Be Truly Human -- Light and Sound on the Path -- Newsletter of Spiritual Quotes & Sant Mat Satsang Discourses
"Before becoming a Muslim, a Sikh, a Hindu, or a Christian, let's become a human first." -- Guru Nanak
"Man as intended by God is a noble being with noble qualities and aspirations, directed to the attainment of Self and God-realization in his lifetime. He is not on this earth merely to eat, sleep, breed, and then die. These are the limits imposed on the lower orders of creation; but man has the spark of God in him, and he is intended for higher things... man-making is the highest ideal of all. Without the knowledge of the science of 'man-making', mastery over the self or animal man cannot be achieved, the higher or spiritual part of man’s nature cannot come into play. The most urgent need of society today is the active presence of such people, the more there are, the better." (Kirpal Singh)
"The real message of humanity's life is 'Be Man'. The question is how to follow this principle and what should we do to adopt this principle and formula for finding a way to God which is nothing but jiva mukti (liberation of the soul)". (J.L. Chaudhari, successor of Yogani Mataji in the Baba Faqir Chand Radhasoami lineage -- Chand founded the Manavta Mandir or 'Be Man' Ashram in Hoshiarpur.)
"Be on your guard so that no one deceives you by saying, 'Look over here!' or 'Look over there!' For the child of True Humanity exists within you. Follow it! Those who search for it will find it." -- Yeshua, Gospel of Mary Magdalene
"Christ existed before Jesus and exists even now. Christ is the God Power; it continues working at different human poles for the guidance of the child Humanity. They called It Christ power -- they called It Master Power; they called It Guru Power." -- Kirpal Singh
According to the Ebionite Gospel (from the original Hebrew Christians) Christ has appeared in different ages: "....has changed his forms and his names from the beginning of the world, and so reappeared again and again...." (The Clementine Homilies, from Homily III, Chapter XX, Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume VIII)
This Sant Mat Radhasoami E-Newsletter is dedicated to the Path of the Masters (Sant Satgurus of the Past, the Living Present, and Future), and to the Supreme Being, the Lord of the Soul Who is the Ocean of Love and All-Consciousness, and explores the poetry, prose, spiritual discourses, books, scriptures, letters, prayers, ahimsa ethics, podcasts, videos, philosophy, cosmology, and history of the Masters from a traditional Indian perspective, and might also include quotes from various world religions in harmony with the Way of the Saints, the Path of the Masters and Mystics.
"What's the use of receiving this human form if we do not serve others in thought, word, and deed. If we hold our thoughts only on worldly material things and refuse to think of that which is higher and more subtle, then our faith in the Transcendental will inevitably diminish." ("Quintessence of Yoga: Secret of All Success", a Sant Mat publication)
* The ARCHIVE of all past posts/articles/blogs is located here, and includes a search engine:
Sant Mat Links -- Online Resources
* Spiritual Awakening Radio and Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts @ YouTube:
Click the link above to hear various radio podcasts:
"Spiritual Letters from the Great Master Huzur Baba Sawan Singh";
"The Spiritual Journey According to Guru Nanak";
"There is No Vatican of the Spirit: A Reflection on the Impermanence of Religions in a World of Changes (Samsara)";
"Leaving the Matrix -- The Wisdom of Many Mystics, Sants-Masters, Gnostics and World Scriptures";
"Not Being Prisoners of Our Own Habitual Thinking -- Some Thoughts About Thought";
"In Search of the Soul";
"'No Personal Interviews, 'No Letters', 'No Phone', 'No Email', 'No Guidance' -- The Reality and Not the Illusion of Having A Guru";
"Reducing Karma Through Meditation & Readings From: Guru Nanak, Tukaram, Tulsi Sahib, and Sultan Bahu";
"Education For A More Peaceful Planet -- Some Radio For Peace";
"A Vegetarian Jesus at the Beginning of Christianity; Also: Vegan Buddhist Teachings";
"The Fall and Rise of the Gnostics";
"Exploring the Spiritual Message of Gospel of Thomas & Wisdom of Jesus -- The Light Within";
"Best-Selling Author Professor Marvin Meyer on the Gnostic Gospels, Parts 1, 2, and 3";
"Gnostic Radio Series With Stephan Hoeller, Parts 1, 2, and 3," Kabir Series; Rumi Series; Etc....
