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Showing posts with label yoga of sound. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yoga of sound. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Sound Meditation in the World Religions Series: Sant Mat and Surat Shabd Yoga



Sound Meditation in the World Religions Series: Sant Mat and Surat Shabd Yoga






"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)


Spiritual Awakening Radio -- Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: Sant Mat and Surat Shabd Yoga (Yoga of Sound Series) - Listen, Download, Subscribe @ the Podcast Website:

https://SpiritualAwakeningRadio.libsyn.com/website


@ Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-awakening-radio/id1477577384


@ Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/5kqOaSDrj630h5ou65JSjE


@ Google Podcasts:

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5saWJzeW4uY29tLzIwNzIzNi9yc3M


& @ Wherever You Subscribe and Follow Podcasts (Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon, Audible, PodBean, Overcast, i Heart Radio, Podcast Addict, Gaana, CastBox, etc...):

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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 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.


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:


"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."


In Divine Love, Light and Sound, Peace Be To You,


James Bean

Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts

Spiritual Awakening Radio

https://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com



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Tuesday, October 04, 2022

Sound Meditation in the World Religions Series: Sufism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Kabir Panth -- Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcasts


Sound Meditation in the World Religions Series: Sufism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Kabir Panth -- Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcasts





"Abstract Sound is called Saut-e Sarmad by the Sufis; all space is filled with it. The vibrations of this Sound are too fine to be either audible or visible to the material eyes or ears, since it is even difficult for the eyes to see the form and color of the ethereal vibrations on the external plane. It was the Saut-e Sarmad, the Sound of the abstract plane, which Muhammad heard in the cave of Ghar-e Hira when he became lost in his divine Ideal. The Qur'an refers to this Sound in the words, 'Be! and all became.' Moses heard this very Sound on Mount Sinai, when in communion with God; and the same Word was audible to Christ when absorbed in his Heavenly Father in the wilderness. Shiva heard the same Anhad Nada during his Samadhi [deep meditation] in the cave of the Himalayas. The flute of Krishna is symbolic of the same Sound. This Sound is the source of all revelation to the Masters, to whom it is revealed from within; it is because of this that they know and teach one and the same truth." (Hazrat Khan, The Sufi Message Series, II, The Mysticism of Sound)


Today we explore Inner Sound Meditation according to the teachings of Sufism, Jainism, the Sikh scriptures, and the Path of Guru Kabir, along with some valuable insight about Inner Sound Meditation practice by Edward Salim Michael.


Sound Meditation in the World Religions Series: Sufism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Kabir Panth (Yoga of Sound Series) - Listen, Download, Subscribe @ the Podcast Website:

https://SpiritualAwakeningRadio.libsyn.com/website


@ Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-awakening-radio/id1477577384


@ Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/5kqOaSDrj630h5ou65JSjE


@ Google Podcasts:

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5saWJzeW4uY29tLzIwNzIzNi9yc3M


& @ Wherever You Subscribe and Follow Podcasts (Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon, Audible, PodBean, Overcast, i Heart Radio, Podcast Addict, Gaana, CastBox, etc...):

https://linktr.ee/SpiritualAwakeningRadio


In Divine Love, Light and Sound, Peace Be To You,


James Bean

Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts

Spiritual Awakening Radio

https://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com


#SpiritualAwakeningRadio #Podcasts #SantMatSatsangPodcasts #SpiritualPodcasts #Satsang #Santmat #Sant_Mat #Radhaswami #Radhasoami #Radhasoamiji #Radha_Soami #SuratShabdYoga #InnerLightandSound #AudibleLifeStream #SoundCurrent #Sufi #Sufism #Jain #JainSutras #Jainism #Sikh #Sikhism #AdiGranth #GuruGranth #PathoftheMasters #YogaofSound #Kabir #KabirPanth #PrakashManiGita #MysticismofSound #HazratKhan #Rumi #ShahNiaz #SultanBahu #Mystics #Religion #Spirituality #Mysticism




Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Spiritual Awakening Radio: Sound Meditation in the World Religions Series: Christianity & Gnosticism


Sound Meditation in the World Religions Series: Christianity and Gnosticism (Yoga of Sound Series)






"What else is Christ but the Sound of God." (Acts of John) Today, research into the inner Sound mysticism of the Judeo-Christian and Gnostic traditions. Before the Sufi mystics of Islam, in ancient times there were Gnostics: Jewish, Hermetic, and Christian mystics who described hearing Heavenly Sound or Divine Music, and seeing mystic visions of Light and the heavens while in deep states of contemplative meditation.


The Sound of God is within everyone -- this Holy Stream of Sound -- is within every living being. This is why those given to exploring the Kingdoms of Inner Space through meditation, be they from the East or the West, have discovered this Reality playing within themselves.


