The Way of the Gong™

Ritual 1  ri tual adjective   rit·u·al   \ˈri-chə-wəl, -chəl; ˈrich-wəl\ Simple Definition of  ritual :  done as part of a ceremony or ritual :  always done in a particular situation and in the same way each time We often look at ritual as something we do over and over that takes discipline. But that assigns a negative connotation to it, because we often see discipline as something negative, like it's a punishment.  It takes discipline to get up in the morning when we want to stay in bed.  It takes discipline to not eat the bag of cookies. It takes discipline to do our practice. But ritual is far from being something negative. In fact, it is something that can lead us to liberation . Think of that. Who wouldn't want to feel liberated? “If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro' na...

Everything in the Universe is broken in some way.  Nothing is perfect.  But in being broken everything is perfect. This state of broken perfection is a state of both change and growth. It it through the cracks in our lives, the very cracks we try to hide and avoid, that the light comes into our lives. And not just light, but sound, as they are both vibrational forms of the same Universe.  Kintsugi - the Japanese art of fixing broken pottery  with gold and lacquer to transform it into a new art object. As you do your practice, as you meditate, do not shut yourself off. Do not close yourself up. Be open. Let the cracks appear, as they are not the wounds you think they are, but are:  Doors to expansion. Doors to opportunity. Doors to the real you. How often when you were hurt or lost have you reached for the sound? Turned on the radio. Hummed or sung to yourself. Played your instruments. And how did that make you feel? Don't wait for those...