Gong

The Instrument of Healing

What is Gong?

The gong holds a sacred place in the study of kundalini yoga. When you first come to this experience, you will find that the instrument is used toward the end of sessions to mark the completion of meditation. However, the gong is more than a musical implement. Its power and the benefits that it may yield are great. As an ancient object, little is known about the first gong. However, it has always been an instrument associated with spirituality. 

“This is the first and last instrument for the human mind; the human mind has no power before it. This is the only thing that supersedes the human mind, because this is the basic creative sound. Mind was created out of it; it’s like the father and mother together.” 

Yogi Bhajan

History of the Gong

Learning about the gong — and the numerous benefits that it can bring — is one of the first steps in your kundalini yoga journey. On occasion referred to as the ‘instrument of healing’, the gong can be used in a variety of purposes. Whether it’s healing the mind, restoring the glandular and nervous system, or cleansing the body’s electromagnetic field, there’s no end to its power.

The gong has a rich and long history. Experts believe that the first incarnation of this instrument was made before the second millennium B.C. It is believed to be the oldest traditional musical instrument hailing from South Eastern Asia. However, within official documents, the first mention of this instrument wasn’t officially noted until Chinese history until about 500 A.D. Within Asian culture, the instrument has always been associated with fortune, success, and high societal status.

Over the years, the gong has been the heart of many movements and spiritual practices. The healing sound of the gong, which you will hear at the end of some of your kundalini yoga sessions, has the ability to transform your mind and take you to a place of clarity and calm. Through his teachings, Yogi Bhajan explained that the gong has significance to students of the kundalini yoga learnings. He referred to the sound that the gong made as the ‘basic creative sound’, which each of us can use to open our minds to new experiences.

What is the Gong used for?

The gong creates a powerful harmonic sound, based on the pressures of sound waves. When played correctly, these waves can have an impact on our brain waves and energies. The minute vibrations pass through the meridians of the body and help to balance them. This transformation can affect people on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level. 

For that reason, the sacred instrument is used in a variety of therapies and helps to heal many ailments. It can provide stress-relief, ease the side effects of depression, enhance a person’s energy levels, and rid them of fear, anger, and loneliness. Put simply, the sound of the instrument changes a person’s mindset and brings a level of harmony back to them.

How is the Gong used in Kundalini yoga?

Within the teachings of kundalini yoga, we learn that the physical gong is a representation of the subtle world. The instrument is divided into three different realms, each of which produces its own unique sound. The center of the gong represents the sun; the outer region represents the concrete manifestation of nature; while the other region is where the mind creates. The sublime instrument is one that should not be overlooked as a yogi. 

The gong is a central part of the Kundalini yoga experience. The sound of the gong is oftentimes used during the deep relaxation phase of a session; after the kriya but before meditation. However, at times the teacher may make an exception when there is a specification from the teachings of Yogi Bhajan to do so.

The sacred gong may also play a role in meditation and mantra activities within kundalini yoga. As you move through your experience, you will encounter various times when the gong is used as a part of exercises. The strong sound wave that is produced by the gong vibrates through the physical body and also has a significant impact on the mind and spirit.

“You have no resistance against this sound. It is the master sound, the adi naad. Everything you think becomes zero — the gong prevails.” 

Yogi Bhajan

Gong Practice

The Benefits

The gong affects the mind and body in a deep and significant way. As a kundalini yoga student, you will begin to learn of its power early on. While there are numerous benefits of the gong, the most important ones of which you should know are: deep relaxation, stimulation of the glandular system, nervous system regeneration, and a deep emotional transformation. 

The sound of the gong offers a moment of freedom and clarity; releasing the mind from the torrent of thoughts. The deep noise that the instrument makes allows a revitalizing benefit that pertains to the brain. It acts as a reset button, allowing us to take a moment to readjust our thought patterns and begin once more. 

The gong also affects the body and the way that it works. Both the nervous system and the glandular system in a positive manner. The sound stimulates these systems and enhances the level of functioning. Throughout the sessions, the gong has an effect on the workings of the body and encourages better overall systems.

Opening the chakras and revitalising your energy pathways is another way in which the gong is important. Through kundalini yoga sessions, you may find that the gong is used for this sole purpose. When you hear the sacred sound of the gong, it opens and helps to balance your chakras. Learning the power of the different sounds helps with this journey. 

Regardless of the pain you feel  — mental or physical — the sound of the gong could be one way to gain relief. Experts believe that the sounds can be utilized to rid people of minor pains, such as headaches and stomach pain, as well as more ongoing problems. Students attending continuous gong sessions or even gong baths could experience these benefits. 

The deep sound of the gong can also transform a person’s feelings. These emotions may be blocked by a continuous thought that is causing a person stress and negativity. Through the sessions, people may find that they cry unexpectedly or even laugh without cause. These side effects are signs that they have undergone an emotional transformation.