"The soul-explorer is not alone, for there are those who have traveled the highways of the inner cosmos; far more than one may at first realize." (George Arnsby Jones)


Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcast: Sound Meditation in the World Religions Series: Christianity and Gnosticism (Yoga of Sound Series) - Listen, Download, Subscribe @ the Podcast Website:

https://SpiritualAwakeningRadio.libsyn.com/website


@ Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-awakening-radio/id1477577384


@ Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/5kqOaSDrj630h5ou65JSjE



& @ Wherever You Subscribe and Follow Podcasts (Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon, Audible, PodBean, Overcast, i Heart Radio, Podcast Addict, Gaana, CastBox, etc...):

https://linktr.ee/SpiritualAwakeningRadio


"I heard a noise like wind blowing in my ears and knew it for the Sound of the Holy Spirit which became like the voice of a dove. When the Lord spoke to me I lost all sense of time. I did not know if he was with me five or six hours or only one. It was so holy and full of grace that I felt as if I had been in heaven." (Margery Kempe, The Mirror of Love)


"If you should in this world bring many thousand sorts of musical instruments together, and all should be tuned in the best manner most artificially, and the most skillful masters of music should play on them in concert together, all would be no more than the howlings and barkings of dogs in comparison of the Divine Music, which rises through the Divine Sound and tunes from Eternity to Eternity."  (Jacob Boehme, German Mystic)


"In the beginning was the Logos (the Word), the Logos was with God and the Logos was God." (Gospel of John 1: 1)


"The Divine Logos... is the helmsman and governor of the universe... The everlasting Logos of the eternal God is the very sure and staunch prop of the Whole... But the shadow of God is his Word [Logos], which he used like an instrument when he was making the world... Heaven is ever-making Music, producing in accordance with its celestial motions the Perfect Harmony. ... To such strains, it is said, Moses was listening, when, having become disembodied, for forty days and as many nights he touched neither bread nor water at all." (Philo of Alexandria, On The Music of the Spheres)


"Listen within yourself and look into the infinitude of Space and Time. There can be heard the songs of the Constellations, the voices of the Numbers, and the Harmonies of the Spheres." (Hermes Trismegistus, Corpus Hermeticum of Egypt)


In Divine Love, Light and Sound, Peace Be To You,


James Bean

Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts

Spiritual Awakening Radio

https://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com









Thursday, April 27, 2017

PODCAST: The Yoga of Love (Bhakti), Part 4 -- Spiritual Awakening Radio


PODCAST: The Yoga of Love (Bhakti), Part 4 -- Spiritual Awakening Radio


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PODCAST: The Yoga or Path of Love (Bhakti), Part 4 -- Spiritual Awakening Radio with James Bean -- Listen @ Youtube:


Welcome to this Sant Mat #Satsang Podcast. Genuine Sant Mat is Path of #Love (#Bhakti) as well as Inner Light, and Sound: "All Sants, and Soami Ji Maharaj in particular, have, in their Bani [hymns], laid great stress upon engendering love. The idea is that the task can be accomplished quickly and easily with the help of love. Mere renunciation cannot afford so much advantage, nor can mere comprehension of the Faith confer such a benefit. All activities in the world are going on because of love and desire. If one does not have any feeling of love or he has no interest in a matter, he can do nothing. For the real spiritual welfare of their soul, it therefore behoves all Jivas [souls] to develop real love for the true Supreme Being." (Huzur Maharaj, Prem Patra Radhasoami)

On this Path of the Masters (#SantMat) there are books that represent the "science of the esoteric", providing technical details about subtle bodies, inner regions, karma, meditation practice, and so on. And there is also the poetic side expressing the heart of mysticism. In English, the words of many bhajans and banis (hymns) of Saints (Sants) have become available. They read like poetry or psalms. #Rumi poetry is similar. These Mystics of the East provide very beautiful and Bhakti devotional teachings -- the Way of the Lover and the #Beloved. There are the compositions of #Kabir, the Guru Granth, Namdev, Ravidas, Dadu, Mirabai, Dayabai, Sahjo Bai, Tulsi Das, Paltoo Sahib, Surdas, Tukaram -- so many great souls. These are such priceless sources of inspiration. It's absolutely essential for the initiate/satsangi of #Sant_Mat to be in touch with the Bhakti side of the Path.

Huzur Baba Sawan Singh's Introductory Meditation Instructions: "As to any exercises which might help you, until the time of your initiation, I can only suggest at this time that you may sit in meditation, in a quiet place, like your own bedroom or some room as secluded as possible, and with spine and body erect, in a comfortable position, fix all the attention at the center just back of the two eyes, and slowly repeat the word #RADHASOAMI [RadhaSwami], fixing the mind on the Supreme Being who is your Supreme Father." — Hazur Baba Sawan Singh

"Sant Mat is not the path of information. This is the Path of Transformation." (Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj)

"Blessed are the souls who in today's materialistic world have an inclination towards #spirituality." (Gurudev and Beloved Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj of Maharshi Mehi Ashram)


God is the Ocean of Love and All-Consciousness.