* Sant Mat E Library -- Hundreds of Books Online -- Recommended Reading:
* Daily Spiritual Quotes/Quote of the Day/Social Media
@ Facebook: Sant Mat Radhasoami:
* Introductory Page: Sant Mat 101, Introduction to the Path of the Masters:
Not A Dumbed-Down Calculated Manipulative Crowd-Pleasing Cliche "Hallmark" Honey Sweetness
"The false guru gives sweet words seeking popularity, but the Satguru bestows wisdom, seeking disciples, devotees of the Lord. If you love someone dearly, guide him [or her] again and again, to tread the path of Truth.” (Treasure of Spiritual Peace)
Being Mindful of the Mind -- The Negative Power of Illusion
"A practitioner should beware of the activities and disturbances caused by Mind, Maya (Matter), Kal and Karma. All of them design to hold back the practitioner on the Path by putting in various temptations. But whosoever makes Sat Guru Radhasoami Dayal [Merciful Lord of the Soul, the Supreme Being] his constant guide in his journey and depends on His Grace would be freed from their influences and guiles. Ultimately all of them would be defeated and left behind and he would become triumphant. By the grace of Radhasoami Dayal he would get out of the siege laid by them and would reach his True Abode without fear." (Huzur Maharaj, Prem Patra, Volume One)
Finding God Within
"A prince becomes anxious searching for his necklace, forgetting the reality that it's already hanging around his neck. He says he's lost his necklace, but when a wise person points out to him that the necklace he is looking for is already around his neck, then the suffering of his delusion comes to an end.
"Likewise, human beings forgetting that God is within themselves, search in vain for the Divine in the outer world. When the wise teacher of higher knowledge makes them acquainted with their lack of true perception, informing them that God is within, then they go within themselves [in meditation] and find relief from the suffering of useless wanderings." -- Maharshi Mehi Paramhans, Shri Gita-Yoga-Prakash (Essence of of the Bhagavad Gita, Commentary on the Spirituality of the Gita by a Sant Mat Master)
Forget in Order to Remember
"All worries and happiness of the day must be forgotten at the time of repose, otherwise one cannot sleep. Similarly, during the hour of meditation all thoughts are to be cast aside. Prayer does not penetrate amidst earthly contemplations.
"When one sleeps with a carefree mind, he enjoys deep sleep unaware of what time he will get up again. Likewise, when one sits for meditation with his mind free of complexities, he enjoys unison with God so intensely that he becomes unaware of the thought of returning to his senses again.
"It is only after waking do we realize the duration of our deep sleep. Similarly, only after having done meditation does one realize the amount of time that has passed.
"May the Supreme worshipable Paramadhya [God] bless you and may you succeed in your spiritual practice. Give your full efforts in practicing meditation and Divine Grace will surely shower upon you." -- Letter of Maharshi Sant Sevi Ji Paramhans from, Sadhnatmak Patra, a book of letters to various initiates about spiritual practice, published by Maharshi Mehi Ashram)
We Are Already In Heaven But Do Not Realize It
One can say, the journey is far, that much of the inward journey remains to be traversed. There is however, another way of seeing this, whether experienced in meditation or not. Heaven may seem far, and yet, the Reality is that it is Near, Close By, in Our Midst, Within Us, even now, in the living present. Here's something to rest upon and be inspired by: Whether we know it or not in our experience, the soul is already in Sach Khand, has always been in Sach Khand. There's no other place for the soul to be other than the soul level (Sat Lok, Sach Khand). We are (the soul is) wearing several coverings: physical, also subtle bodies: astral, causal, mental, and etheric. We have to contend with the outer distractions of the five senses, and yet, our true identity remains what it always has been: soul or spirit. One Master used the term "spirit-entity". Sant Mat Meditation is about knowing this, experiencing this, shifting awareness from the other world to within. We are drops from the Ocean of Love. We are already in heaven but don't know it. And, as Rumi might say, this is "the Secret of Secrets".
"The world has fallen in love with a dream." (Kabir)
"When the mind becomes calm then the truth is revealed." (Kabir)
"Hiding in this cage of visible matter
is the invisible life-bird.
