Dear Rabbi,

Shalom. I respectfully seek your guidance regarding the permissibility of using a Tiberian singing bowl in accordance with the principles outlined in the Torah. While I understand its historical use by monks for rituals, contemporary Westerners have adopted it for meditation and music therapy. My intention is to utilize it for meditative purposes to foster a deeper Connection with myself and align my chakras. I would greatly appreciate your insights on the matter, including whether it is deemed permissible and your overall opinion on the subject.

Sincerely, Shalom

Dear Shalom,

     You are asking if it is alright to use the wrong tool to do the wrong thing! You wrote that you want to improve your "connection" with yourself, and align your "chakras"! These are not Jewish objectives. In fact, they are the objectives of the idolatry of the East!

     Briefly, we do not want to improve our connection with ourselves because we are already entirely one with ourselves, never any less, and never any more. There is never disconnection, nor connection with ourselves.

     We do not want to align "chakras" as this is the idolatry that teaches of an enlightening energy moving up our spine. Our objectives, as Jews, are not to focus on an imaginary energy and try to move it up our spine. It is to focus on Hashem, and to do what He wants us to do so He will reveal His Presence to us. This is our work as Jews.

     If indeed you are a Jew, as I assume, then I strongly suggest that you use tefillin as your "meditative" tool and speaking lovingly, softly, to Hashem as your "meditation therapy."

     Hashem bless you to bring you home to His ways.

Gutman