Right from childhood we’re attracted to sound. Music is universally appreciated because the sound has a rhythm in it. We want the same rhythm in our lives also. The very basis of Universe is also sound. The rishis or seers knew the importance of sound. And that is why you will find Om in every mantra. Be it Gayatri mantra, Mahamrityunjaya mantra, Om always finds a place.
Music of Soul
A few musicians are considered maestros. Because they produce soulful music. Zakir Hussain and Zubin Mehta may be mentioned. They became maestros after training under their Gurus. Rigorous practice is needed. Maybe they possessed an innate quality also. The soul is also playing divine music. But we will have to train our ears to listen to this divine music. A Guru who is already enlightened can only train us to listen to this divine music. But we must possess the inner desire to listen to this divine music.
God: Musician of the highest order
Is it just a coincidence that Bhagvad Gita means ‘Song of God’? Lord Krishna must have narrated the verses to Arjuna in the form of songs. Singing on the battlefield? Who can sing a song when everything is under stake? Possibly, it is only God who can do this. Music of God can be found everywhere. Probably, the remarkable diversity we can see of flora and fauna is because God is a musician of the highest order. We can only appreciate this music if we have firm faith in God.
So’Ham: I Am That
We start breathing from the day we are born till the day we die. But we never ponder who we are actually. If we concentrate on our breathing for a moment, we will realise a profound truth. With every in-breath and out-breath we’re creating a sound So and Ham. Every in-breath is So and out-breath is Ham. Together this appears to be So’Ham. Early rishis must have pondered over the meaning of So’Ham. So’Ham may be construed as ‘I Am That’. This in itself can be considered a mantra. With every breath we’re surrendering ourselves to the divine order.
Barriers to cross: before we start listening to the divine song
The purpose of meditation is not to just concentrate on our breathing. Control on our breathing is only advocated by Yoga masters who can teach Pranayama. The goal is to listen to the divine music. Meditation should help us listen to the divine song being played by God. The real purpose of meditation is to cross the barriers we have created for ourselves. These barriers have been created due to our own ego. Unless we shed the ego its almost impossible to listen to the music of soul.
At present, there is a feeling that we are our bodies. Right from the moment we open our eyes in morning till we sleep we are dependent on our body. However, since our sensory powers are limited, we can hear only man-made sound with our ears. We can see man-made objects. But animals are capable of perceiving sounds of higher frequencies and higher pitches.
Musicians have to tune their vocal chords and instruments so that they produce the right notes. Likewise, with meditation we can tune our souls. It is crazy to think that soul plays its own music and soul is also witnessing the same music. We can say that soul is in a way self-sufficient. It is producing an eternal music which was there before we take birth and which will be there after we die. This music is endless and can be a fountain of joy forever.
Why Listen To Music of Soul
Most of us don’t have the desire to listen to the divine song of soul. They are satisfied with the mundane music being played on Spotify or YouTube. But this music has limitations. If we do not have internet connection or if we haven’t subscribed to Spotify there will be interruptions. But soul can be a perennial source of joy. The music of soul is virtually infinite.
Listening to music of soul makes you aware of soul. Otherwise, you are living in a kind of ignorance. In a sense, meditation creates hyper ‘awareness’ or ‘awareness about awareness’. It is true that we are conscious 24/7. Even when we are asleep, we are in a different stage of consciousness.
But meditation makes us conscious of this consciousness. This is what makes meditation so wonderful. The young generation can draw an analogy with selfies on mobile camera. So meditation is like the soul and mind is taking a selfie. What do you do after you take a selfie? Probably you will take a look at it a couple of years from now and ponder how you have changed. Or, even derive some joy from seeing a selfie you took at a famous spot.
In a similar way, meditation helps us keep in touch with our soul. We listen to what the soul has to say. With intense practice, we may even establish a two-way communication with our soul. Happy meditation!