Pay attention to her,
She is singing your song." (Kabir)
"O Soul! Who are you and whence have you come? You are a ray from Purush (the Supreme Being) and an inhabitant of the purely Spiritual Region." (Swami Ji Maharaj)
"The Supreme Being, being a boundless Ocean of Spirit or Love; and, human being, being a drop or current of spirit or love from this Ocean; and, love being the very essence and means of existence of the whole creation, it follows that no effort in any direction, temporal or spiritual, unless actuated by love or affectionate regard, can be crowned with success, and, the work or labour rendered easy, sweet and harmonious." (Huzur Maharaj, Radhasoami Mat Prakash)
"The lover of God will cry and weep until he finds rest in the Beloved's embrace." (Rabia al-Adawiyya)
"Love is like a deep sea. Only that lover (of God) who will dive into it fearlessly shall be able to get the pearl of ultimate happiness in it. And one who will not be able to muster up enough courage to dive into it, shall remain sitting at the beach. He will remain without love in this world. How will he get the pearls of ultimate happiness then?" (Kabir 1008 Vani)
"Withdrawal from the world and repairing to the solitude would relieve your agony and tensions. You can find a most precious treasure on this earth itself but that is hidden in the secrecy of seclusion and solitude." (Sarmad the Sufi Saint)
"There is a silence of the tongue. There is a silence of the whole body. There is a silence of the soul. There is a silence of the mind, and there is a silence of the spirit." (Abraham of Nathpar, Syriac Mystic)
"Go deeper
Past thoughts into silence.
Past silence into stillness.
Past stillness into the heart.
Let love consume all that is left of you." (Kabir)
"Within the innermost recesses, all spirituality is one and it has never undergone any division. Our spirituality or soul (Surat) is an emanation from the Supreme Being. Within the innermost recesses it is one with God." (Discourses of Babuji Maharaj, Volume III)
"The essence of life is in remembering God." (Kabir)
"For millions of years you have slept. This morning, will you not wake?" (Kabir)
"If you can't find where your soul is hidden,
for you the world will never be real!" (Kabir)
"The truth is, you turned away yourself,
and decided to go into the dark alone.
Now you are tangled up in others, and have forgotten what you once knew." (Kabir)
Rumi: "Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray."
"From the Source of the Divine Ocean [God] opens a Portal to the Light. Awaken that resplendent Light within you....Repeat the name of the Lord and secure Him." (Shabdavali of Sant Tulsi Sahib)
"Descend into your heart, and in it you will find the ladder which leads to the Kingdom of God." (Saint Isaac the Syrian)
"By seeking the path within, one will go beyond the sensory realm...and will attain the State of Oneness." (Swami Santsevi Ji Maharaj)
"If you love truth, be a lover of silence. Silence, like the sunlight will illuminate you in God." (Saint Isaac the Syrian)
"It is only by the grace of Radhasoami Dayal [Compassionate Lord of the Soul] that the disciple can cross this ocean of samsara easily." (Huzur Maharaj, quoted in, The Guru In Indian Mysticism, by M.G. Gupta)
Japi Gobinda bisari jini jai
Do the repetition of God [God's Name] and forget
Him not.
Fulfil the purpose of thy birth
by practising concentration.
Be steadfast in the remembrance of God.
Practice meditation with love, and sing
the glory of God.
The human body is the door to salvation.
Do the repetitions of God, the Creator
of the universe. -- Sant Dadu Dayal
Seek the Path Within You
O traveller! Seek the path that lies within you,
You and your Beloved are in the same body;
Your Beloved is pervading everywhere, but is not being perceived.
Those initiated by Guru are able to recognize Him within their bodies.
O traveller! If you wish to go alone on the path of the Lord,
Look for the path within and do not delay;
The four spheres of darkness, Light, Sound and Soundlessness --
They all lie within the temple of your body.
You stepped down to the darkness, but your Beloved is in the Sphere of Soundlessness;
Now you again go back to the Sphere of Soundlessness through the Tenth Door.
Pursuing the inner Light and practising the Yoga of Sound,
Listen to the orchestration of Sounds and closely watch the dazzling Light,
And go along the path where the five Sounds resonate;
Ascend up as you get drawn towards them.
Never imagine that there are other means of going to the Sphere of Soundlessness,
Without the Yoga of vision and the Yoga of Sound.
Says Mehi, going along this path alone
Is the secret path to Divinity, as revealed by the Saints.
Catching the most subtle one amidst different Sounds,
Go along the solitary path lying within your body.
-- Maharishi Mehi
Param Sant Tulsi Sahib, Saint of Hathras, India:
"In this life the concept of salvation all
describe;
To meet the Lord by dying while living,
none discloses.
They all speak of the goal of salvation after
death;
How to attain it while living, no one says.
Were they to reveal the method of attaining
release while living,
Then alone would Tulsi be convinced of
their words.
Who speak, after seeing with their own eyes,
And teach the method of salvation during
life,
Are of the stage and stature of Saints,
For they reveal the quintessence of the soul."
