike on the Hour Function

In the clock mode, holding down the “SET CLOCK/TIMER”
button for three seconds (when the alarm is not set) will
activate the hour chime function. This causes the clock to
strike once on the hour, every hour. When the hour chime
function is activated, a small “grandfather clock” icon appears
in the upper left of the display. Holding down the “SET
CLOCK/TIMER” button again for three seconds turns off the
hour chime function and its icon. When the alarm is activated,
the hour chime function is automatically turned off until the
alarm is turned off (so you can sleep!).

Alarm Terminal Cycle

At the end of the clock’s ten minute strike progression
sequence (in either the clock or countdown modes), the clock
will be striking every 6.5 seconds—this is the “terminal cycle”

Operation

wherein the strikes will continue at 6.5 second intervals for
about another five minutes, unless the strike sequence is shut
off by pressing the LARGE WOOD BUTTON.

Power

If you use alkaline batteries (recommended), battery life will
typically last one year with everyday use. If the chime on the
hour function is used continuously, this may cause the
batteries to run down sooner. When your battery power
becomes low the Zen Timepiece will alert you by displaying
“Lb” in place of the seconds in the lower right corner of the
LCD display.

Clock Display Light

The display light comes on for 10 seconds when any of the
clock’s buttons are pressed. The “RING HI/LO SECOND”
button turns the light on and off, but the light goes off
automatically after 10 seconds to save the batteries.

Care of Your Zen Timepiece

The Zen Timepiece is designed for indoor use only. Keep it
out of prolonged direct sunlight and free from excessive dust,

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Operation

dirt or moisture. Clean the clock with a dry cloth. Never use
detergents, furniture polishes, or oils on your clock as these
liquids may come into contact with the clock’s internal
circuitry and cause a malfunction. The Zen Timepiece’s brass
bowl may be cleaned with any commercially-available metal
cleaner. However, the bowl naturally develops an antique
patina over time, which you may prefer to the polished look.

III. SUGGESTED USES

Progressive Awakening

It would be nice if we could wake up every morning without
an alarm. We fall asleep gradually, and it seems only natural
that a gradual awakening is best for our physical and mental
well-being. Some people wake up naturally at the same time
every morning without any outside stimulus. But for most of
us, an alarm clock is essential. The natural desire for a gradual
awakening accounts for the popularity of “snooze buttons” on
alarm clocks. But even the minimal effort required to reach
over and push a snooze button can disrupt the experience of
waking up gradually. The benefits of a more natural
“progressive awakening” include better dream recall,
prolonged alpha brainwave activity, and a general feeling of
well-being that results when you are not startled into the
waking state by an obtrusive, speaker-driven alarm clock or

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Suggested Uses Suggested Uses

clock radio.

In the larger scheme of things, our days on this planet are few
and precious, so it seems fitting that we should begin each day
with grace and beauty. Used as an alarm clock, your Zen
Timepiece thus serves as a useful reminder that each day is a
new and sacred opportunity to live life to its fullest. But in
addition to its use as an alarm clock, your Zen Timepiece is
also an aesthetically-sophisticated timer that enhances practice
activities and social gatherings. It can also serve as a
“mindfulness bell” that periodically calls you to stillness. These
suggested uses are discussed below.

Using the Clock for Dreamwork

The Zen Timepiece can help you remember and use your
dreams in two basic ways: First, by not abruptly interrupting
your dreams, allowing your dreaming mind to “finish the
dream;” and secondly, by giving you the time between bowl
strikes to lie in bed undisturbed when you are first awakened,
so you can better recall your dreams.

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Depending on how deeply you are sleeping when the clock's
alarm is triggered, it may take several bowl strikes to arouse
you from a dreaming state, or you may be awakened by the
first strike. But even if the first strike does wake you, it is
possible to resume or re-enter a dream from which you are
marginally awakened if you are allowed to return to the dream
without further disturbance. The interval between the first
and second bowl strike can provide a brief period of time for
you to reach a conclusion to your dream. Preventing the
abrupt interruption of your dreams acts to preserve your
dream experiences and maximizes the psychic benefits to be
derived from improved dream recall.

