NADA YOGA

Nada Yoga is about sounds. It is the knowledge of the quality of sounds and the way they affect people. We have sounds that are coarse and sounds that are fine. The finest sounds we hear in the mind. In yoga we call them the inner sounds.

THE UNIVERSE AND NADA

According to Nada Yogis and scriptures dealing with Nada Yoga, the original and transcendent sound is the seed from which the whole of creation has grown.

The Nada Yogi experiences the macrocosmic universe as a projection of sound vibrations - that the whole world has developed from sound alone. In the bible there is a reference, "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God". This word is called Nada or Shabda in Sanskrit.

Sufis in India call it Surat. Surat- Shabda-Yoga is another name for Nada Yoga practice. Certain Muslim mystics are also of the opinion that the world has developed from sound and form.

The Nada Yogis claim that the five elements, the five physical senses, the five subtle senses, the fourfold mind and the three gunas have developed from an eternal sound. That means that the material, the mental, the psychic and the intellectual universe have all originated from Nada-Brahma, the sound universe. It is the way the Nada Yogi experiences his/her reality. It manifests itself in the form of vibrations, of which the highest either does not vibrate at all or vibrates at such a high frequency that it lies outside the reach of human senses.

The eternal or original Nada vibration is the highest. When any object vibrates with an enormous and incredible speed, it then becomes silent. That means that the highest point of speed and vibration is silence and that sound seems to be the creative principle behind all matter.

The Upanishads (in this context with special reference to Nada-Bindu-Upanishad and the Hansa-Upanishad) and the Vedas describe that in the beginning was nothing. There was absolutely nothing, there was non-existence in the universe - there was only sound. The sound was unending, the sound was the only existing reality. The universe evolved from sound, and therefore the fundamental structure of the universe is based on Nada or sound vibrations.

Music is a result of Nada. Mantra in its purest form is a manifestation of Nada. The movement of Energy (Prana) in the body is an expression of Nada.

DIFFERENT STATES OF NADA

In Tantra it is thought that sound occurs in four dimensions - four levels of sound relating to frequency, fineness and strength.

1. The coarse (ordinary audible, material) sound,

2. the mental sound,

3. the visualised sound and

4. the transcendent sound.

This we can compare with other tantric meditations where, in order to satisfy the mind, we begin in the senses and create a state of security as a basis for going deeper.

From the body we turn to the breath which is experienced without any interference. In this way, a deeper relaxed state is triggered.

With a mantra - a sound syllable which we repeat mentally – we transcend the mind and reach the inner sounds and symbols, pictures which we see within and which, depending on their nature, represent certain levels of consciousness.

Through the use of an inner symbol, we remain aware in normally unconscious states and get closer to the core of our being and the state of pure being.

Ordinary sounds are the coarsest manifestation of sound. We are aware of the coarse sounds and we hear them every day - vibrations which hit our ear drums from the space around us, from our surroundings.

From there we move on to other, finer sounds.

After having left the coarse and tangible sounds that we experience through the senses, we can become conscious of the mental sounds. They are sounds which we hear in mind. Their frequency and strength is dependent on both our mental and physical state. In a relaxed state they are easy to perceive. The sounds also become clearer when we are exhausted, agitated or after strong physical activity such as running or intense and prolonged dancing.

When we go deeper we reach the visual or astral sound, the sound which is found in the inner space and which appears in visual forms. Certain forms answer to certain sounds and certain states. Sounds or forms which we, for instance,experience in our dreams, belong to this plane as well as sounds which are linked to certain meditation symbols.

Behind the visual sounds the transcendent or supra-conscious sound is found. The transcendent sound and the transcendent consciousness are the same. In Nada Yoga universal consciousness is perceived in the form of sound.

The tangible or coarse universe which we experience through our senses, the mind and our normal experience of people can in this way be led back to the source, the sound, Nada.

For the Nada yogi it is important to make contact with the sounds which are found in the other dimensions; the mental and psychic. In this way the capability of the mind is expanded.

NADA YOGA MEDITATION

Every real form of meditation shares certain common effects with others.

Some forms are stronger, some weaker, some focus on one thing, others focus on another.

The method in Nada-Yoga-Sadhana is to reach the original, the finest inner sound, Shabda or the inner word.

You could characterise Nada Yoga as a sort of vibrating vacuum cleaner which dissolves tensions and blocks even at the finer levels of consciousness.

To reach the superconscious or transcendent and non-empiric sound, the process must start with the experience of the coarser sounds.

THE NADA CENTER

In which centre is the transcendent Nada experienced? Bhaktis (those who liberate themselves through devotion) place their Ishta, the personal centre, in Anahat Chakra by the heart. Yogis use the centre of intuition in Ajna Chakra in the middle of the head. The Vedantics seek it in Hiranya Garbha, the golden egg in Sahasara Chakra in the upper part of the head.