"The serpent chitta [mind] through listening to the Nada [meditating on the inner Sound] is entirely absorbed in it, and becoming unconscious of everything concentrates itself on the Sound." -- Nada Bindu Upanishad
"When one begins to hear Shabd [the inner Sound Current], one's mind is brought under control. By no other means will it come round." (Soami Ji Maharaj, Sar Bachan Poetry)
“Listen to the Sound of Anhad Shabd [the celestial music] every day.” (Soami Ji Maharaj, Sar Bachan Poetry)
"You should listen attentively to the reverberating Divine Sound. The Celestial Sound is coming to take you back to the Source." (Swami Sant Sevi Ji)
Some Instruction on Daily Meditation Practice in Sant Mat, By Shri Bhagirath Baba
The practitioner, if he sits for meditation, always must keep his/her head, neck and spinal cord (back) completely straight. The respiration process will naturally become slowed if one sits straight, and thus it is a helping factor in meditation and Jap [simran]......
Meditation Done Three Times Per-Day, Plus Before Sleep
Sants/yogis have fixed times of meditation. Those times are: 1) in the pre-dawn, i.e. three hours before sunrise, 2) after taking a bath during the day [mid day], and 3) during the evening (after the sun sets). Meditation done at these three time is called Trayakaal Sandhyaa (thrice-daily meditation). A practitioner must sit for meditation in these three times, and also should do Maanas Jap (repeating the Guru-instructed mantra [simran]), or Maanas Dhyaan (involving mind in visualizing or seeing the Master's radiant form inside), while doing worldly work.
In the evening just before going to bed, the practitioner should sit in meditation for two to four minutes and then go to sleep. A practitioner can continue Maanas Jap or Maanas Dhyaan or keep his/her vision straight inside with closed eyes laying in bed.
This practice protects one from terrible, unpleasant dreams, and on the other hand the practitioner can be benefited with the appearance of sages/sants or Satsang in the dream state. The appearance (seeing) of sants/sages in the dream state is an indication of spiritual-upwardness (progress). A meditation practitioner who does meditation in pre-dawn very carefully, should not take a heavy meal in the night. Meals should not be hard-to-digest. Easily digestible meals and that also are light in amount should be taken in the night so that the practitioner can get up early at the pre-dawn time. This habit keeps the body sound and healthy. Most reverent Guru Maharaj (Maharshi Mehi) says, "Sound mind lives in sound body and worship is done only by the sound mind." So, a practitioner should control his/her meals.
A practitioner should close both eyes and mouth at the time of meditation. If he/she would be speaking and seeing the outer world with open eyes, he/she could not do the practice of meditation. Upon closing the eyes one sees darkness inside, whether he/she belongs to a certain creed, caste, country, or one is young, child, old, male, female, scholar or illiterate. This darkness has not been created by human beings or gods. This darkness has been created by the Supreme Sovereign God.
There are three layers (coverings) over the Jeeva atmaa (Individual Soul). Those are: darkness, light and sound. Darkness is the shadow of the light. This darkness is the first layer on the Jeeva (individual soul) whom all beings see. One who crosses this layer of darkness through a special form of meditation sees the inner light within oneself. This inner light is called Aatma-Aalok (Light of the Self) or Brahma-Prakash (Divine Light). On achieving it, the Divya-Drishti (Divine Eye, Third Eye) opens completely. While mentally gazing into the darkness that one sees with eyes closed, one should repeat the guru-instructed mantra [simran]. This process is called Maanas Jap [simran]. While doing this, neither the lips nor the tongue are oscillated. Instead, the mantra (an alphabetical name given by Guru) is repeated within by the mind. This Jap is actually a kind of meditation. Repeating the mantra through the mind is for the purpose of calling the Ishta ([one's Ideal], tutelary deity, Most Beloved, Satguru) near oneself. So, Jaapak (the practitioner who does Jap) should perform Jap with great love. He (Ishta, Guru) becomes happy and merciful if one does Jap with immense love and devotion, and he appears at his desire.
The practitioner who does Jap [simran] sitting in a secluded place with the right method and immense love, becomes the excellent devotee.
Sant Charan Das says:
"Sakal shiromani naam hai, sab
dharman ke maahi |
Ananya bhakta wah jaaniye,
sumiran bhoolai naahi ||"
[Name (Jap) is the crown of all and
has been described in all creeds.
Know that person as the superior
devotee who never forgets Jap.]
By doing Jap, the mind and heart become devotionally pure, morale is uplifted. One gets strength in inner meditation -- Japaat Siddhi (Divine power after getting perfection in Jap [simran]) is obtained. By doing Jap, so much sanctity begins to flow within the body and mind of the practitioner (Jaapak) that the note or wave of Jap (mantra the practitioner chants) penetrates whatever the practitioner touches...
