The Sound Of Your Soul

If you've ever sat quietly and noticed the gentle whisper of your own breath...

If you've then listened deeper, finding the soft cadence of your heartbeat...

And if you've then gone even deeper, dropping into the resonant stillness of your innermost being, you might have heard it...

...the subtle, divine sound at the core of existence.

"Beneath the cacophony of life, there exists a sound of unsurpassed sweetness. It is not sound as we know it, not something to be heard as much as something to be felt. It is a vibration," says Swami Chetanananda. "For the most part it takes effort to feel it, simply because the powerful noises that surround us tend to block it out. Yet the individuals who seek depth in their lives will, at some point or other, befriend this sound and begin to explore it." And when you are seduced by this sweet inner sound, you can be comforted in knowing that you join the ranks of mystics and seekers from across the ages who have sought to understand this most essential vibration.

In fact, all of the great spiritual traditions have studied the subtle vibration of sound, each in their own way, for thousands of years.

In the Bible, sound is revealed as the source of all creation, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made."

The ancient sages of India were perhaps the earliest scientists of sound, performing deep investigation into the nature of sound and its relationship to the Self, repeating rigorous meditation practices, and recording their discoveries in elaborate scriptures and texts. From their disciplined observation of the subtlest sound vibrations arose the timeless theory and practice of mantra.

In the mystical sects of Judaism and Hinduism, the sounds of the Hebrew and Sanskrit alphabets (respectively) have been studied in rich detail, each letter representing a powerful sound vibration believed to reflect a unique aspect of the divine, creative intelligence.

The Greek philosopher Pythagoras acknowledged that subtle sounds operate at all levels of the cosmos, "Each celestial body, in fact each and every atom, produces a particular sound on account of its movement, its rhythm or vibration. All these sounds and vibrations form a universal harmony in which each element, while having its own function and character, contributes to the whole."

Through their inner investigation, the sages of India came to realize several profound aspects of sound: 1) Sound (vibration) is the essential nature of the universe, 2) Sound is the basis of individuated consciousness (body, mind, and soul), and 3) Understanding sound is the key to transcending individual identity and realizing the universal Self.

By understanding sound, we can free our consciousness from the illusory perception of the limited, individuated self, and begin to recognize of our eternal, cosmic nature. Over the coming weeks, I hope to write more on these sacred sounds, how they form the essence of the body and mind, and how a deeper understanding can liberate us into a fully awakened state of consciousness.

...it is such a splendid and vibrant internal melody, pulsing and alive with intelligence. If you listen closely, you can almost hear it...but if you feel deeply, you can most certainly sense this sweet chorus vibrating in your soul.

Comments

[True]

Not sure why this article seems so unbelievable to some.

Even conservative science tells us the universe is made up of vibrational frequencies. Is it really so impossible to conceptualize these vibrations may all create a "sound" we can "hear" on some level of awareness?

[Kalena]

Stacey,
I'm a big fan, and thoroughly enjoy reading your posts, saving many. I loved today's! I've been troubled with a ringing in my ears...more pronounced since relocating across the ocean recently. Today I decided to begin to explore it, rather than be bothered by or fear it. It might be my music, the 'sweet chorus' :-)
Mahalo plenty, k

[garbovatwins]

If enough members of your species find it possible to hear their own inner self, than perhaps you as a species will be able to hear the soul of the living being you inhabit so that you all can return to the delicate harmony needed for your coexistence.

[Orlando]

You find what you choose to seek in this world.

[cylindar]

Yes.

[Promise]

Thank you for this post. One of my pet peeves is the proliferation of loud, electronic music that many people think is necessary for happiness. It would be ok if they kept it to themselves but many feel that it is their inalienable right to spread it over the rest of the world. Noise pollution is something that has been recently acknoweledged as a genuine health hazard. One doctor who wrote an article about it in a medical journal commented that a person would not think to throw garbage on his neighbor's property but that many don't think twice about polluting the air of their neighbors with obnoxious electronic noise ("music").

So, yes, I really do hope that listening to the sweet sound of one's own soul catches on...quick!

