Music as a Healing Meditation

Here’s what the Romanian composer Violeta Dinescu says about music as a meditation:

“I was fortunate to have an exceptional piano teacher who drew my attention to the secret of piano sound: depending on how you strike the key, you can shape the sound by controlling the richness of the overtones produced by the hammers striking the strings. The perception of this process takes place in intricate ways, which is why this path must be carefully prepared step by step.

When I think back on how I followed these instructions and worked on this aspect for hours, I can say that it was actually a healing form of meditation.

Perhaps this also explains why I have never been interested in special meditative techniques from non-European traditions. These are fascinating in their complexity, but we who can immerse ourselves in sounds do not need to adopt other techniques.”

THE PRACTICE

If you have a piano, simply strike a key and follow the sound as it disappears.

In Zen, they strike a gong or Tibetan singing bowl and listen as the sound fades out until it finally becomes inaudible.

If you don‘t have a piano, gong or singing bowl, you can use a wineglass or even a normal glass. Some of the pots in my kitchen make a lovely ringing sound.

Listen as the sound dies away.
It brings you to stillness.

When thoughts arise, strike your gong again and follow the sound into nothing.

In Zen, someone will strike the gong now and then which will suddenly bring you back to the present in case you got lost in thoughts. This is much more pleasant than the Zen stick, when the Master goes around hitting you to bring you back to awareness! (Okay, some Zen Masters probably only gently touch your shoulder with the stick.) In any case, it brings you back to the NOW!