If the Jaapak (practitioner of Jap) repeats the Jap while doing worldly work as well as practices Jap sitting in a secluded place with love and faith, he/she begins to see Divine visions, or hear auditions in the Inner Sky (the region within where darkness normally appears when one's eyes are closed).
-- Shri Bhagirath Baba, From A Spiritual Discourse on the Bhakti of the Inner Light and Sound of God, Maharshi Mehi Ashram
Transcendental Hearing: Important Points About Inner Sound Meditation Practice
"Seeing without eyes
Hearing without ears
Walking without feet
Working without hands
Uttering His Name without tongue
And dying while living
Is truly accepting God's Will."
-- Guru Angad
"The Eternal Truth ('Sat' or Eternal Word) is hidden in every being. Without the Satguru it does not become known... That eternal Sound is in everyone, but dormant. One has to 'awaken' it with love, devotion, recitation of the Name and meditation. That Sound is unceasing and unfathomable, and is full of bliss." (Prakashmani Sahib)
"This creative current, filling all space, may be likened to the electromagnetic waves of the radio." (Julian P. Johnson)
"The person, who is in tune with the universe, becomes like a radio receiver through which the Voice of the universe is transmitted." (Hazrat Khan)
"You can experience the Sound of Silence in the mind. You hear it as a kind of high frequency sound, a ringing sound." -- Ajahn Sumedho
"When meditating with this Nada [Inner Mystic Sound], it is essential that the aspirant always seek and follow the particular aspect of it that is most subtle and 'ultra' in pitch as well as in brilliance. Even when the Sound becomes very shrill and loud in moments of deep concentration, he [or she] must not be tempted to be satisfied with it merely because it is sharp and resonant. He should relentlessly attempt to rise further and further into ever more subtle spheres of its mysterious Invisible Kingdom." (Edward Salim Michael, "The Law of Attention -- Nada Yoga and the Way of Inner Vigilance")
"You will have more Sounds than one, but you have to stick to that of a big bell, a conch, a shell, thunder, drum-beat, a violin and the flute, which are the higher types of Sounds and leave all the rest." (Kirpal Singh, Spiritual Elixir)
Below is some material from Shiv Brat Lal, Maharshi Mehi, Swami Santsevi Ji, and Swami Vyasanand about inner Sound Meditation, useful points from rare writings of Sant Mat that some may benefit from, providing detailed guidance about some aspects of the practice.
"Various sorts of Sound Currents reverberate in the human system from which the initiate has to pick up the right one and listen to it, otherwise he will go astray and lose his equipoise. The practical Guru forewarns his disciple and directs which Sound to listen to and which one to discard." (Shiv Brat Lal)
"...Only the Central Sound has the power to attract the consciousness to the center and carry the soul to the center of a higher realm. Other illusory material sounds do not have that magnetism to attract the consciousness to the higher realms." (Swami Vyasanand)
The Masters teach that the world -- indeed many realms -- are illusion, and that on inner planes there are many reflections or copies of higher realities. There are phenomena than can imitate or mimic spiritual experiences. There are even realms that to some extent might appear to be heavens or copies of Sach Khand. Hall of Mirrors. Matrix. Labyrinth. Astral fly-paper. In this world there is the illusion of the master, a meat-eating guru offering instruction and initiation, but also who says ethics do not matter -- the illusion of having a spiritual teacher. The illusion of satsang. The illusion of enlightenment. One can stare at a bright light or contemplate the flame of a candle, then close one's eyes in a darkened room and continue to see a kind of photo-like retinal image of that candle -- an optical illusion of inner light. Some electronic devices and electrical appliances generate white noise, humming sounds, or high frequency ringing tones and overtones. These to some extent can mimic inner spiritual Sounds -- the illusion of the Sound Current.
Sometimes in the news there have been reports about people hearing a mysterious sound that seems to be coming from nowhere. One of these has been called "the Taos Hum." In, Philosophy of Liberation, Maharshi Mehi states that not only are there spiritual sounds associated with the heavenly realms, but there are also many vibrations or semi-subtle sounds associated with the gross-material realm. He says one should not falsely assume they are accessing the real inner Sound Current just by hearing ANY kind of sound that may manifest itself in one's perception during the silence of meditation. Some following so-called "Western light and sound paths" also seem to remain without proper guidance on this point. Maharshi Mehi: "There are sounds due to gross vibrations in the material body. To meditate on these gross-material sounds and believe it to be as the full practice of the Yoga of Sound shows a lack of knowledge of Yoga." There are gross-material sounds one can hear in the silence of meditation that do not lead one Above, do not lead to spiritual growth, transformation or enlightenment.