There is general agreement among dream researchers that
dream memories are best preserved when your body is allowed
to wake up naturally when it is ready (without using a clock
radio or buzzer alarm). However, if you can’t “sleep late,” the
Zen Timepiece’s gradual awakening sequence comes closer to
providing a natural awakening than practically any other
wake-up aid. So for best results in remembering your dreams,
as you are falling asleep at night, resolve that your first

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Suggested Uses

Suggested Uses

thought upon waking will be the recollection of your dream.
Whether or not you are in the middle of a dream when the
bowl/gong wakes you, your best dream memories will be
available in your first moments of waking consciousness.
Before opening your eyes or moving, lie quietly and try to
remember your dreams. Once you have established a
conscious memory of your dream, you are ready to open your
eyes and get up. Keeping a notebook by your bed to write
down your dream memories can also be helpful. Discovering
the value of your dream life can be richly rewarding.

Using Your Progressive Awakening Time
for the Practice of Affirmations

Just in between the sleeping and waking state is a brain state
known as the Alfa State. When in the Alfa State, your brain
produces unique brain waves that have been found to be very
helpful in increasing the effectiveness of personal affirmations.
An affirmation is a specialized technique of stating a goal to
yourself in a way that re-programs your preconscious mind for
improved performance. Affirmations are most effective when
they are expressed as statements of fact or convictions written

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down in your own language. The most effective affirmations
are personal, positive and in the present tense. For example, if
your goal is to become a better parent, effective affirmations
may include: “I am balanced in my expressions of discipline
and understanding toward my children.” or “When I
demonstrate love and compassion to my kids, they learn to
show love and warmth to each other.”

To use your Zen Timepiece for affirmation practice, formulate
and write down an affirmation of improvement in your life.
Before you go to sleep, read the affirmation to yourself and
resolve to remember it when you first wake up. When you are
first awakened by the Zen Timepiece, lie quietly in bed before
moving or opening your eyes and repeat your affirmation to
yourself three times. If you lie still, the chances are good that
your brain will remain in the Alpha State during the first few
strikes of the bowl. If you do nothing to disturb this “freshly
awakened” state while you repeat your affirmation to yourself,
you will maximize the effectiveness of the affirmation through
this alfa wave programming technique. Like the dreamwork
techniques discussed above, the improvement of your life

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Suggested Uses

Suggested Uses

through affirmations in the alpha state can be accomplished
without the use of the Zen Timepiece; but using the clock
makes the process easier and more fun.

Using the Clock for Meditation

Beyond the psychological inquiry into dreams or the self­improvement techniques of affirmations lies the ancient and
sacred practice of meditation. Some form of meditation is
practiced in every major world religion. Yogis, Christian
mystics, Zen Buddhists, Quakers, practitioners of the
Kabbalah, and Secular Humanists, all experience the benefits
of meditation. The Zen Timepiece is an exquisite
“accoutrement to meditation.” It can be used in a variety of
ways to aid your practice and encourage you to “make time” to
meditate. The first and most basic use of the Zen Timepiece in
your meditation practice is as a signal of the end of your
allotted meditation time. If you want to meditate for twenty
minutes, simply set the countdown timer for twenty minutes,
press the LARGE WOOD BUTTON, and begin your
meditation. When the countdown timer reaches zero and the
bowl/gong is struck, you can choose to end there or continue

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your meditation for about three and a half minutes until the
next bowl strike, or even longer. Many meditators find that a
“three and a half minute warning” is a perfect interval in which
to gradually conclude their longer meditations. The first strike
signals the final phase of the meditation and the second strike
its conclusion. The beauty of the brass bowl/gong is that it
compliments rather than disturbs the meditative state while
acting as an effective timer. No matter how you use it, the
sonic clarity of the brass bowl provides an appropriate
conclusion to your stillness.

