Comments on: Notes on burning incense http://www.wildmind.org Explore Meditation Online Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:56:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bodhipaksa http://www.wildmind.org/posture/notes-on-burning-incense/comment-page-1#comment-110442 Bodhipaksa Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:40:54 +0000 http://www.wildmind.org/?page_id=3264#comment-110442 Thanks! I added links to the two sources you mentioned. Japanese incense is by far the most subtle I've come across. Thanks! I added links to the two sources you mentioned. Japanese incense is by far the most subtle I’ve come across.

]]> By: Deester http://www.wildmind.org/posture/notes-on-burning-incense/comment-page-1#comment-110436 Deester Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:34:01 +0000 http://www.wildmind.org/?page_id=3264#comment-110436 My husband is a Buddhist monk and we burn incense daily, at his school and at home. We have found that <a href="http://www.shoyeido.com/" rel="nofollow">Shoyeido Japanese incense</a> is the best by far. We have tried everything, trust me. It is a bit pricier than some, but the quality is incredible and it does not bother students who are sensitive because of headaches, allergies, etc. We also appreciate that they make it in traditional Japanese fashion. If you are a practitioner, you may be able to sign up for a wholesale account and receive a signifigant discount. Another excellent website for incense is <a href="http://www.essenceoftheages.com/" rel="nofollow">Essence of the Ages</a>. Much of their incense is made at Tibetan monasteries, and is specifically designed to help alleviate certain conditions. The profits all go to the monstery or nunnery as well! My husband is a Buddhist monk and we burn incense daily, at his school and at home. We have found that Shoyeido Japanese incense is the best by far. We have tried everything, trust me. It is a bit pricier than some, but the quality is incredible and it does not bother students who are sensitive because of headaches, allergies, etc. We also appreciate that they make it in traditional Japanese fashion. If you are a practitioner, you may be able to sign up for a wholesale account and receive a signifigant discount. Another excellent website for incense is Essence of the Ages. Much of their incense is made at Tibetan monasteries, and is specifically designed to help alleviate certain conditions. The profits all go to the monstery or nunnery as well!

]]> By: Bodhipaksa http://www.wildmind.org/posture/notes-on-burning-incense/comment-page-1#comment-99173 Bodhipaksa Sun, 12 Dec 2010 17:47:37 +0000 http://www.wildmind.org/?page_id=3264#comment-99173 I'm very pleased to hear that you'll be learning to make Tibetan incense. All the best with your project. I’m very pleased to hear that you’ll be learning to make Tibetan incense. All the best with your project.

]]> By: Sebastian http://www.wildmind.org/posture/notes-on-burning-incense/comment-page-1#comment-99151 Sebastian Sun, 12 Dec 2010 15:05:47 +0000 http://www.wildmind.org/?page_id=3264#comment-99151 Having live and work in shanghai china for the last 10 years, its very encouraging to see the Chinese rediscover the art of incense making from the Japanese and Taiwanese this past decade. Very high quality incense are rapidly and more easily available in the Chinese market. I have recently made a trip to part of Tibet & many new brand of Tibetan incense are available in the market but I have to say most contain lots of artificial ingredients. I will be learning the Tibetan incense making from a Tibetan doctor and hopefully able to share what have learn in the process & spread the use of quality incense that does not harm the health. Again, the price of the incense also matches the quality & in order to get a decent incense, one have to pay higher price or else I rather suggest not inhaling poor qua Ity incense that would otherwise harm one's health Having live and work in shanghai china for the last 10 years, its very encouraging to see the Chinese rediscover the art of incense making from the Japanese and Taiwanese this past decade. Very high quality incense are rapidly and more easily available in the Chinese market.

I have recently made a trip to part of Tibet & many new brand of Tibetan incense are available in the market but I have to say most contain lots of artificial ingredients.

I will be learning the Tibetan incense making from a Tibetan doctor and hopefully able to share what have learn in the process & spread the use of quality incense that does not harm the health.

Again, the price of the incense also matches the quality & in order to get a decent incense, one have to pay higher price or else I rather suggest not inhaling poor qua
Ity incense that would otherwise harm one’s health

]]> By: Bodhipaksa http://www.wildmind.org/posture/notes-on-burning-incense/comment-page-1#comment-99042 Bodhipaksa Sat, 11 Dec 2010 17:20:21 +0000 http://www.wildmind.org/?page_id=3264#comment-99042 Your experience pretty much matches what I wrote in the article then: <blockquote>"Japanese incense is generally more refined (and in fact the world of Japanese incense is like the world of wine, with a great variety of qualities ranging from merely good to connoisseur-level). Indian incense can be more rough and chemical-smelling. Tibetan incense is more natural, and although some is refined much of it is like a fire on a hillside."</blockquote> Some kinds of Indian incense in fact remind me of a fire in a chemical factory. It's not all harsh, but a lot of it is very heavily perfumed and very artificial-smelling. Your experience pretty much matches what I wrote in the article then:

“Japanese incense is generally more refined (and in fact the world of Japanese incense is like the world of wine, with a great variety of qualities ranging from merely good to connoisseur-level). Indian incense can be more rough and chemical-smelling. Tibetan incense is more natural, and although some is refined much of it is like a fire on a hillside.”

