Maybe that's why Gopal had a natural urge to play music as a child. As a small boy, his greatest wish was that his hands would grow bigger quickly, so that he could learn to play the guitar!

Sensing this longing to play music, his father gave him a small ukulele. After that, he and his father played music together whenever they could, right up to the time of his father's death. As if completing a circle, Gopal played his father's favorite classical guitar pieces as his father passed away.

This heart-to-heart musical connection with his father had a great influence on Gopal's life and became a foundation for his creative musical expression.

Drawn to the East
Gopal was born in Canada and received his university education there. He was about to enter a postgraduate program and take a teaching post offered by the university, when he felt a mysterious calling to go to India. He had heard about a meditation master there and felt a longing to explore an unknown path.

One morning, as he awoke, Gopal knew in his heart that he was going to India - something from his own depth was calling him.

"Venu Gopal" is the Indian name he received after meeting Osho, his meditation master. This new name marked the beginning of an inner journey. Living in Osho's community with other meditators, Gopal moved deeper into meditation and music, discovering how they meet and merge together.

Meeting the Dilruba
In India, Gopal discovered and explored many unusual musical instruments and sounds. He was especially attracted to a string instrument called the "dilruba" (pronounced "dill-rooba").

The name of the instrument, its shape and sound are all reflected in the beautiful meaning of the word dilruba. It means "beloved of the heart", "voice of the heart" or "thief of the heart". It has many resonating strings that vibrate in synchronicity with bowed strings, giving a rich, reverberating and sweet sound.

Gopal fell in love with the dilruba from the first moment he heard it. It was truly the thief of his heart.

Finding a Music Teacher
Several Indian musicians told Gopal that the dilruba was "out of fashion" and was just a museum piece, rarely played anymore. Nevertheless he acquired his first dilruba and began searching for a teacher who could guide him.

He met a retired musician, but the man was reluctant to do any more teaching and, as a further obstacle, knew very little English. But Gopal had set his heart on playing the dilruba and kept knocking on the teacher's door. Finally, the man agreed to teach Gopal some basic steps and they developed a special, heart-to-heart relationship, with few words but full of music.

Gopal has fond memories of that time: listening to the old teacher play would sometimes bring tears to his eyes. This meeting of music and the heart enriched his life and took him deeper and deeper into the mysterious world of the dilruba.

Developing His Own Style
Gopal often played the dilruba outdoors, during warm Indian evenings. Friends and strangers, just passing by, would spontaneously stop, sit and listen, as if captured by a few simple notes. He began to understand the sweet and gentle power of this instrument and it became a way of meeting friends, communicating in a deeper way than words can ever express.

Gopal plays the instrument differently than in the traditional way. He discovered that the dilruba has a wide range of "colors", from deep rich tones to high sweet sounds, from playfulness to heartfelt emotions. For some, its tender yet powerful sounds seem to come from an ancient time, evoking a feeling of "coming back home."

Meditation with the Dilruba
Through meditation, Gopal came to understand that the silent gaps between musical notes are significant: they can be a doorway to go beyond the busy mind. Music that gives space for silence can allow the listener to enter an inner, soundless place of peacefulness. This quality of music is expressed in his album "Depth of My Heart: Solo Dilruba".

Besides its meditative quality, the dilruba also has a heartful sound that goes well with other instruments, creating a rich tapestry of sounds that touches the heart and relaxes the body-mind. This can be heard in "Mystic Journey," an album that features the dilruba combined with other instruments.

Gopal's music is especially suited for soft movement, yoga, massage, healing, meditation, trance, relaxation and also for listening while falling asleep. His music has a natural inward quality, taking the listener from sounds to the soundless, from the busy market place to an inner silence that rests within everyone.

Teaching and Courses
Gopal has combined eastern meditation with his western education in counseling, psychology and hypnosis. He offers worldwide courses in meditation, counseling, self-hypnosis and stress reduction.

While teaching, Gopal creates a relaxing and playful atmosphere, through which people can go deeper within themselves. Child-like qualities such as innocence and essence are easily reawakened.

Besides teaching, Gopal occasionally gives dilruba lessons and enjoys helping friends to find their own instrument - an old, beautiful and beloved dilruba.

The Tale of a Seeker
The following story is about a young man's search. It is also Gopal's story.

A young man grew up in a western middle-class family with loving parents and siblings. Growing up, he became a teacher and was about to begin studying for a doctorate degree. He had everything a person of his age might want: a loving family, a bright future... life was generous to him.

The young man felt a joy of living, a sense of fullness in life, yet at the same time he was also wondering, "What is this life really about? Is there anything more to it?" With the awakening of this divine discontent, he felt pulled to go on a journey to India to meet a mystic, a meditation master, Osho. The journey changed his life forever. It opened many new doors for him. He loved India, the vibration of it... it was a feeling of divine synchronicity, of being in the right place at the right time.

The young man felt showered by the love and wisdom of his master, and realized that an inward journey had begun. His question, that there must be more to life, had been answered with a resounding "Yes!" He was relieved to know he was moving in the right direction, even if the destination was unknown. The master helped the young man go deeper and deeper into meditation. Even the master's death showed him that something within each human being is deathless; that life is a mysterious journey of awakening, and that love is beyond time and space.

One evening, the young man was sitting near a small river in India as the sun was setting. It was then that his heart heard the beautiful sound of music, coming from someone playing an unknown Indian musical instrument. He felt pulled to follow those sounds and sat nearby, as if in a trance. Those magical sounds would always be remembered, as they touched his inner spirit in the same way that his meditation master had touched his heart. From that moment, the dilruba became a meditation for him: learning, playing, listening, becoming one with it. It was a medium of expression that conveyed something beyond words: now he understood that music and meditation can dance hand in hand.

After many years, this man continues to teach and play music, with joy and silence. Life flows on... and the mystic journey continues... with love and gratefulness.

For more information please email:
contactgopalmusic@gmail.com

Depth of my Heart

Mystic Journey - ancient sounds of the Dilruba