The Zen Timepiece can also be more actively incorporated into
your meditation practice as a form of “mantra” or “yantra.”
Mantra is a sanskrit word which means “mental protection.”
In Eastern meditation traditions, a mantra takes the form of a
word or sound which is chanted to occupy the mind and keep
disturbing thoughts from distracting the meditator. A yantra is
used in Eastern meditation traditions as an image upon which
the meditator concentrates until it “disappears.” The Zen
Timepiece’s bowl strikes can be used as a sort of external
mantra or sonic yantra. The clock’s countdown mode repeat

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Suggested Uses

Suggested Uses

function (the interval timer) allows the bowl to be struck
repeatedly at any set period, so that as the strikes repeat, they
serve to bring you back to the focal point of concentration.
Bells and chimes are used in both Eastern and Western
meditation traditions. In the Christian monastic tradition, the
ringing of the bell during meditation reminds the practitioners
to return to the object of worship. Similarly, Zen monks have
used gongs and “mindfulness chimes” (described below) to
begin their meditations and during meditation to bring them
out of their mental processes back to the stillpoint of
tranquility.

Using the Clock for Yoga and Other Timed Practices

Practitioners of disciplines such as yoga, or reiki often find
that a periodic acoustic timer is the perfect signal to change
positions (or phases of the practice) at a pre-set interval.
Using the Zen Timepiece’s interval timer function in such
practices adds not only to the precision and efficiency of the
session, but also to its aesthetic value. Because the Zen
Timepiece’s hand-finished brass bowl/gong produces such a
rich, complex sound, it helps create a calm environment in

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which practitioners can get the most out of their discipline.
Also, because the Zen Timepiece’s appearance is aesthetically
pleasing, it can be placed on an altar or other prominent
location where it can add to the visual beauty of the practice
environment. The Zen Timepiece has been designed so that it
can be positioned either with the clock display in the front, or
with the display in the back, so its electronic functions are
disguised.

Mindfulness

“Mindfulness” is the spiritual practice of being aware of your
present moment. World famous Zen monk Thich Nhat Hanh
has developed the use of the bowl/gong in a practice he calls
the “mindfulness bell.” When you hear the sound of the
mindfulness bell, you are invited to take a moment to breathe
in and out and center yourself in the present. During this
practice, theresonating sound of the bowl/gong periodically
connects you to the peace and tranquility that resides inside
you right now. This delightful practice reduces stress and
improves your overall health.

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Suggested Uses

Suggested Uses

The Zen Timepiece can serve as a mindfulness bell in two
ways: it can be set to strike on the hour (providing an hourly
moment of stillness), or it can be set to strike at a programmed
interval, such as every twenty minutes, or even every three
hours (see the Operation Instructions section for details on
these settings).

Using the Clock to Begin and End Sessions or Meetings

In addition to the personal and contemplative uses described
above, the Zen Timepiece can also be used as a progressively
persistent, yet gentle way to bring people together for
meetings or sessions, and to disperse them when their meeting
time is over. Having a timer set to signal the end of a meeting
can be very useful, especially in intense situations where it is
socially difficult to play the role of “meeting police” by cutting
people off at the allotted end time. Yet the buzzing of an
ordinary alarm clock or beeper watch is also an
inappropriately abrupt end. If you shut off the alarm, the
meeting often continues unabated; but if you let the alarm
keep ringing, the meeting does not have a chance to conclude
gracefully. However, when you use your Zen Timepiece as a

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meeting timer, the first bowl strike of the clock’s automatic,
progressive strike sequence provides a gentle warning of the
meeting’s agreed-to conclusion, with the following strikes
acting to bring the meeting to a timely end. Because the more
frequent, ‘alarming’ bowl strikes only occur at the end of the
clock’s ten minute strike sequence, these more frequent,
disruptive strikes will only be heard if the meeting runs late.

