Vigyan Bhairava Meditation

Sutra – 38

The Meaning of Naad: Sound, Tone, and Vibration

Are you familiar with these concepts?

No? You do not know?

Let us explore them together and delve into meditation.

In today’s world, we have lost touch with the true essence of Naad—sound and vibration—which is why we often find ourselves in distress. Words, tones, and noises have created chaos in our lives, yet we cling to them relentlessly.

From childhood, we have been taught to weave sounds into words and sentences. A child utters their first syllable, “M,” and we transform it into “Ma,” then “Pa” into “Papa.” From there, a web of words begins to envelop us. What you are reading right now is also a tapestry of words. Words are simply vibrations shaped into a form, condensed into meaning, and our lives revolve endlessly around them.

Sentences are nothing but intricate traps of words. We derive pleasure or pain from what we hear, interpreting words as blessings or curses. We internalize sentences and words from childhood, rarely paying attention to the emotions behind them. Even when someone speaks to us directly or over the phone, we often judge the meaning of their words without noticing their feelings.

An infant remains joyful until they are entangled in the web of language. When you travel to a country where you don’t understand the language or meet someone who doesn’t speak your tongue, you rely on their expressions to gauge their emotions. Similarly, you can sense the feelings of pets or plants, a natural ability we all possess. However, ensnared by words, we lose this intuitive skill.

Most conflicts, misunderstandings, and betrayals today arise because we are trapped in this web of words. Psychology tells us that a person’s expressions often reveal more truth than their words, yet we focus solely on their spoken language, leaving us vulnerable to deception.

This sutra invites us to break free from this trap.

The Essence of Naad

The sutra urges us to immerse ourselves in sound and vibration without trying to interpret them. What your ears hear—simply listen, without extracting meaning. The more you try to analyze sound, the farther you drift from its essence. The farther you drift from the speaker, the more you distance yourself from reality and your own self.

By following the method outlined in this sutra, one can achieve meditative stillness by dissolving into the unstruck sound—Anahad Naad. This unstruck vibration is the primordial sound of the cosmos, a gateway to effortless meditation.

The Unstruck Sound: Anahad Naad

Anahad Naad refers to the subtle, ever-resonating vibrations in the universe. Although these sounds constantly surround us, we cannot hear them with our physical ears because we have been conditioned to hear only sounds that carry explicit meaning.

The practice involves sitting in Padmasana, Vajrasana, or Sukhasana, closing your eyes and ears with your thumbs, and directing your focus inward. Initially, you may hear nothing, but this silence itself is a form of sound—a gateway to the inner world. Gradually, you will begin to hear the subtle vibrations within your body.

We have spent our entire lives listening to external noise. Rarely have we attuned ourselves to the inner symphony within. This sutra guides us toward the sounds we’ve ignored—the voices of our soul and the vibrations of the universe. As we listen to our inner sound, we eventually hear the voice of the cosmos. This inner sound is the voice of the soul, which is, in truth, the voice of the divine.

Instead of seeking God’s voice in the outer world, a futile endeavor, we must turn inward to listen to the eternal sound within.

The Deeper Stages of Practice

As you persist in this practice, you may begin to hear sounds that are not of this Earth or solar system. These cosmic sounds mark the deepening of your meditative state, leading you closer to profound spiritual awakening.

Even for beginners, this method is an effortless way to cultivate focus and advance toward meditation.

An Alternative Method

If focusing inward feels challenging, another approach suggested by the sutra is to immerse yourself in the natural sounds of flowing water, such as a waterfall or a rushing river. Visit a place where you can hear these natural vibrations and allow their resonance to draw your mind away from worldly noise and closer to the harmony of nature.

If traveling to such a place is not possible, you can listen to recordings of waterfalls or rivers through earphones. These sounds, readily available online, can serve as a powerful aid in achieving meditative absorption.

Conclusion

This sutra invites us to reconnect with the sacred vibration of Naad. By turning inward and embracing the pure resonance within, we transcend the chaos of words and discover the divine harmony of existence. Listen, not with the intent to interpret, but to immerse yourself in the boundless silence that speaks of eternal truth.

Thank you.