Swami Vyasanand: "This is because only the Central Sound has the power to attract the consciousness to the center and carry the soul to the center of a higher realm. Other illusory material sounds do not have that magnetism to attract the consciousness to the higher realms."
There are inner Sounds that one receives instruction from a true Master about at the time of initiation into Surat Shabd Yoga (Inner Sound Meditation, the Yoga of the Audible Life Stream). These Sounds are perceived to come from the right side or center or Above and represent the Ascending Current. Sounds that appear to be coming from the left side are of the descending current flowing downward into the material creation or multiverse. One is instructed to focus on the Sounds of the Ascending Current or Audible Life Stream -- certain Sounds. There are of course many other sounds one might hear, but one has to focus on certain Sound Currents. The reason for this is these Sounds, if focused upon during meditation practice, will keep pulling the soul’s attention up to ever higher and higher levels. These are coming from regions Above. Other sounds, though mistaken for the Sound Current, are interesting, miraculous or even mystical, will not help the Surat-soul to ascend or make spiritual progress.
"Various sorts of Sound Currents reverberate in the human system from which the initiate has to pick up the right one and listen to it, otherwise he will go astray and lose his equipoise. The practical Guru forewarns his disciple and directs which Sound to listen to and which one to discard." (Shiv Brat Lal)
"I have heard accounts of some practitioners who follow unusual sound meditation practices and claim to hear sounds. However, these gross-material sounds are imaginary or generated by metabolic functions and blood circulation. An ear disease can also create a humming sound that can be mistaken for the inner Divine Sound." (Swami Vyasanand)
Shiv Brat Lal: "The devotee in his spiritual journey upwards hears sweet melodies which attract him. The melodies are a powerful magnetic force which draws the attention inwards and makes it fully attuned to proceed up and up."
Maharshi Mehi in, Philosophy of Liberation: "Each of the Sounds of the centers of the five realms possesses an attribute to draw Surat (the consciousness) upward to its center. The Essential Sound or Pure Spiritual Sound has the attribute to draw one’s consciousness up to the Supreme Sovereign [God]. The other mayavi sounds (material Sounds mentioned above) of each of the respective five realms have the attribute to attract the person who hears it (or focuses on it) and to draw that person’s Surat (consciousness) to the Sound of the realm directly above. Further, for the practitioner, the realization of the Essential Divine Sound is impossible without first attaining the Sounds of the lower realms. Sar Shabda (the Essential Divine Sound) beckons a return to the Supreme Sovereign. The progression of Sound in all centers of the realms is upward, carrying one’s consciousness from the lower centers to the higher centers ultimately reaching the Supreme Sovereign God."
In, The Inward Journey of the Soul (Chal Hansa Nij Desh), Swami Vyasanand says, "The question arises: What is the secret of correct technique for Shabd (Sound) meditation? Sant Radhaswami says: 'Focus your consciousness stream on the Inner Space. You will find the Divine Sound which will lead you beyond the snares of this illusory world.' You should focus your consciousness or inner Current in the middle of the eyebrows -- the meeting point of the Ida and Pingla channels -- which is known as the tenth gate, Sushumna, Ajna Chakra or third eye. The practitioner will attain one-pointedness through this practice. In other words, the subtlest and most luminous sign of the light realm (bindu) will appear. With that luminous sign the inner Sound will also manifest.
"Sant Paltu Sahab says; 'Out from that burning light comes the Divine Sound, and only the one immersed in the Samadhi (meditation) of Divine knowledge can hear, none other.' This is the Sound that is heard when concentrating on that first mark of light. Due to carelessness, it is possible to also hear the other sounds of the lower realms that have the potential to distract the consciousness Current. It is conceivable then, that the upward ascent of consciousness becomes distracted, thus creating a hindrance in progress. This is because only the Central Sound has the power to attract the consciousness to the center and carry the soul to the center of a higher realm. Other illusory material sounds do not have that magnetism to attract the consciousness to the higher realms." (Swami Vyasanand Ji Maharaj)
More from Swami Vyasanand: Sant Kabir Sahab says: "A rare practitioner who abides by the knowledge given by the Guru listens to the subtle Sound of Inner Space. First that Sound emanates from the bindu or Ajna Chakra (third eye). A practitioner who can withdraw his mind from the nine gates of the body and concentrate in the tenth gate, he or she alone is able to hear that subtle Sound."