The Zen Timepiece’s progressive bowl strikes are also useful
to call meetings to order. A gradually-increasing ten minute
“call to order” is a perfect way to begin meetings on time. For
use in calling a group to order, the timer is most effective
when attendees have advance notice of the purpose of the
striking bowl. Whether you are calling your family to the
dinner table or beginning a church service, the Zen Timepiece
provides a lovely way to begin and to end.

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Suggested Uses

Further Reading:

Thich Nhat Hanh Peace is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness
in Everyday Life. Bantam Books 1992

Tolle, Eckart The Power of Now. New World Library 1998

Kabat-Zinn, Jon Wherever You Go There You Are: Mindfulness
Meditation in Everyday Life. Hyperion Press 1995

Fontana, David The Meditator’s Handbook: A comprehensive
guide to Eastern and Western meditation techniques. Element,
Inc. 1992.

Brooke, Avery Learning and Teaching Christian Meditation.
Cowley Publications 1990.

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IV. THE ZEN TIMEPIECE’S GOLDEN RATIO
STRIKE PROGRESSION

The Zen Timepiece’s progressive strike function (activated by
either the alarm or the countdown timer) takes place over
about ten minutes. This progression is measured from the first
bowl strike until the clock reaches its terminal cycle of
continuous bowl strikes, about every 6.5 seconds. The
sequence of bowl strikes within this initial ten minute cycle is
designed to approximate a “Golden Ratio” progression. The
Golden Ratio, also known as the “Divine Proportion,” is a very
special harmonic relationship that is used throughout nature as
a technique of unified growth. The Golden Ratio has also been
used by artists and architects throughout human history as a
formula for beauty.

The Golden Ratio divides any whole into two parts so that the
ratio of the small part to the large part is the same as the ratio
of the large part to the whole line. In other words, when a

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The Golden Ratio

100% whole is divided by the Golden Ratio, the small part is
approximately 38%, and the large part is 62% of the whole.
This creates a relationship of “fractal self-similarity” wherein
the small part is 62% of the large part, and the large part is
62% of the whole. The beauty of the Golden Ratio is that all
three parts—the small part, the large part, and the whole—are
in perfect proportion with each other. Golden Ratio
relationships are everywhere in nature—from the human body
to the solar system.

The Zen Timepiece’s bowl strike progression expresses the
Golden Ratio by dividing its ten minute time “line” into smaller
and smaller Golden Ratio sections. After the tirst strike begins
the sequence, the second strike divides the line at three

The Golden Ratio

minutes and 48 seconds. The next strike divides the large part
of the original division (the remaining six and a half minutes of
the ten minute cycle) by the same ratio. The interval between
bowl strikes thus diminishes from within itself according to the
Golden Ratio.

Perhaps the most beautiful examples of Golden Ratios in
nature are found in the “golden spirals” seen in nautilus shells,
galaxies, whirlpools, and even on the side of your own fist. As
the Zen Timepiece’s bowl strikes grow closer together, they
form an “audible golden spiral” as illustrated below. The clock
thus echoes nature’s expression of universe
harmony as it provides for a progressive awakening.

2nd

1st

Strike

Strike

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V. THE TRADITION OF BELLS, GONGS, AND
SINGING BOWLS

Bells, gongs, and chimes are used prominently in both
Eastern and Western spiritual traditions. The use of metal
alloy bowls for devotional purposes can be traced back to
the beginnings of metallurgy in China prior to 1,000 B.C.
The bowl that comes with your Zen Timepiece is modeled
after a Japanese “rin gong,” or Keisu, that is periodically
struck with a stick to punctuate sutra-reading in Buddhist
temples.

