Vajrayana Buddhism: The Blissful Drum

In the seventh century, a major movement within Mahayana Buddhism arose. This form of Buddhism, called the Vajrayana, is most prominent in Tibet and its surrounding regions, although variations of it are found in China and Japan. The term vajra (Sanskrit: "thunderbolt vehicle," or "diamond vehicle") is used to signify the absolutely real and indestructible in a human being, as opposed to the fictions an individual entertains about himself and his nature; yana is the spiritual pursuit of the ultimately valuable and indestructible. The Vajrayana understands itself to be an esoteric form of Mahayana Buddhism with an accelerated path to enlightenment. According to the Vajrayana view, enlightenment arises from the realization that seemingly opposite principles are in truth one.

Vajrayana Buddhism includes practices that make use of mantras, mudras, mandalas and the visualization of deities and Buddhas. All ritual in Vajrayana practice can be seen as aiding in this process of visualization and identification. The practitioner can use various hand implements such as the bell, vajra (dorje), and drum (damaru), each with an elaborate symbolic meaning to create a special environment for practice. At its simplest, or most profound distillation, the bell can be said to represent "the wisdom of emptiness," the vajra embodies "compassion," while the drum -- such as damaru or Chod drums -- express "bliss." Ultimately, together they express "the compassionate wisdom of blissful emptiness."

Chod Drum: The Voice of Emptiness

Chöd is a Vajrayana practice that combines Buddhist meditation with ancient Tibetan Shamanic ritual. Chod combines the path of Enlightenment and Shamanism into one. In Chod practice, the practitioner journeys into the night world -- the dangerous regions of ghosts, spirits and the damned, to bless all souls lost for a time on the wheel of existence. The selflessness of the practitioner's compassion, his or her contact with spirits of the otherworld, and the making of himself into a vehicle of healing, provide a quick method to realize emptiness and achieve perfect enlightenment. Emptiness is the true nature of reality and the goal of all meditative practice.

The iconic symbol of Chod is the Chod drum. The Chod drum's sound, often with small bells attached to the drum, are said to be the "voice of the Dakinis (tantric deities)" and carry blessings, but also help propel the intense meditation visualization of Chod practice. The sound of the drum also reaches beyond the mundane, calling out to (or blessing) all sentient beings of all realms. When you play a drum, the sound can be heard by the spirits throughout all realms of existence. Sound is regarded as one of the most effective ways of establishing connections with other realms, since it travels through space, permeates visual and physical barriers, and conveys information from the unseen world. Sound, therefore, is a means of "relationship" as well as a "transformation" of energy.

Due to it's complexity, Chod practice generally requires a teacher and instruction to perform. Playing the drum, in any of its forms, does not, and is of immense help to meditators around the world. Using the drum for mindfulness practice does not require a teacher or extensive learning, and in fact could be considered easier to practice than meditation on the breath. Mindful drumming could not be simpler: take a good seat, focus on the beat, and when your attention wanders, return. Even one session of mindful drumming demonstrates how powerful this meditation method can be in our stressful modern lives. The powerful and compelling rhythm of the drum can still and focus the mind -- the fast path to mindfulness and well-being.

Five Quality Drum Makers You Should Know

Selecting a good drum for shamanic practice can sometimes be an overwhelming decision. There is a myriad of styles and drum types to choose from. One of the most useful drums for shamanic work is the hand or frame drum. The frame drum originated in Siberia, together with shamanism itself. It has been associated worldwide with the practice of shamanism. The frame drum's resonance and versatility make it my drum of preference. Such drums are portable, affordable, and easy to play. They can easily be held in one hand, leaving the other hand free to stroke the drum. They are made by stretching a wet rawhide over a wooden frame, then allowing it to dry slowly. The frame or hoop is typically three inches or less in width and may vary from eight to twenty-four inches in diameter. They may be single-headed or double-headed. Like all rawhide drums, they do not have a fixed pitch. Heating and cooling the drumhead raises and lowers the tone. If you are shopping for a drum, here are five quality drum makers you should know:

 1. Cedar Mountain Drums: Patrick Pinson started Cedar Mountain Drums in Portland, Oregon in 1988. Patrick makes quality shamanic and Native American style hoop drums, rattles, talking sticks, smudge fans and other tools for ceremony and healing. He also has drum making kits and supplies and can guide you in crafting a drum of your own. I have done business with Patrick for 25 years and his customer service is outstanding.

