The Way of the Gong™

Sound . Those of us who work with it know it's power, some of us very intimately. Those just starting out along the path may not yet realize the power and it's complexity. Sound is nothing to trifle with, nothing to just play around with, especially when it comes to playing Gongs/Bowls/Bells for others. Besides the great aspects of meditation and healing we can bring forth with sound, we can also cause confusion and disorientation with it too. Again, this is why I am so opposed to people who take a weekend course, get a pretty certificate, then proceed to claim themselves some sort of master and offer their services far and wide. Sound and all its aspects is a lifelong journey . And it's tricky. Just when you think you've got a hold of it, it presents something new and different to you, as if to say, “There's much more to me than you think!” Alan Watts Sound is the primordial force, the first mover. In his book, Buddhism The Religion Of No-Religion , the ...

If like me, and you travel and set up/tear down your gear often, then it's important to check it over and make sure things are fine. Last time I talked about mallets and Gong cords. This time we'll look at everything else. Your Instruments It's important to regularly check your instruments for damage. Gongs, bells, bowls can all be nicked or dented while traveling. Sometimes these things can lead to further problems like cracks, or they can seriously change the sound. So it's important to regularly inspect your instruments. Small nicks or burrs can often be smoothed out with a fine emery cloth or steel wool. Larger ones may need to be carefully filed. Dents, depending if they affect the sound or playability, can often be hammered out. If you find something and are not sure of fixing it yourself, seek out someone qualified to take a look at it. As I have said many times before, if you travel with your instruments, you need to have quality cases or bags to protect the...