In the same way, the Nada Yogis locate the sound centre in Bindu, which is located at the top of the back of the head. Bindu is the centre in the brain where an on-going sound vibration takes place. To be able to experience the Nada sound, Bindu has first to be located.

But rather than exploring the theory of this science at the outset, it is better initially to investigate it in a practical way and localise or discover the mental, astral and psychic nature of the Nada sound. Different techniques and aids within Nada Yoga can be used to help practitioners go through the different psychic or non physical sounds, so that consciousness can be brought into harmony with the real Nada.

PRACTISING NADA YOGA IN BHAKTI YOGA

When a Bhakti Yogi uses a Mantra, the first technique that he or she uses is to focus on the sound produced by the Mantra. It is said aloud.

When he has warmed up with this practice or when he has attained a deeper and clearer awareness of the sound of the Mantra, then he stops producing audible sound vibrations. He intensifies his experience of the Mantra by whispering it or by saying it with his lips without producing any audible sound. He aims to become one with the whispered Mantra.

When it is achieved, he stops moving his mouth and begins to experience the mental mantra. Now he chants the same mantra in his head. It is as if he himself is not producing the mantra, but is hearing the mental and fine tones. Although they are inaudible to the outer ear, they can be picked up by a finely tuned consciousness. The Bhakti Yogi experiences the Mantra as if he actually sings it so that everyone can hear it, but it occurs only in his mind.

When the Mantra begins to work, it causes the awareness to let go of all outer things and turn to the deeper levels of consciousness. Then the Mantra changes to Nada, a constant sound which occurs by itself. The aspirant will on this level of consciousness think it audible, but it will not be noticed or heard by others. It is Mantra-Nada-Yoga for Bhakti Yogis.

"Nada is found within. It is a music without strings which plays in the body. It penetrates the inner and the outer and leads you away from illusion." (Kabir)

PRACTICAL INTRODUCTION TO NADA YOGA

PRECAUTIONS

There are certain precautions one must take as an intense Nada Yoga practice may give rise to a disturbing presence of certain sounds. It can happen that a person experiences the sound as if it's humming in the ears the whole day. It can be that they hear the ringing of bells or other sounds. Maybe they become disturbed in their daily tasks by these tones.

Through the practice of Nada Yoga, the inner sounds are gradually developed, but you do not have to listen to them at other times of the day. Let us presume that Nada Yoga has been practiced in the night and you have discovered different sounds. Next morning you go to the office or the classroom and begin to hear the sound of bells. You want to avoid it, you try, but you still hear the sound. You may also experience it as if bees are humming in your ears. If these symptoms appear you have to consider what to do. Is your diet okay, otherwise you have to change it? Do you want to continue, but get irritated or disturbed by the sounds? Then you have either to change your attitude or if you do not succeed and you want the sounds to stop then you have to give up the Nada Yoga path.

The Nada Yogi can hear a voice in a wakeful state if he is at an advanced level. To him, it sounds as if someone is whispering in his ears. This is a kind of "Siddhi", an ability to hear the sound of an unknown voice.

This, however, should not be confused with a group of people in India called Karnapischachee, which means "the ghost in the ears". The Karnapischachees are often consulted by people in difficulties. Then they hold a kind of bell in their hands and ring it close to their ears for some time, until they hear a voice. They are used as oracles and whatever is heard or whispered in their ears is told to the person who asks. A Yoga practitioner should not use such a method to achieve this result as it often leads to deafness. As a result the Karnapischachees in India have hearing problems.

These days many people have hearing impairment, which can be compared to the case of the Karnapischachee. This applies to rock musicians, for example, or people who work in a noisy environment. These injuries of course have nothing to do with Nada Yoga. Also thereare people who spontaneously hear sounds like a ringing in their ears. Some of these sounds are probably caused by injuries to the ears, while others can be related to the sounds which are heard in Nada Yoga. The Yogi cannot monopolize these phenomena; the yogi has only discovered them and knows how to use them to benefit from them, but the sounds are there anyhow.

If a person seeks help from a doctor because he or she is suffering from disturbing sounds and does not know the positive sides of this phenomenon, and if the doctor cannot help maybe it could be useful for the person to change his attitude to the sound and start to practice Nada Yoga under the guidance of an expert.

WHEN TO PRACTICE

You can practice Nada Yoga whenever you have time. However, in order to get a tangible result, a beginner should practice Nada Yoga between midnight and two o'clock in the morning.

Midnight is the time which is free from other disturbing sounds, and the absence of light in the atmosphere also helps. Doing it at this time helps to turn the mind inwards.

Or get up at two or three o'clock in the morning, take a shower and then sit properly. You will find it quite different at this time and you will surely hear something. And once you have had a hint of the sound, when you have found a trace of the sound, when you have come into contact with a sound, then it's easy to go on.

Of course there are diversions which are disturbing at the beginning. Our mind is influenced by inhibitions, habits, tendencies and urges. But even if there are many disturbances within, the practice of this Sadhana, the spiritual practice, is generally very rewarding.

