The Yoga of Sound, PT. 3

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James Bean jamesbean

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THE YOGA OF SOUND -- LISTENING TO THE MUSIC OF THE UNIVERSE, PART THREE

 

By James Bean

 

copywrite September 1997

 

Across the many centuries and around the world, mystics, in the scriptures

they left behind, recorded some of their experiences with inner Sound, the

heavenly Music that comes from beyond the silence. Encountering the Sound

Current might be as subtle as hearing a faint tone or hum in meditation, or

as blissful as becoming one with a cosmic symphony on a higher plane of

existence -- an experience beyond what earthly language is capable of truly

conveying.

 

THE SOUND CURRENT IN BUDDHIST MYSTICISM

 

The ancient Buddhist scripture known as the Surangama Sutra speaks of the

way to enlightenment through meditation upon the inner Sound.

"Avalokiteshvara Buddha, the hearer and answerer of prayer, has visited all

the Buddha-lands of the ten quarters of the universe and has acquired

transcendental powers of boundless freedom and fearlessness and has vowed to

emancipate all sentient beings from their bondage and suffering. How

sweetly mysterious is the Transcendental Sound of Avalokiteshvara! Is is

the subdued murmur of the seatide setting inward. Its mysterious Sound

brings liberation and peace to all sentient beings who in their distress are

calling for aid."

 

This beautiful sutra contains discourses teaching those who practice

meditation to turn their attention inward and listen for spiritual Sound.

"All the brothers in this great assembly should reverse your outward

perception of hearing and listen inwardly for the perfectly unified and

intrinsic Sound of your own mind-Essence." ("A Buddhist Bible," Dwight

Goddard, Beacon Press)

 

INNER SPIRITUAL HEARING AND SEEING IN BAHAI [AND SUFI] TEACHINGS

 

The following quote, which teaches us about acquiring 'spiritual eyes' is

taken from The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, Vol. 2, p. 31 by Adib Taherzadeh:

 

"Bahá'u'lláh teaches [quoting from] the Mathnavi [written by Rumi, the Sufi

poet] that: 'man will not be able to receive the Light of God in this day

unless he acquires a new Eye. Eyes which are fixed on the things of this

world can never see the glory of His Revelation, and ears which are tuned to

the voices of the ungodly cannot hear the Melodies of the Kingdom.' By 'new

eyes' and 'new ears' He means spiritual eyes and spiritual ears. He states

that since the Eye of the Spirit receives its Light from God it is shameful

to let it turn to a stranger, and re-affirms that the purpose of God in

creating the inner Eye was that man might behold the beauty of His

Manifestation in this world.

 

In 'The Hidden Words', Persian #11, Bahá'u'lláh reveals:

 

O Son Of Dust!

Blind thine eyes, that thou mayest behold My beauty; stop thine ears, that

thou mayest hearken unto the sweet Melody of My Voice; empty thyself of all

learning, that thou mayest partake of My knowledge; and sanctify thyself

from riches, that thou mayest obtain a lasting share from the ocean of My

eternal wealth. Blind thine eyes, that is, to all save My beauty; stop thine

ears to all save My Word; empty thyself of all learning save the knowledge

of Me; that with a clear vision, a pure heart and an attentive Ear thou

mayest enter the court of My holiness."

 

THE SOUND CURRENT -- THE AUDIBLE LIFE STREAM IN CHRISTIANITY

 

Experiences with the Sound Current -- people hearing heavenly Music -- are

also recorded in the Bible and other spiritual writings of the West. In the

Book of Revelation we find this: "And I heard a Sound from heaven like the

roar of rushing waters, and like a peal of thunder. After that, the Sound I

heard was like that of harpists playing their harps." (from Revelation, 14)

 

Hildegard of Bingen, the German Mystic, wrote: "To the Trinity be praise!

God is Music, God is Life that nurtures every creature in its kind." She

also said:

 

The soul is kissed by God in its innermost regions.

With interior yearning, grace and blessing are bestowed.

It is a yearning to take on God's gentle yoke,

It is a yearning to give one's self to God's way.

 

The marvels of God are not brought forth from one's self.

Rather, it is more like a Chord, a Sound that is played.

The tone does not come out of the chord itself, but rather,

through the touch of the Musician.

I am, of course, the lyre and harp of God's kindness!

 

The English Mystic Richard Rolle reflects in "The Fire of Love:"

 

When Christ wishes it ..... he receives within himself the Song sent

into him from the heavens, and his meditation is changed into Melody, and

his spirit lingers in marvelous Harmony."

 

The great Masters teach that the Sound of God is within everyone -- this

Holy Stream of Sound is within every living thing. This is why those given

to exploring inner space through meditation, be they from the East or the

West, have discovered this Reality playing within themselves.

 

PART THREE///

 

PART FOUR will focus upon the Nag Hammadi Library that was discovered in

Egypt, Sufi literature, as well as the scriptures of India.

 

Naam Bhakti,

James

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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