Nada Yoga (Inner Sound Meditation): Nada is a Word for Divine or Cosmic Sound
Nada is a word for divine or cosmic Sound — hearing heavenly Music or Sounds with an inner spiritual sense of transcendental hearing. Most all religions and schools of mysticism have examples of Saints who reported hearing heavenly music. This is also true in Hinduism. Excerpted below is the essence of the Nada Bindu Upanishad of the Rig-Veda, translated by K. Narayanasvami Aiyar. At the bottom is a link to the complete Upanishad online. While not identical to inner Light and Sound Meditation practice, also known as Surat Shabd Yoga, it nevertheless can give one a sense of what it might be like to listen to inner Sounds, and how that beyond the Sound there is another level or stage called Ashabda, the Soundless State of the Supreme Spirit, which is the ultimate goal and Reality of the practice, in both Shabda and Nada Yoga traditions.
31. The Yogin being in the Siddhasana (posture) and practising the Vaishnavi-Mudra, should always hear the internal sound through the right ear.
32. The sound which he thus practises makes him deaf to all external sounds. Having overcome all obstacles, he enters the Turya state within fifteen days.
33. In the beginning of his practice, he hears many loud sounds. They gradually increase in pitch and are heard more and more subtly.
34. At first, the sounds are like those proceeding from the ocean, clouds, kettle-drum and cataracts; in the middle (stage) those proceeding from Mardala (a musical instrument), bell and horn.
35. At the last stage, those proceeding from tinkling bells, flute, Vina (a musical instrument) and bees. Thus he hears many such sounds more and more subtle.
36. When he comes to that stage when the sound of the great kettle-drum is being heard, he should try to distinguish only sounds more and more subtle.
37. He may change his concentration from the gross sound to the subtle, or from the subtle to the gross, but he should not allow his mind to be diverted from them towards others.
38. The mind having at first concentrated itself on any one sound fixes firmly to that and is absorbed in it.
39. It (the mind) becoming insensible to the external impressions, becomes one with the sound as milk with water and then becomes rapidly absorbed in Chidakasa (the Akasa where Chit prevails).
40. Being indifferent towards all objects, the Yogin having controlled his passions, should by continual practice concentrate his attention upon the sound which destroys the mind [distractions of thoughts in Chitta-mind].
41. Having abandoned all thoughts and being freed from all actions, he should always concentrate his attention on the sound and (then) his Chitta becomes absorbed in it.
42-43(a). Just as the bee drinking the honey (alone) does not care for the odour, so the Chitta which is always absorbed in sound, does not long for sensual objects, as it is bound by the sweet smell of Nada and has abandoned its flitting nature.
43(b)-44(a). The serpent Chitta through listening to the Nada is entirely absorbed in it and becoming unconscious of everything concentrates itself on the sound.
44(b)-45(a). The sound serves the purpose of a sharp goad to control the maddened elephant — Chitta which roves in the pleasure-garden of the sensual objects.
45(b)-46(a). It serves the purpose of a snare for binding the deer — Chitta. It also serves the purpose of a shore to the ocean waves of Chitta.
46(b)-47(a). The sound proceeding from Pranava which is Brahman is of the nature of effulgence; the mind becomes absorbed in it; that is the supreme seat of Vishnu.
47(b)-48(a). The sound exists till there is the Akasic conception (Akasa-Sankalpa). Beyond this, is the (Asabda) soundless Para-Brahman which is Paramatman.
48(b). The mind exists so long as there is sound, but with its (sound’s cessation) there is the state called Unmani of Manas (viz., the state of being above the mind).
49(a). This sound is absorbed in the Akshara (indestructible) and the Soundless State is the supreme seat.
The Hindu Upanishad About Inner Sound Meditation: “The Nada-Bindu Upanishad” — Online: http://theholysound.com/sant-dariya-saheb-bihar/Nada-Bindu-Upanishad.html