"Sant Tulsi Sahab says: 'Enter into the Inner empty Space (Shunya) of Sushumna and listen to the Sound that is beckoning you toward the Divine. This Sound has been vibrating since the beginning of creation. If you want to meet your True Friend (Supreme Being) then constantly and carefully listen to that Sound. This body is the sacred holy place (Ka'ba, the holiest place in Islam) created by the Divine, and within it is found the arch (the higher realms of macrocosm beginning from the tenth gate). It is the inner sanctum within, in which is found the Divine Sound reverberating. O practitioner, listen with full concentration; the Sound that originated from the Divine is constantly reverberating and calling you.'
"Someone must have asked, generally, if the Sound is not heard with the physical ears then with what kind of ear is this subtle Sound heard? When the mind becomes concentrated, then the physical sense of hearing becomes quiet and one does not hear. This occurs because the attention withdraws from the senses and one is unable to hear physical sound.
"In response Sant Tulsi Sahab says: 'A practitioner who is able to focus in the Sushumna or the tenth gate for some time will experience the opening of the inner subtle hearing faculty. That inner sense of hearing is also known as the consciousness Current.' My Guru Maharshi Mehi says: 'A practitioner hears the sweet Sound of the flute through the stream of inner consciousness.'
"When the outer ear ceases to hear and the mind is fully concentrated within, then the inner hearing opens up and the practitioner can hear the Divine Sound within (through the inner ear). From this, do not infer that a deaf person could easily hear that inner Sound, because complete concentration is the key, not a lack of physical hearing. Sants have articulated about the closing of three gates of the body to experience the inner Sound. The three gates are eyes, ears, and mouth. Close these and, only then, can one hear the inner Sounds. According to Sant Kabir: 'Close your eyes, ears, and mouth, and listen to the Anahad (inner Unstruck Divine Sound).' Sant Nanak Sahab says: 'Close the three gates and listen to the reverberation of the Divine Sound.' Sant Maharshi Mehi and also Sufi Sants have used similar vocabulary to describe the process of closing three openings for hearing the inner Sound.
"I have heard accounts of some practitioners who follow unusual sound meditation practices and claim to hear sounds. However, these gross-material sounds are imaginary or generated by metabolic functions and blood circulation. An ear disease can also create a humming sound that can be mistaken for the inner Divine Sound. Some false gurus boast about their imaginary inner experiences of Divine Light and Sound in order to impress their followers.
"Other Hatha Yogis perform postures (asanas) such as mula bandh (contracting the muscles of lower organs), uddiyana bandha (contracting the abdominal muscles and diaphragm that involves breathing exercises), and jalandhara bandha (throat lock to the flow of energy in the nerves and blood flow in the neck). Some practitioners use ketchari mudra (touching the root of the palate with the tongue) and attempt sound meditation in that mudra. Still others try to listen from the right or from the left ear. Some listen from below 'the tenth gate' and others above 'the tenth gate.' Some press their eardrums with their fingers and hear vibrations and think them to be the Divine Sound. Some stare at the tip of the nose; some listen to music in the dark, and some in the light. Some place their head down, others straighten their chest. In today's world, in the name of the Divine Sound there is a prevalence of a great variety of illusory and imaginary practices claiming to be techniques of Sound meditation. These are not only against the teachings of Sants but are also incapable of providing any real inner experience of Divine Sound.
"Sant Tulsi Sahab declares: 'Without the true knowledge of the Yoga of Sound, all efforts are hopeless. Only a Satguru who is accomplished can impart this knowledge about the different forms of Sound.' Therefore, Maharshi Mehi says, 'Practicing Sound Yoga (Inner Sound Meditation) is not child’s play.' Sant Kabir says: 'Without practice of this Sound meditation man is subjected to birth and death.' Therefore having learned from an accomplished teacher, the practitioner would gain the ability to hear the Celestial, not illusory, sounds."
-- Swami Vyasanand, The Inward Journey of the Soul (Chal Hansa Nij Desh)
Closing of the Ears in Meditation
"The closing of the eyes, ears, and mouth is used to help tune out the distractions caused by the outer senses. This is essential for the purpose of focusing one's gaze in the Sushumna. Therefore, in the initial stages it is advised that the practitioner close these three senses of sight, hearing, and speaking. Consequently, the mind begins to be focused in the third eye. For those whose consciousness stream has become mature in the power of concentration, it is not necessary to close these three sensory organs. This is due to the fact that the practitioner's mind is focused on the target of the 'third eye' becomes detached from the senses and is no longer held by experiences arising from the sensory objects.