The Himalayan peoples have been using metal bowls in
their rituals and as offerings to Deities since at least 560
B.C. These hand-hammered Himalayan alloy bowls have
come to be known as “Tibetan Singing Bowls” because of
the unique way they are sounded by rubbing a mallet over
the rim so as to produce harmonic resonances and
overtones. Although the bowl that comes with your Zen
Timepiece is not technically a Tibetan Singing Bowl, it will

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Bells, Gongs & Singing Bowls

produce harmonic effects if a mallet or striking stick is rubbed
around its edge in a circular motion.

The bowl that comes with your Zen Timepiece is made from
the following five metals: copper, zinc, lead, iron, and tin. It
has been formed using the same forging techniques that have
been used in Asia for two thousand years. Unlike hand­hammered Himalayan-style bowls, your Zen Timepiece’s rin
gong bowl is made using methods which first appeared in
Japan in the first century. Following these traditions, your
bowl's long-resonating tone has been carefully selected to
bring beauty and harmony to your environment.

VI. NOW & ZEN’S GUARANTEE AND
LIMITED WARRANTY

Your Zen Timepiece is guaranteed against mechanical
defect for a period of 12 months from the date of purchase
provided the clock has not been misused. Now & Zen will
repair or replace free of charge any part or workmanship
found to be defective within the warranty period. If your
clock breaks during the warranty period, please call or
write us for a return authorization number (RA#) and
return instructions. It is your responsibility to ensure it is
properly packaged for return, as any damage suffered in
return shipment is not covered by this warranty. This
warranty does not include damage due to dirt, moisture, or
negligent handling. This warranty is only valid when
accompanied by a dated proof of purchase.

Your Zen Timepiece is designed for indoor use only. To
clean, wipe off with a damp cloth. Never use oils or

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Warranty

polishes on the wood platform, and NEVER ADD
LUBRICANT OF ANY KIND TO THE STRIKING
MECHANISM. Your brass bowl may be cleaned with any
commercially-available metal cleaner, If you have any
questions or problems with the operation of your Zen
Timepiece, please call us weekdays at [phone], or (303)
530-9028 if you are outside the U.S., and we will be happy to
assist you.

REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT AS PROVIDED UNDER
THIS LIMITED WARRANTY IS YOUR EXCLUSIVE
REMEDY. NOW & ZEN SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR
ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
NOR FOR ANY DAMAGES FOR BREACH OF ANY
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY ON THIS
PRODUCT.

For Warranty claims contact: Now & Zen, Inc.:
[phone], e-mail: [e-mail]

PLEASE NOTE: NO RETURNS WILL BE

ACCEPTED WITHOUT AN RA#.

VII. ABOUT NOW & ZEN

Founded in Boulder, Colorado in 1995, Now & Zen’s
mission is to create natural lifestyle products that make a
real difference in people’s lives. The growing preference
for natural foods and natural fibers is carried forward by
Now & Zen in the natural acoustic sounds and natural
hardwood materials featured in every Now & Zen
product. Our way of describing the essence of a natural
lifestyle is: quality of thought, stillness of being.

As a result of cultural evolution, we’re becoming more
discerning about the real nature of quality. Quality
thinking is concerned with the welfare of the greatest
relevant whole—our whole selves, our whole environment,
and our whole society. Now & Zen products embody
quality of thought through their use as tools that improve
your life, in the esoteric principles they embody, and in
their originality.

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About Now & Zen

Stillness of being is also an integral part of a natural lifestyle.
The practices of prayer, meditation, and yoga all contribute
to a stillness of being. Now & Zen products serve as
accoutrements to these practices; and they also help create a
sense of stillness through the beauty of their designs.

Please visit our website ( www.now-zen.com ) which gives
further information on our products and mission. For a
catalog of current Now & Zen products, please call us at:
[phone] or [phone], or send us an e-mail at:
[e-mail]

And when you’re in Boulder, Colorado please visit our
headquarters store near the Pearl Street Mall:

Now & Zen, Inc.
1638 Pearl Street
Boulder, CO 80302
U.S.A.

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The Tibetan Phone

Bell™ & Timer

The Digital Zen

Alarm Clock®

The Zen Alarm Clock®

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