The Nada Yoga Sadhana unfolds and reaches the unbroken sound, which in yoga is known as Anahata Nada - the sound which continues. It has no beginning and no end. At the highest point of your practice, your Sadhana's highest state, you may feel that the whole body and mind, the whole personality is nothing but rapid vibrations, a movement of fast sound vibrations and you experience yourself as sound. This Nada Yoga is a great Sadhana, a great spiritual method. In India there are many people who have perfected it.

TRADITIONAL DESCRIPTIONS

NADA AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CONSCIOUSNESS

The sounds which are heard are real. They are symbols of the contents of the mind and of the consciousness. The mind rests in these symbols and, with their help, goes more quickly into a finer state. The sounds are experiences from a deeper level of consciousness. They are not imaginary. They can be understood as vibrations of different spheres of one's existence. In the various dimensions of existence, different sounds are heard. First there are the physical sounds, and when the consciousness becomes fine and transcends the physical plane, it then comes into contact with the fine sounds which arise with the movement of the prana or the vital energy in the body.

The whole range of human consciousness can be divided into three, or subdivided into five, parts.

The conscious area is made up of Annamaya and Pranayama Kosha, two "bodies" which exist respectively as physical matter, the "food" dimension and as Prana, the energy dimension.  

The personality's other sphere is made up of Manomaya and Vigyanmaya Kosha, mainly mental and astral material, the conscious mind and the dream dimension.

The third area of consciousness is Ananda Maya Kosha, which is a "body", a dimension, full of bliss.

When you practice Nada Yoga, the sounds appear in accordance with the existing connection between the mind and the other areas of consciousness.

Consciousness can, for example, linger in the physical body and when the ears are closed the sounds or vibrations that come from the heart, the lungs, the brain, the blood circulation and the different metabolic processes can be heard taking place in the body.

If the consciousness lingers in Prana Maya Kosha - the psychic energy, and has penetrated it, then Nada will be heard as a flute along with many other sounds.

If the mind has reached deep into Ananda Maya Kosha, then other sounds will disappear and the fruit of Nada Yoga will remain.

NADA YOGA AND KABIR

A famous Nada Yogi, Kabir (see him also cited earlier in the text and in the previous issue of Bindu) says in one of his poems,

"Who is there playing the flute in the middle of the sky? The flute is played where Ganges and Jamuna float together and the confluence of the three rivers - Ganges, Jamuna and Sarawati – takes place in Trikuti. Oh, this is the meeting place for Ganges and Jamuna. The sound flows forth from the North. Cowherd girls hear the sound of the flute and lo, they are all hypnotised by Nada."

The ultimate experience in Nada Yoga is a sound which is higher than the sound of the flute. The music on this highest plane of consciousness is not a flute, Veena, a cloud, lightning, clapping or the sound of brass instruments being hit together, nor is it any other instrument. It resembles neither the classical music of the East nor of the West. The music of the highest conscious plane is "Unahada Nada".

UNAHADA NADA OR ANAHATA NADA

What is Unahada Nada? Up to now, people have not been able to agree on this. Some say that it is the cosmic sound of OM. Others say that it is like Bhramari - a sound which is unending, unbroken like the sound of a bee. Some say that it is the heartbeat, "throb, throb, throb" which is called "Unahada Nada".

Some call it Anahada and others call it Anahat. These two words have two different meanings. Anahat means "an" + "aahat". "An" means "no"or "un", "aahat" means "that which strikes, beats or hammers". Therefore, Anahat means "unbeaten, or, no hitting of two things against each other". When a sound is produced, it happens through striking, but Anahat is a sound, which is not produced through any striking. It is spontaneous and automatic. Certain scholars say that Nada is Anahada. "An" means "none" and "Hada" means "boundary" or "connection". Anahada means "infinite", "without beginning or

end" or "indescribable". It is a sound on which no limitation can be placed. It can be any sound.  

NADA YOGA AND YOGI GORAKNATH

Yogi Goraknath, disciple of Yogi Matsyendranath, was more spiritually developed and had greater insight into the spiritual life than even his own Guru. He writes, "Oh Sadhu (aspirant), carry out Japa [the repetition of a mantra] of `So Ham'. That Japa should not be carried out by the mind. It should be experienced in the breath so that even when you are engaged in your daily activities you should be conscious of your day's 21.600 breaths. When your subconscious or your inner consciousness unites with your breath throughout the 24 hours of a day, 21.600 rhythms are experienced with a speed of 15 to 19 rounds per minute (which is at least 900 breaths per hour). Then Anahata Nada manifests itself." He continues: "There will be light in the spine. The `Sun' energy [which is connected to the right half of the brain], Surya Nadi, will be awakened. You will feel an indescribable vibrating sound resonate from every pore of your body and it will be like Om or Soham".