Some kinds of Indian incense in fact remind me of a fire in a chemical factory. It’s not all harsh, but a lot of it is very heavily perfumed and very artificial-smelling.

]]> By: Sebastian http://www.wildmind.org/posture/notes-on-burning-incense/comment-page-1#comment-99022 Sebastian Sat, 11 Dec 2010 10:26:50 +0000 http://www.wildmind.org/?page_id=3264#comment-99022 Being a child growing up in different part of Asia, I have been associated with the smell of incense since I Was a child, Indian incense tend to be over powering(contains a lot if artificial scent) & not quite suitable for meditation, Japanese incense in general are more subtle & the best incense I found are some high grade Chinese incense which are very light and very suitable for incense, good meditation incense should not be so powering that it can distract the mind. Train your nose to detect artificial ingredients by inhaling them & with a sensitive nose you will feel. Pricky, choking feel on the end of the nose and also the throat feel a bit rough & itchy, good incense just flow through the nose and lungs without obstruction. It should also smell sweet. Being a child growing up in different part of Asia, I have been associated with the smell of incense since I Was a child, Indian incense tend to be over powering(contains a lot if artificial scent) & not quite suitable for meditation, Japanese incense in general are more subtle & the best incense I found are some high grade Chinese incense which are very light and very suitable for incense, good meditation incense should not be so powering that it can distract the
mind. Train your nose to detect artificial ingredients by inhaling them & with a sensitive nose you will feel. Pricky, choking feel on the end of the nose and also the throat feel a bit rough & itchy, good incense just flow through the nose and lungs without obstruction. It should also smell sweet.

]]> By: Bodhipaksa http://www.wildmind.org/posture/notes-on-burning-incense/comment-page-1#comment-90121 Bodhipaksa Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:54:16 +0000 http://www.wildmind.org/?page_id=3264#comment-90121 The comments on your site (http://www.dhuni.co.uk) suggest you're right. Would you be interested in sending some samples? We're interested in expanding our online store, and your incense looks excellent. All the best, Bodhipaksa The comments on your site (http://www.dhuni.co.uk) suggest you’re right. Would you be interested in sending some samples? We’re interested in expanding our online store, and your incense looks excellent.

All the best,
Bodhipaksa

]]> By: dhuni http://www.wildmind.org/posture/notes-on-burning-incense/comment-page-1#comment-90114 dhuni Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:16:07 +0000 http://www.wildmind.org/?page_id=3264#comment-90114 Thanks Wildmind. As an incense maker, I think Indian incense doesn't have to be rougher than Japanese, by the way. Properly crafted handrolled agarbatti can be just as sublime! Thanks Wildmind. As an incense maker, I think Indian incense doesn’t have to be rougher than Japanese, by the way. Properly crafted handrolled agarbatti can be just as sublime!

]]> By: leah vincent http://www.wildmind.org/posture/notes-on-burning-incense/comment-page-1#comment-57446 leah vincent Tue, 30 Dec 2008 03:53:06 +0000 http://www.wildmind.org/?page_id=3264#comment-57446 ah, thanks for the advice! ah, thanks for the advice!

]]> By: Bodhipaksa http://www.wildmind.org/posture/notes-on-burning-incense/comment-page-1#comment-56670 Bodhipaksa Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:49:06 +0000 http://www.wildmind.org/?page_id=3264#comment-56670 Ah yes, I should put a health warning on this page! The reports of incense being a potential health risk go back a lot further than The Week article you mention. The <a href="http://news.health.com/2008/08/25/long-term-exposure-to-incense-raises-cancer-risk/" rel="nofollow">story appeared back in August</a> and there was also an alert raised in 2001, in a <a href="http://publish.bsu.edu/ien/archives/2001/052401.htm" rel="nofollow">Ball State University article</a>. I was shocked once when helping to clean a meditation room in an urban Buddhist center, to discover that the walls were coated with a brown film The paintwork looked fine until you wiped it with a cloth, at which time you discovered that the walls were several shades darker than they'd originally been, just a few years before. If you're going to use incense daily I'd suggest avoiding the Tibetan or Indian stuff and go for good quality Japanese incense. You can even buy "low smoke" versions of the Morning Star brand. Ah yes, I should put a health warning on this page!

The reports of incense being a potential health risk go back a lot further than The Week article you mention.

The story appeared back in August and there was also an alert raised in 2001, in a Ball State University article.

I was shocked once when helping to clean a meditation room in an urban Buddhist center, to discover that the walls were coated with a brown film The paintwork looked fine until you wiped it with a cloth, at which time you discovered that the walls were several shades darker than they’d originally been, just a few years before. If you’re going to use incense daily I’d suggest avoiding the Tibetan or Indian stuff and go for good quality Japanese incense. You can even buy “low smoke” versions of the Morning Star brand.

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