In Divine Light and Sound, Namaste', Gnosis, Peace, Jai Guru, Jai Sat Naam, Bandagi Saheb, Satya Raam, Radhasoami, 
James Bean

* Website:

* Like the Sant Mat Radhaswami Page @ Facebook:

* Introduction to Sant Mat Spirituality and Meditation:

* The Sant Mat Radhasoami Blog and Satsang E-Newsletter:





Thursday, December 29, 2016

PODCAST: The Yoga of SOUND, Part 3: Sufism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Kabir Panth -- Spiritual Awakening Radio


PODCAST: The Yoga of SOUND, Part 3: Sufism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Kabir Panth -- Spiritual Awakening Radio


PODCAST: The Yoga of SOUND, Part 3: Sufism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Kabir Panth -- Spiritual Awakening Radio with James Bean — Listen @ Youtube:



Today we explore Inner Sound Meditation according to the teachings of Sufism, Jainism, the Sikh scriptures, the Path of Guru Kabir, along with some valuable insight about Inner Sound Meditation practice by Edward Salim Michael. 

"Close both ears with your hands and listen to the Inner Sounds." (Acharya Mahapragya, "The Method of Using Preksha Dhyana", Jainism)

"In the Divine Sound of God (Bhagawan) all the Mysteries are revealed." (Swami Jnananada, Pandita Puja, Jainism)

"Listen to this Song of Bliss, you blessed ones,
And all your heart's longings shall be fulfilled.
You will reach the Transcendent Lord, and
your sorrows will depart.
All afflictions and sorrows are destroyed
at the Sound of the True Word,
And my friends, the saints were in ecstasy when
the perfect Guru revealed it.
Those who speak and those who listen are pure,
And they see the All-pervading Lord everywhere.
Nanak prays: Attaching to the feet of the Guru,
The mind is filled with the divine Music of the Spheres."
(Guru Amar Das, in, Anand Sahib -- Adi Granth/Shri Guru Granth Sahib)

"Without the knowledge of Sar Shabd, the soul does not escape from the cycle of birth and death...That eternal Sound is in everyone, but dormant. One has to "awaken" it with love, devotion, recitation of the Name and meditation...  Surati [the soul] and shabda [Sound Current] are two things, but when they unite, they become one and lead the soul across this ocean of life to salvation, just as a boat takes a person across the ocean. All the saints say that in this universe, which is endless, the sat shabda (Divine Word -- Melody) is itself the soul and God, and is itself the support of the soul to reach its destination. That Word is like a magnet that attracts the soul. Surati (Soham Surati) which, in reality, is the same as the soul, is reached when the mind is concentrated on ajapa (unuttered Sound or Word)." (Prakash Mani Gita: On Surat Shabd Yoga Sadhana, Dharamdasi Kabir Panth text about Inner Sound Meditation Practice)

"Abstract Sound is called Saut-e Sarmad by the Sufis; all space is filled with it. The vibrations of this Sound are too fine to be either audible or visible to the material eyes or ears, since it is even difficult for the eyes to see the form and color of the ethereal vibrations on the external plane. It was the Saut-e Sarmad, the Sound of the abstract plane, which Muhammad heard in the cave of Ghar-e Hira when he became lost in his divine Ideal. The Qur'an refers to this Sound in the words, 'Be! and all became.' Moses heard this very Sound on Mount Sinai, when in communion with God; and the same Word was audible to Christ when absorbed in his Heavenly Father in the wilderness. Shiva heard the same Anhad Nada during his Samadhi [deep meditation] in the cave of the Himalayas. The flute of Krishna is symbolic of the same Sound. This Sound is the source of all revelation to the Masters, to whom it is revealed from within; it is because of this that they know and teach one and the same truth." (Hazrat Khan, The Sufi Message Series, II, The Mysticism of Sound)

"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)


God is the Ocean of Love and All-Consciousness.

In Divine Light and Sound, Gnosis, Peace, Jai Sat Naam, Radhasoami, Jai Guru, 
James

* Website:

* Introduction to Sant Mat Spirituality and Meditation:

* The Sant Mat Radhasoami Blog and Satsang E-Newsletter:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Saturday, September 20, 2014

Hearing the Celestial Sound Current During Meditation -- Discourse on Inner Sound Meditation


Hearing the Celestial Sound Current During Meditation -- Discourse on Inner Sound Meditation






 
 
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.

"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: "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 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." -- Philosophy Of Liberation: https://spiritualawakeningradio.com/Philosophy_Of_Liberation_Sant_Mat.pdf

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.

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)


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."


ALSO SEE the article, The Yoga of Sound -- Exploring Sound Meditation (Auditory Mysticism, Surat Shabd Yoga): https://SantMatRadhasoami.Blogspot.com/2013/09/the-yoga-of-sound-exploring-sound.html

ALSO SEE, All About the Sound -- Light and Sound on the Path: https://SantMatRadhasoami.Blogspot.com/2011/10/all-about-sound.html



Kirpal Singh: "Once the life-stream becomes audible, one is never lonely; for he hears its reverberations at home and abroad. The Voice of God keeps reminding him of the true home of his Father.  The practice of Sound Principle rids one of all troubles and afflictions..."