To: K-list
Recieved: 2000/07/26 20:32
Subject: [K-list] The Yoga of Sound, Part 3
From: James
On 2000/07/26 20:32, James posted thus to the K-list:
From: James Bean jamesbeanATnospamapexmail.com
spiritualawakeningatonelistATnospamhotmail.com
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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