[balance]

Hmm...
To point out some often printed references about vibration and existence:
1) (as mentioned) the rhythm of one's breathing
2) (as mentioned) the rhythm of one's heart beat
3) the rhythm and vibration within one's body as one might chant "Om" or some other mantra, or sing, or speak, or dance, or perform music with an instrument
4) the rhythm and vibration caused by circulation in one's body
5) brain waves becoming steadier, deeper as it goes from beta, to alpha, and to delta --
as patterns of "vibration" making up our perception of consciousness.
6) brownian motion -- as the vibration of molecules within us and around us, reflective of our state of heat energy
7) quantum vibration and the harmonic oscillation - within the molecular bonds between atoms
8) string theory -- where perhaps the ultimate components of matter, energy, forces, etc... are composed of vibrating "strings"

So yes, vibrations/wave-form/oscillations can be recognized as an elemental pattern within the Universe. How such observations would fit into the Utilitarian, goal-oriented world view of much of competitive modern culture, remains a mystery.

[BrenDavis]

Hmm.

Well, it is a FACT that in various ancient yet ongoing spiritual traditions that predate mainstream Judeo-Christian derivatives by a few millennia (and which have been liberally borrowed from to form the ruling sacred inner orders of the visible, outer denominations and traditions to which the masses flock), sacred words are VIBRATED and not merely "spoken".

And this is not an accident, but it's also all I am going to say.

Excellent post - thanks.

[clintfatigue]

Say what?

See Huna.

[provgrays]

I don't know if this kind of sound exists, but Americans as a whole are not very reflective. Any thoughts that don't involve the acquision of money or the seeking of pleasure must be a good thing. This post could be called narcissistic, but if the writer finds insight and meaning in it, who can rightly criticize that?

[sowhatdemos]

bethinCary See Profile I'm a Fan of bethinCary
I've had some conflict with the Catholic Doctrine lately of mysticism and looking for ones' individual soul--which the church teaches against..
I disagree-as someone who has listened to and realized her own inner soul.

I'll bet on your inner soul being correct. The Catholics? More guilt than being Irish!!
I'm a recovering Baptist so I know all the bs organized religion teaches.The western religions leave out inner soul searching - just follow the code, do what the father says,
Don't think too much!. Don't have sex standing up, the Baptists' will think you're dancing!!!

BUT...
The inner soul- child must mature to be productive, effective and a help to the world to be successful.

And that spiritual place mentioned in the article is real. I have found it and bethinCary has found it.

George Harrison found it, he said something like, "There is another level of spiritually and if you can get there you will feel supreme joy."

[sowhatdemos]

Lt See Profile I'm a Fan of Lt
Right On!
Hearing the sound of your own soul is about the biggest load of BS, I have heard lately.

bethinCary
It's a mistake for people to think life, the universe, God, the soul...is that simplisitic.

But it is that easy.
And it is there if you listen. That's why Jesus said children understand better than adults because thay aren't yet calloused.
You just have to (for me) shut off all electronic devices (very important) , take a blanket or chair, go outside, be still and listen - to nature. But you have to forget yourself, be silent and relaxed to really hear the world around you.
For some of you to achieve a calm state, artificial means might be in order from your doctor.

[bethinCary]

Guess I should have clarified--but no, I don't agree that it's that simple at all.
But yes I agree with you that "being still" is the answer--but that's not always easy to do..

What I was referring to about the Universe, God, and the soul and simplicity--was thinking that christian laypeople are the only ones who can deliver an individual to thier "soul".
It should be everyones' DUTY to also look on thier own-aside from their religion-w religion as reinforcement-but not sole deliverer/owner of a soul.

[BobMunck]

Have you ever really looked at your hand, man? Oh wow.

[Lt]

And, by the way, that buzzing in your ears is not your soul, it's one too many martini's!

[recless]

It's too many Slayer concerts for me...

[bethinCary]

I've had some conflict with the Catholic Doctrine lately of mysticism and looking for ones' individual soul--which the church teaches against..
I disagree-as someone who has listened to and realized her own inner soul..
I don't understand this doctrine-after all--parts of mass declare--"....so that the Archangel Michael and all the saints an angels may intercede on your behalf, oh Lord.."...
which I take to mean--that we should be listening for such vibrations,messages, coincidences...on behalf of God/ higher Consciousness..(or whaever Deity you wish to use here).
Also with Christianity--laypeople want to teach that they have the keys to some afterlife/salvation/redemption--and that it's up to them to unlock it for you..
But what most christians know about christiantiy is 100% learned behavior.
So this is not the individuals' soul exploration-this is all learned behavior-without thought, without questions, without a self-search.
Once again-an "easy-button" for life/salvation/soul..
It's a mistake for people to think life, the universe, God, the soul...is that simplisitic.

[rini]

My soul sounds like the White Stripes.

[Lt]

Right On!

Hearing the sound of your own soul is about the biggest load of BS, I have heard lately.

[KarenKaren]

Love it!