In the modern world, where mental health issues are a big problem for millions of people around the world, a former monk from Malaysia who studied Buddhism in Nepal is now promoting peace in the heart and a calm mind through the 'Singing Bowl Sound Therapy Fundamental'.
Desmond Wong Choon Kiat has presented to Malaysia his set-up Kokorone Mandala, the “Singing Bowl Sound Therapy Fundamental Course", aimed at promoting holistic wellness and mindfulness culture.
"Many Malaysians also have restless minds and mental issues due to stress in the workplace, career and also family matters. So I would like to show a way for Malaysians to attend, experience, and witness a meaningful initiative that integrates healing, education, and community connection," said Desmond, who was trained as a monk for 12 years.
Desmond also said that he will share insights into the course journey and vision together with instructors and students, aiming to inspire more individuals to contribute to Malaysia’s mental wellness for a better and more peaceful future.
He added that Kokorone Mandala is dedicated to creating a sanctuary for calm and connection, where healing meets education, and “Peace of Heart” becomes a shared cultural value.
The core values of the programme are:
* Restore balance: Harmonising body, mind, and spirit through sound therapy, aromatherapy, chakra alignment, and meditation
* Awaken Mindfulness： Training healers and seekers to bridge science and spirituality
* Create Sanctuary： Designing aesthetic spaces for stillness, reflection, and presence
* Cultivate Heart Culture Nurturing connection through rituals, art, and meaningful dialogue
* Co-create with Love： Building a collaborative ecosystem of care with communities and organisations
Desmond said: "Actually, this programme is where healing meets education, peace of heart through the Kokorone therapy. We have also been offering such courses at UTM (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia) since December 2023.
"My main aim is also to help find calmness of the mind. Some may see it as a religious thing, but it is not. The Kohorone art of the singing bowl therapy is a peaceful tool to help calm the mind and be more relaxed and peaceful in a person's life," added Desmond
On top of that, on March 28, the programme also received the support of Raja Puan Muda of Kedah, Che Puan Muda Zaheeda Mohamad Ariff, who gave the thumbs up to the therapy and also strong support for Kokorone’s wellness mission.
"This is a beautiful programme that helps people find calmness. It really helps people to be more at peace with themselves and be more relaxed in this fast-moving world in modern times," said the Raja Puan Muda of Kedah.
Desmond added that the public can also join the programme that comprises nine days, four full days of face-to-face exercise, plus five days of home practice and also an exam for them to clear so that they can then get a fundamental singing bowl sound therapy certificate.
Then the second level class is professional 'Singing Bowl Sound Therapy', and it started this year for fundamental students. Currently, this programme has 10 students. They need to join three-months course work, pass seven module exam and receive three certificates to help them also to become a qualified teacher:
1. The Complementary Medical Association (CMA)
2. The Malaysian International Sound Therapy Association (MISTA)
3. Professional Singing Bowl Sound Therapy
Meanwhile, his top instructor, Wong Pei Sheen, is no stranger to high stress lifestyle. She was the former Malaysian volleyball captain who played in the 2013 SEA Games, besides many international tournaments.
The former fitness trainer, now a calmness guru, said: "It has always been a hectic lifestyle for me. Training, being fit all the time and preparing for international tournaments.
"And then I became a fitness teacher, but it was just as hectic. Then I found the perfect medicine in Desmond's programme, and I'm living a much better and healthier lifestyle now.
Three of Desmond's top students, Nicole Low Su Hui, Estee Ong Siow Hah and Natalie Ting Ping Ya also concurred with Wong, saying that there have been a lot of good changes in their lives and more calm in tackling work situations.
"It has been tough at times. But the therapy has really been helpful to all of us. And we now are more than happy to share the calming experience with the people we know," said Nicole.
