Music and The Path

February 9, 2002

Music has always been at the very center of my life. lt wasn't

until injuries put an end to my passion for the piano (classical),

that in my despair l turned eastward, taking up yoga.

Early on, after realizing l had little talent for meditations

that involved visualization, l did what seemed natural and studied

with teachers who worked with sound, as a vehicle for both spiritual

practice and healing -- people like Don Campbell, Jonathon Goldman

and Jill Purce (they all have schools in Boulder ) To me, the two

have always been inseparable -- healing at its deepest level is

spiritual healing, and the path can be viewed as a process in which

we become more Whole.

The critical role music/sound can play in healing has become more

apparent in recent years. Don Campbell suddenly found his life

endangered by a huge blood clot behind his eye in 1994. He credited

his usage of sound with dissolving the clot. At a Benedictine abbey

in France years ago, for some unknown reason all of the monks were

becoming ill. Finally, after consulting with several specialists, Dr.

Alfred Tomatis was called in. After inquiring, he concluded that the

monks' illnesses could be traced to the fact that the abbey had

discontinued the practice of doing Gregorian chants. After the chants

were resumed, the monks all recovered. Dr. Tomatis' techniques are

being studied all over the world today.

My early years on the path were marked by frequent travels and

adventures in both the US and abroad, especially lndia and Asia. But

since my energy awakened in 92, the theme has been loss -- coping with

illness and all that has gone with it. Music has been critical in

helping me release grief and deal with fear. There was a time after

l'd been made deathly ill by receiving shakti from a swami -- l

hadn't been able to eat for 3 months and was emaciated -- l felt l

had to see my swami at least one more time, but was so weak and was

terrified of being in his energy again. So, for a week l played my

favorite symphonies and concertos while l moved, cried, and screamed,

until l'd worked through my emotions and was ready to go. Once more,

l'd found my courage through music. (Unfortunately, my fears were

realized -- the trip was a disaster. )

Music has that power. lt gives us instant access to our heart --

to all that we hold sacred.

My Steinway grand still sits in my living room -- a silent

Buddha. l haven't been able to play it for many years now, but can't

bring myself to part with it. l have found another way to maintain my

relationship with music. Every day l put on a piece of music -- and

conduct it. l don't do it the way Bernstein or Solti did. l not

only conduct, l move around, crying, shouting -- whatever the music

tells me to do, as it flows through me and opens my heart. With my

physical problems it's the best l can do for a work-out, and l figure

it's good for body and soul, keeping in mind that most of the great

conductors have lived into their 80's and beyond.

When tears flow with the music, it's not just releasing the

pain. lt's peeling away layer after layer of grief, frustration, rage

.... leaving only love, compassion and gratitude.

lt's been a long time since l've been able to do tantric

visualiztions. But l can visualize myself as Brahms in front of the

orchestra, soaring with the C minor Symphony. l can hear the

reverberating sounds of Mt Kailash and the great plateau in Philip

Glass's score for KUNDUN -- can hear them as my own.

jerry

February 9, 2002

I agree with all that you have said on the power of music.

love

eric.

l hope l can be excused for changing the title from Music and

Non-Dualism and for being a bit late in this discussion. l can't

improve on the eloquence with which some have already commented on

the power of music, other than to add a personal note.