GONG AS AN EXPRESSION OF SERVANT LEADERS...

"The master of gong playing is one who can fully understand the gong and takes on its potential for the benefit of others. Every sacred tone presentation is a concert/event for humanity by artists for humanity. There is a given understanding that each artist/instrument is a vessel for a higher creative consciousness which works through one’s personal intuitiveness, inspiration and spontaneity. Every presentation is dedicated to a compassionate world without violence or abuse for all the children of today and tomorrow AND a healthy planet. “

- Don Conreaux, Grand Gong Master

- September 18, 2010 - The Renaissance barn, Little Compton, RI

TRANSCRIPT OF GONG MASTER DON CONREAUX’S INTERVIEW AT HUB HEALING ARTS CENTER IN Los Angeles 2013 with Aaron Goldberg.

GONGMASTER Don Conreaux - WISDOM OF SOUND HEALING AND GONG. IN THE U.S. AND CALIFORNIA -60 YEARS OF GONGS - FROM THE 1960’S UNTIL TODAY. A PIONEER IN BRINGING THE POPULARITY AND PLAYING OF GONG AS A SOUND HEALING SERVICE OF HUMANITY.

I took on this job of the gong. This was an area where I could be of great service. The Gong is the Sat Guru of musical Instruments. You don’t need a music education to play the gongs. Just some simple rules and then the gong begins to play you. The Gong is the perfect instrument for the layman in order to share with family, friends, and to become part of their life. This is the most amazing part of it.

Unlike piano or guitar, the gong can be played immediately. You don’t need to know scale.

The title of Gongmaster is very interesting, isn’t it? We have Reiki masters, Postmasters, Choir masters, why not Gong Masters? 

I got the idea many years ago. As YB said, When you are playing the gong, you are the master. There is no one else. You are by yourself with the gong. Your identity, personality, ego, the “I” “ME” “MY”, all of sudden is washed away the first time you hit the gong - within a minute and a half. You have no ego left! It seems The Gong is playing you! Which is why we call it the Sat or Sahaj Guru.

The truth force flows through it, into the player and the listeners.

You can actually use an instrument which supports other people’s self healing, and in turn you receive the same healing at the same time! ....a double blessing.

In regards to one of my teachers, YB.

Anyone who met YB - it changed their life, because he was like a big gong. When he spoke, it was a gong. He didn’t pull any punches when he taught his kundalini yoga. 

I had studied with Yogananda (in the year he passed away) I became a disciple (1952). When I met Yogi Bhajan in 1969/70 That was for me a wake up call. 

My budding acting/directing career in Hollywood suddenly went on hold when I became one of YB original 5 students/teachers.

In regard to the present world stage we strut and fret upon...

I think we are on the verge of developing an all out friendship on the earth.

The Friendship Earth” - will be the ship we are all sailing on together, like Noah’s ark. We are all friends. 

The trick is: how to be a friend to everyone, so that everyone will be your friend. If we can suss this answer out, it doesn’t make any difference about religion or nationality. Friends become friends forever or they really weren’t true friends at all..

What role does sound healing have in creating this Gaia Garden of the new earth?

It is Sound healing or Healing through Living Tone that will be the main healing for our planet.

Everything is sound. So healing will be sound. The holistic resonance is the magical part of it, the magic of tone.

How holistic resonance affects the skin, the organs, the cells of the body. And all the levels of us - mental, emotional, physical. Our higher visions, our ecstasy and happiness. The gong is able to affect everything.

It feels like deep sea, deep space, “the octopus’ garden” referred to in the Ringo Starr Beatles song.

Playing the Gong is the most fun of all. Because you can’t repeat yourself at all, it’s like a disco dance or improvisation. There is no redundancy. Even though it puts out a fundamental frequency with all these overtones in it. It’s just lovely!

-Interview transcription, 2013 The HUB GMT Weekend workshop with Gongmaster Don Conreaux and Aaron Goldberg