2. Gaia's Workshop Drums: Run by partners Michelle Meister and Luke Martinez out of Portland, Oregon. Together, they make instruments that have balance, harmonics and tone, that are more comfortable to hold and to play, and that are in integrity with the animals and plants who have given their lives so that these drums may live. Michelle has been a drum maker for many years, working with Patrick Pinson at Cedar Mountain Drums off and on for almost 20 years.

3. Tachini Drums: Located in Arlee, Montana, Tachini Drums offers a large selection of authentic handcrafted Native American drums for sale. All of their Native American drums are handcrafted by Tachini Pete, a master Salish/Navajo drum maker using centuries old traditional methods passed down from the ancestors. They also offer drum accessories and drum making supplies. Tachini is also program director of the Potlatch Fund, a Native-led nonprofit that provides grants and leadership development in Tribal communities throughout Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana.

4. Tribal Spirit Music: Tribal Spirit is Joywind and Robert Todd, native artists of Secwepemc, Simpcw First Nations, British Columbia and Mohawk/Scottish descent. They live in the Laurentian Mountains north of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. For more than a decade, they have applied their skills and dedication to building native spiritual tools, and sharing on the powwow trail. They create traditional Native American powwow drums, hand drums, powwow drumsticks, drum bags and leather handbags. Their powwow drums are used by award-winning native groups and by leaders at major native ceremonies throughout North America.

5. ARAW Shamanic Drums: Whether you're a musician looking for the perfect instrument to inspire your creativity, or a practitioner seeking authentic shamanic tools to enhance your practice, ARAW has something for you. At ARAW, they believe in fostering a culture of respect and appreciation for the diverse traditions and practices that have shaped our world. They are committed to working with indigenous communities and supporting fair trade practices to ensure that their products are made and sourced with the utmost care and attention to detail.

Battling the Black Snake

The coming of the Dakota Access and Keystone XL pipelines have fulfilled the Lakota prophecy of a terrible black snake meant to bring harm to the people of Turtle Island. Native organizers stand on the front lines every day to protect the sacred systems of Unci Maka, our Grandmother Earth. Mni Wiconi -- water is life!

Your voice is needed. For though the resistance at Standing Rock has been forcibly paused and oil now flows through the Dakota Access pipeline, the struggle to protect the health and safety of the tribe and people downstream isn't over. Quickly and quietly, Energy Transfer Partners is planning to more than double the amount of oil DAPL carries, to more than a million barrels a day. And they're doing this -- once more -- without the consent of the people.
 

Big Oil assures us that increasing oil flow through pipelines isn't dangerous, but U.S. regulators say their information doesn't back that claim. And tar sands crude -- the type of oil DAPL carries -- is a special threat: corrosive to infrastructure, it caused a million-gallon spill into the Kalamazoo River in Michigan not long ago. The United States suffers hundreds of liquid pipeline incidents every year. Why should we trust Big Oil's word?
 

Between now and the deadline for input on Aug. 9, we will do everything we can to ensure a public hearing -- the first step in stopping DAPL from becoming twice as dangerous. The Black Snake's presence must not be allowed to fester and grow without pushback from every corner of Turtle Island. Will you stand with us once again to ensure the safety of our people and our sacred land and water? You can use our form to send an email telling North Dakota’s Public Service Commission that the people must be heard!

Wopila Tanka -- Thank you for making a difference! Mni Wiconi.

Chase Iron Eyes
Lead Counsel
The Lakota People's Law Project

Oregon's Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy Initiative

Activists in Oregon are pushing for decriminalizing psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound produced by more than 200 species of mushrooms. Oregon is considering a measure in 2020 to allow access to "guided psilocybin services," while lowering penalties for possession. A growing body of evidence demonstrates that psilocybin-assisted therapy is a safe and uniquely effective treatment for depression and anxiety, PTSD, and addiction to drugs, alcohol, and nicotine. Additionally, the measure would create access to services for those interested in personal development and open doors for new research. Investigating alternative treatments for mental illnesses is vital, as currently, many people are suffering and they have no hope of relief using available drugs and therapies.

