“A singing bowl invites you in. A gong carries you beyond the thinking mind.”
The gong is the most powerful instrument in sound work: a single strike can fill a room for a full minute. Gong Mastery takes you from “how do I strike it?” to “how do I facilitate with what the gong is offering?” No prior gong experience needed.
IKnow
IIPlay
IIIHold space
What is a gong
A disc of bronze that holds a universe
A gong is a hand-hammered metal disc, suspended so it can vibrate freely. Gongs have called people to ceremony across Asia for more than two thousand years. Today, finely tuned gongs are used for deep relaxation, meditation and sound journeys.
2,000+years of history
Onestrike, a minute of sound
12–15gongs in the training
01 · PlanetaryPlanetary gongs
Each one is tuned to a frequency calculated from the orbit of a planet, the Sun or the Moon (Hans Cousto’s “cosmic octave”). Precise, focused, each with its own character.
Saturn: deep, grounding
02 · SymphonicSymphonic gongs
Large and flat, with an enormous range from a soft hum to a roar. The classic “gong bath” gong that fills a room.
Wide, oceanic, enveloping
03 · WindWind gongs
Thinner, brighter and fast to speak, with a shimmering, airy wash of high overtones.
Bright, sparkling, alive
04 · HandheldHandheld & small gongs
Gongs you can carry around a person or a room, for close, precise work and one-to-one sessions.
Intimate, directional
How a gong works
Strike once. Listen for a minute.
Most instruments give you a note that fades. A gong does the opposite: after the strike, its sound grows. Tap the gong (sound on) and watch the five movements of a single stroke.
SoundBodySilencePresence
0 s · StrikeThe mallet meets bronzeA soft, low fundamental. The disc begins to move as a whole.
2 s · BloomThe sound growsEnergy spreads across the surface and higher overtones flower one after another. The gong gets louder after you stop playing it.
6 s · WashA field, not a melodyHundreds of overtones sound at once, too many for the ear to follow. There is no tune to hold onto, so the thinking mind starts to let go.
12 s · StillnessThe body listensLow vibrations travel through the floor and the body. Breath slows; many people describe deep rest, vivid imagery or a sense of space.
18 s · SilenceThe most important soundAs the gong fades, the silence after it is full. Knowing how long to let it last is the art of the gong player.
Why it is so powerful
Felt in the body, beyond the mind
That power is why the gong deserves skill and care. In four days you learn to play it with sensitivity, so that its intensity always serves the person on the mat.
∞
OvertonesHundreds of frequencies at once, a full spectrum rather than a single note.
~
Felt, not just heardLow vibration reaches you through the air, the floor and the body.
0
No melodyNothing to follow or predict, so attention can rest and the mind quietens.
↕
Whisper to roarThe widest dynamic range of any sound-work instrument, in the player’s hands.
A group gong session during Gong Mastery, June 2026.
The four days
From first strike to full journey
Every day follows the SAMA arc: receive the gong yourself, understand it, practise it, then offer it to others with feedback from Dhyan Shanto.
14Mon
Day one
Meet the gong family
Receive a full gong bath
Planetary, symphonic, wind and handheld gongs
How a gong is made, tuned and cared for
The physics of overtones and bloom
15Tue
Day two
Mallet craft
Matching mallet weight and material to gong and tone
Striking points, muting, damping
Building and releasing a wash of sound
Playing two and three gongs together
16Wed
Day three
The gong journey
Structuring a gong meditation: arrival, build, peak, landing
Silence as composition
Gong with singing bowls and other instruments
Leading group sessions, with feedback
17Thu
Day four
Hold the space
One-to-one gong work: when to continue, pause or change direction
The same gong can soothe or overwhelm. What makes the difference is the facilitator: their listening, their timing and their restraint.
Listening before interpretation Observe first
Presence over performance Not a show
Less is often more Know when to stop
Awareness of boundaries Know your scope
Trauma-aware, not trauma-treating. The training is grounded in safety, appropriate intensity, consent, and scope and limitations. Sound supports, but never replaces, medical or psychological care.
What you take home
A skill that stays with you
SAMA Facilitator Certificate · Gong MasteryOn successful completion of the four days.
12–15 gongs to learn onAll gongs and mallets provided. Nothing to buy beforehand
Session structuresGroup and one-to-one gong journeys you can lead
Lunch & two teasEvery training day
SAMA communityThe lifelong practitioner circle
The June 2026 Gong Mastery batch on certification day.
You have felt a gong bath and want to know how to create one
You already work with singing bowls and want to add the gong
You lead yoga, meditation or wellness groups and want a deeper closing practice
You want to facilitate group and one-to-one gong journeys responsibly
You want to play loud and impressive, not listen
You want a quick certificate without practice
You believe sound alone can cure illness or trauma
A small circle around the gongs
Every participant plays every day. Tell us a little about yourself and we’ll call you back.
No early-bird deadline: the fee rises as seats fill.
All fees + 18% GST. A payment of 25% of the fee confirms your registration and reserves your place. Doing Foundation too? Ask about Foundation + Gong (6 days).
Dhyan Shanto’s work spans sound-based sessions, group experiences, retreats and professional trainings in Pune, Goa and Hyderabad. He leads Gong Mastery personally, with the SAMA gong collection.
“It is not about fixing anything. It is about creating a space where you can drop the noise.”
In their words
Voices from the circle
Four people who trained with Dhyan Shanto in June 2026, in their own words. Tap to watch.
KiritiGong Mastery · June 2026“Powerful. Peaceful. Transformative.”
TulikaCame from Assam to learn the gong“The gong is the most powerful tool.”
NiveditaFaridabad · Gong Mastery, June 2026“I got what I wanted and more than that.”
VinitaPune · Nutritionist“Theory along with hands-on practice. You can start immediately.”
“
I had the privilege of experiencing Dhyan Shanto’s work. The depth, clarity and presence he brings is rare and deeply transformative.
A
Atmo RuchiraParticipant
“
I experienced the beauty and depth of sound. Excited to share this with my clients moving forward.
N
NehaWellness professional
“
The mentorship and support helped me establish my own space in my city.
R
RajeevSAMA practitioner
Glimpses · June 2026
Questions
Before you join
I’ve never played a gong. Is that a problem?
Not at all. Gong Mastery has no prerequisite. Day one starts with receiving a gong bath and getting to know each gong before you pick up a mallet.
Do I need to have done Foundation?
No. Gong Mastery can be taken on its own. If you’d like both, Foundation + Gong Mastery (6 days) is available as a combination.
What are the timings?
10 AM to 7 PM on all four days, Monday 14 to Thursday 17 December.
Do I need my own gong?
No. You learn on 12–15 gongs from the SAMA collection. If you’d like to buy a gong later, we share guidance on choosing one.
Is the gong safe for everyone?
Gong sound is intense, and that is exactly why the training teaches appropriate volume, consent, contraindications and when not to play. Sound supports wellbeing; it does not replace medical or psychological care.
Where do I stay?
The training is non-residential. Rooms are available at Fig House (₹3,000 – ₹6,000 per night), or you can stay anywhere nearby in Siolim.
Is certification provided?
Yes. On successful completion you receive the SAMA Facilitator Certificate in Gong Mastery.
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TRAININGS
Sound and Meditation Academy