"The secret of practicing Sound Yoga is to attach the consciousness to the center of the 'third eye.' It is necessary for the following reasons: First, by not following this instruction, the practitioner will be distracted by the lower physical sounds imbued by rajas guna (passion) and tamas guna (dark inertia). The consciousness Current would not be able to grasp the Nada (Essential Central Sound) and ascend to the higher realms. It gives the practitioner only a satisfaction of listening to a sound -- but not the true benefit of the experience of the Sar Shabd (the Essential Sound)..."
-- Swami Vyasanand, The Inward Journey of the Soul (Chal Hansa Nij Desh)
More On the Closing of the Ears in Meditation and What That Ultimately Means After Being Established in Seeing the Light, and Established in Hearing the Sound
Swami Santsevi Ji Maharaj in, "Quintessence of Yoga, The Secrets of Success", writes: "Closing the ears when we hear the Divine Sound within ourselves is the best approach. There is no harm in it. We can include this along with other practices. This practice of inner Sound can go on in the night, because there is no noise at that time and environment is peaceful...When the inner Divine Sound merges into the imperishable Supreme Lord, there is the absolute State of Soundlessness (the Ultimate Reality)."
You may ask, what does it mean to "close the ears"? There is a technique initiates learn to do just that in order to focus on inner Sound. Also, sometimes people use earplugs to block outer sounds during inner Sound practice [bhajan]. But there is another meaning. Some clarification is given in the book, "Harmony of All Religions", by Santsevi Ji, who states that closing the ears is primarily an internal reality that occurs after one's awareness [attention] has gone within: "When you focus your gaze within the ajna chakra [third eye] then automatically your physical ears will close and the inner ears will open."
Huzur Baba Sawan Singh: Purity of Mind and the Nature of the Sound Current
"The Current is within us always. We could not live without the Current. The Current is Life. The Sound is going on within, without interruptions, and so is the Light within. Why do we not see the Light and hear the Sound? The reason is that our mind is shaking. Our attention wanders. One does not see the reflection of his face in agitated water. The moment the water is still, the face becomes visible. If the water is muddy, the mud brings in an additional disturbing factor. So, purity of mind and calmness are the prerequisites to see what lies inside the Focus."
"The sounds of the Current at the various regions have been mentioned as resembling the sounds of material instruments like the bell, guitar, and so forth, but in reality there is no comparison. To give you an idea in the best way that it can be given, one has to resort to that with which you are already familiar. The unknown is explained in terms of the known. Guitar and so forth are the nearest approaches of sounds known to us here in this world, to give some idea of the sounds of the Current heard at the different regions within. These lights and sounds are the characteristics of those regions, and any soul that goes within must see and hear the lights and sounds characteristic of the regions through which it is passing. The Current is continuous from Sach Khand downward, but it produces different sounds in different regions, just as if you strike your stick against a wall, wood, stone, or metal, it produces different kinds of sounds."
"The Bell Sound that pulls or attracts like a magnet commences from the eight-petalled lotus. The tables are turned now. The attention that had found it so difficult to go within, now finds it difficult to stay out. To talk of the joys of staying within is the privilege of a different set of people. Only he can appreciate this state who has gone within -- in the Eye Focus." -- Huzur Baba Sawan Singh
Radhasoami Prayer by Shiv Brat Lal
O August Radhaswami (Lord of the Soul),
Thou Living Self and Living Master,
Beneficent Father and Mother of All!
Be merciful -- make us Thine own,
And thus save us from the snares of Time.
Past are the Golden Age and others,
Unknowing of the Heavenly Melody proper,
Yet now art Thou Merciful, in this hard Dark
Age,
To chant in loud and lucid strains, the Sacred
Word,
O Lord, having descended into this plane
below,
Helpest Thou the living entities,
To span the Worldly-Ocean across;
To cast off the Trinity, and reach the Fourth
Abode,
Whence the Living Name unfolds,
And the Living Mastership.
Bathed in Glory and Effulgent Light,
Thy servant tenders this Solemn Petition:
Grant us even The Regionless Region,
The Chief Abode, the Sphere of Bliss,
The Holy Refuge at Thy Feet,
MY LORD!
-- Prayer of Sant Daata Dayal Ji (Shiv Brat Lal), "Light On Ananda Yoga -- The Yoga of Happiness," Sant Bani Books, Copyright Steve Morrow, 1982 (Note: I was friends with the late Steve Morrow, who once upon a time had an inter-faith satsang at his home in Texas called Sant Mat Fellowship.)
