The sound of the gong by Shubha Ramaswamy

 

Whenever the sound of the gong crosses my thoughts, I'm reminded of the gentle ring of bells. Whether it's the soft notes during a  pooja at home or the resonant sound of a priest's bell in the nearby Hindu temple in my home town, the simple melody never fails to evoke a sense of spirituality and calm within me.

Whether brief or lingering, soft or cascading, the sound of bells grounds me, prompting a reflective pause and a deep appreciation for those sacred moments amongst a busy day. The vibrations touch somewhere deep inside my soul and makes me  bow down to the supreme power almost involuntarily.

Church bells became part of my life earlier on since I attended all girls Christian school. Regular visits to the church on campus, particularly before exams, ingrained the deep resonance of its bells in my memory. Their majestic presence, with each profound toll, seemed to reach into the depths of my soul. This powerful sound became a consistent echo in my mind, that I carried with me through countless visits to cathedrals during our vacations. 

In addition to the literal sound of the gong, there are pivotal moments in my life that resonate with a metaphorical 'tan Tana tan' in my heart – a symphony of gratitude, love, joy, and reverence. These moments, like the striking of a gong, echo through the chambers of my being with each beat creating a monumental event.

Few moments that are worth sharing in the large tapestry of life.. riding my two wheeler in the pouring rain but ecstatic about landing my first job -TanTana tan.

The day of our wedding, with about 1000 plus people in attendance with “nadaswara” playing in the background and followed by landing in the US on the auspicious day of Halloween..   tan Tana tan

As the years rolled, I was blessed to witness many more “gong worthy” moments, like buying our first home and giving birth to my 2 precious babies.

But there are these subtle moments that I tuck away safely in my memory drawer like my favorite box of sweets so I can slowly savor one piece at a time. 

Every time (well mostly) my husband enters the house in the evening, times that we cook together sharing mundane things happened over the course of the day, the time he quietly holds my tiny hands watching a show at the end of the day, the time he texts me to check if I slept well..  tan Tana tan

When I am in the audience cheering “Go Samarth” as I watch him dance on the stage, giving every ounce of his energy for a perfectly choreographed solo, my heart swells up so much that I fear it may burst open, my hands get red by clapping nonstop and a teeny tiny drop of tear forms at the corner of my eyes as he exits the stage gracefully. I say to myself that’s my BOY!  tan Tana tan.

  

When my college-going daughter, Swara, unexpectedly calls or texts 'Love you Amma,' that tan Tana tan resounds. Seeing her become a self assured, well adapted and bright young lady at a vibrant college campus hundreds of miles away from home is a constant hum of my beautiful gong.  

Whether it’s family dinners around my kitchen table, or board games or a family trip, each time four of us are together the sound of gong never stops .. tan Tana tan

As I sit to meditate for reverberating sound of soothing music, I am grateful to see my life getting richer with diverse group of friends and the wisdom they generously share. Each cherished friend contributes to this harmonious symphony embodying the spirit of kaizen, inspiring me to strive for a better version of myself, fostering continual growth and self-improvement. 

I hope life will keep giving me ample opportunities to invite the sound of gong to keep ringing at its loudest and may I recognize even the faintest notes, fanning them to grow louder.