According to PSI Chief Petitioners Tom and Sheri Eckert, "The intent of the 2020 Psilocybin Service Initiative of Oregon is to advance a breakthrough therapeutic model currently being perfected in research settings at top universities around the world. The service model involves a sequence of facilitated sessions, including assessment and preparation, psilocybin administration, and integration afterwards. We envision a community-based framework, where licensed providers, along with licensed producers of psilocybin mushrooms, blaze trails in Oregon in accordance with evolving practice standards."

At a meeting hosted by the Oregon Psilocybin Society ("OPS"), Tom Eckert (co-founder of the OPS) explained that the measure is focused on bringing psilocybin services to Oregon. The proposed psilocybin services would require a participant to engage in three therapeutic phases: Screening; Guided Mushroom Consumption; and Integration. Eckert emphasized that a person could benefit from psilocybin therapy "immediately" and completely upon consuming mushrooms, which Eckert described as a "one shot deal." Eckert contrasted the proposed one-time psilocybin therapy with conventional pharmaceutical approaches, which often require a patient to adopt a long term pill popping routine. To learn more, visit the Oregon Psilocybin Society's "Psilocybin Services Initiative" website by clicking this link.

5 Proven Benefits of Sound Therapy

Calming and soothing music can transform our mood and help us feel relaxed. Similarly, a hard rock song or a driving dance beat can get us pumped up and make us feel like we're on top of the world. While there are many claims about what sound healing can or cannot do, there are certain benefits that are proven by scientific studies. Here are 5 proven health benefits of sound therapy backed up by science:


 1. Reduces Anxiety

The most common mental health problem in the world is anxiety, and women are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety disorders as men. A 2016 University of California study entitled "Effects of Singing Bowl Sound Meditation on Mood, Tension, and Well-being: An Observational Study" found that "sound meditation participants reported significantly less tension, anger, fatigue, and depressed mood," adding that "Tibetan singing bowl meditation may be a feasible low-cost low technology intervention for reducing feelings of tension, anxiety, and depression, and increasing spiritual well-being."

2. Alleviates Depression

By helping people express their emotions, music therapy appears to be an effective treatment for depression. Twice a week, with the help of trained music therapists, the participants in a 2011 research study (published in The British Journal of Psychiatry) learned how to improvise music using a mallet instrument, a percussion instrument or an acoustic, West African djembe drum. Study results demonstrated that participants receiving active music therapy in addition to standard care had a significantly greater improvement in their symptoms than those receiving standard care alone after three months of treatment. According to a study by McGill University in Canada, music can increase the production of dopamine. Dopamine is responsible for elevating our mood and is often referred to as one of the happiness hormones, meaning it can be used to help alleviate depression.

3. Helps Patients Suffering from PTSD

Music therapy is often prescribed as a self-management technique for PTSD sufferers. A study took place from 2010 to 2011, and enrolled 40 veterans with significant PTSD symptoms, half of whom were returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. The six-week intervention, which was conducted with assistance from the Guitars for Vets chapter at the Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, WI, consisted of veterans receiving an hour of individual guitar training each week and a weekly group instruction session. Veterans also received a guitar, along with sheet music and other supplies that they were allowed to keep after the study concluded. In the study, it was found that music therapy did in fact positively benefit in terms of relieving symptoms of PTSD. In addition, findings suggest that the music therapy was effective in reducing depression symptoms and improving health-related quality of life.

4. Lowers Blood Pressure

Among the many benefits, it's found that relaxing music and sound therapy can help lower blood pressure. Lowered blood pressure reduces cardiac risks and keeps other health problems at bay. This was also observed in the 2016 singing bowl study conducted by the University of California. This study conclusively proved that sound therapy can reduce anxiety, depression, fatigue, and overall stress levels. Stress, according to current medical research, contributes to nearly all disease and is a primary cause of such life-threatening illnesses as heart attacks, strokes, and immune system breakdowns.

5. Promotes Deeper Sleep

If you struggle to get out of bed in the morning, you're not alone and lack of sleep has got to be one of the worst feelings ever. There have been several studies that prove sound can help patients achieve a deeper sleep. White noise, in particular, can greatly improve the quality of sleep in people suffering from sleep disorders. White noise is a special type of sound signal with a full spectrum of frequencies which is used to mask background sounds. When used to promote healthy sleep, white noise helps to drown out sounds which might otherwise prevent you from either falling asleep or waking up. The benefits of sound therapy for sleep deprived patients are so widely accepted that doctors prescribe white noise machines and even hospitals use them.