Sounds

“Music is the universal language of mankind.”~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“And silence, like a poultice, comes To heal the blows of sound.”~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Theory

Sounds are physical experiences, although we don’t usually relate to them as such. They are

waves of energy experienced in our body. The most sensitive body receptors for sounds are our

ear drums, but the waves can also be felt by skin, by muscle, by organs, and by our bones,

depending on their frequency and volume.

Often the sensations of sounds are overshadowed by the emotions and thinking we attach to the meaning of the auditory sensations. Here are just a few examples of how a person might attach another layer of meaning to the Sounds they hear on a moment to moment basis.

Pleasant; Birds Chirping, Waterfalling, Wind Blowing, Bells Chiming, Children Laughing & Playing, Person’s Voice, Music…

Unpleasant; Dog Barking, Wind Blowing, Gardeners, Trash Trucks, Construction, Emergency Sirens, Baby Crying, Alarm Clock, person’s Voice, Music…

Neutral; Refrigerator Running, Heating & Air Conditioning, Dog Breathing, Freeway, Computer Running, Indoor Plumbing, People Talking…

Mindfulness of sound is recognizing that there is a sound – recognizing the physical sensation of sound – and noticing the emotions and thinking that are happening along with the sound.

Often, people think of sounds as a distraction from meditation. Remember, They say in Mindfulness Meditation there are no distractions, there are only objects arising and passing within Awareness to simply observe and become Aware of.

Practice:

Begin with Mindfulness of Breath Meditation. Once you feel “settled”, let the focus of attention move from feeling the breath to feeling whatever sounds there are in the environment. Notice if you are relating to the sounds as physical sensations or if you have thoughts or feelings about the sounds.

Anytime you notice you are having thoughts and feelings about the sounds, acknowledge them, let them be in the background and gently bring the focus of attention back to the breath.

Music Practice Each day, devote 5 to 30 minutes to sit still and listen to music. Choose any music you wish. Listen to the music on speakers or headphones. Do nothing more than listen to the music. Do not use music in the background while you do something else. Use the music as your anchor to the present moment and any time attention wanders off, gets lost or gets caught up in something, gently bring attention back to the music.