When I was young boy, not even thirteen, the world seemed like a very crazy place as I was trying my best to figure things out. I didn’t understand all that was going on around me. Now, over a half a century later, it seems even crazier than I could have imagined. I think I know less now than I did fifty years ago! There seems to be more greed and selfishness present than ever, and people seem to be less kind and caring towards each other. People seem more self-absorbed, forgetting about helping those in need. What we are doing to ourselves and to each other, we are also doing to our planet. There are those who say that if we don’t begin making important changes, the Earth, as we know it, will become very different, and humankind as a species may simply not survive.

Now, I would not be writing the above paragraph, which is pretty frightening and depressing if I did not think there was a solution. I do. I think this solution is pretty easy. It’s one that most of the great spiritual masters have presented in their teachings for many a millennium. What is it? Some would simply say: “Love and Forgiveness.” Others would use the word “Compassion.” Still others would just tell us: “Be kind to each other!” Regardless of which words you choose, the meaning is basically the same. The idea is called “The Golden Rule” and it tells us to treat others as we treat ourselves. In that understanding is the awareness that we need to treat ourselves nicely too.

I work with using sound and music as a way of healing ourselves and helping us feel good. It’s something I’ve been studying now for over thirty years after having spent many years before that playing music for a living. When I’m able to share with people how they can use sound—particularly their own self-created sounds such as making a vowel sound or a hum—and experiencing powerful effects that make them feel good… well, there’s nothing quite like it.

Among the most important sounds that I’ve been working with are sounds that help induce “Love and Forgiveness,” “Compassion” or “Kindness” to ourselves and others. My reason for this is that being able to work with the energy of love and compassion—kindness and forgiveness—is mandatory for the continued evolution of our species. If we can realize that the person next to us is just like us, we can start being nice to them. Instead of trying to take advantage of them, we can see there’s a way to help or be kind. We can have cooperation instead of competition!

The power of compassion and kindness is one of the great secrets of the universe. When we are nice and kind to other people, we not only feel good ourselves, but we spread good feelings to others. It’s really that simple and it’s pretty fantastic. It’s also true!

One thing I’d like to share is a simple technique that’s guaranteed to help generate love, compassion, kindness, and all those other feelings we’re talking about. This is creating the sound of “AH”, the sound of the Heart Center—the energy center of Love, with our own voice. Think about it, when we really like something what’s the sound we make? It’s the sound of “Ahhhh.”

How can you project compassion using sound? It’s as simple as making the “AH” sound—especially when we’re in a state of relaxation. Just by sitting and breathing deeply and calmly while making the sound of “AH,” we can help generate Love and Compassion. This technique becomes even more powerful when we think of something that we’re appreciative of—a pet or a friend or a parent or even a beautiful sunset—and we’re able to have an attitude of gratitude while making this “AH” sound.

Sound is an extremely powerful tool and by working with the energy of self-created sounds such as the ”AH,” we can help generate the energy of compassion and help transform ourselves and our world. And what a glorious thing that would be.