Various Yoga, and Meditation Practice

Most readers would be aware of the different forms of popular yoga, namely: Hatha yoga, Jnana yoga, Bhakti yoga, Karma yoga, Raja yoga, Mantra yoga and Laya yoga. Regardless of the differing emphasis one tradition of yoga places over another, all should have the same goal. That goal, put simply, is to separate the individualized soul from mind and matter, and unify it with the universal Soul (God or Brahma). There is, however, one other ancient yogic tradition (some would go so far as to say the most ancient), which generally speaking is lesser known, but which aims for a no less noble objective. That tradition is called Surat Shabd yoga, or the yoga of the celestial Sound Current.

Those precious beings who have mastered this form of yoga profess that the universal Soul manifests Itself into two primary elements, a lightless Light and a soundless Sound. Although these two spiritual elements mirror the relationship between mundane light and sound, in so far as light is sound of a very high vibrational frequency, they are not equivalent. Because the Light and Sound are part of the universal vibratory continuum, if one is able to contact the Sound Current then one is surely on the road to the Light that all the great past Masters spoke of.

In fact, throughout history many great figures have made this distinction between worldly sound and a wondrous celestial Sound, which at higher vibrational frequencies is believed to have enchanting musical attributes. For example, the ancient Egyptian Plotinus, who is regarded as the founder of Neoplatonism, said: "All music, based upon melody and rhythm, is the Earthly representation of heavenly music." Pythagoras believed that we are constantly in contact with the "Music of the Spheres," which fills our inner ears from the moment of our birth. And the famous fifteenth-century Indian mystic and poet, Kabir, wrote extensively about mysterious "Unstruck Music" which delivers the soul into a state of enchanting rapture:

There falls the rhythmic beat of life and death:	
Rapture wells forth, and all space is radiant with light.
There the Unstruck Music is sounded; it is the music of the
   love of the three worlds.
There millions of lamps of sun and of moon are burning:
There the drum beats and the lover swings in play.
There love-songs resound, and light rains in showers; 
and the worshipper is entranced in the taste of the heavenly nectar.

Although often unscrupulously edited, or misunderstood by well-meaning translators, major religious scriptures still contain references to this heavenly Sound. For example, in the Gospel of Saint John the divine Sound is referred to as the Word: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1) This was substantiated when the late Dr. Edmond Bordeaux Szekely, philologist, archaeologist, and co-founder of the International Biogenic Society, accidentally came upon secret Aramaic texts in the Vatican, which date back to the third century after the death of Jesus. Dr. Szekely translated a revealing document called the "Essene Gospel of Peace" in which the following appears: "In the beginning was the Sound, and the Sound was with God, and the Sound was God."

Almost two decades of meticulous research convinced Dr. Szekely that Jesus was a member of the highly respected Essene spiritual community and therefore would have had intimate knowledge of their spiritual tradition. As he relates in The Essene Jesus, "There was the Essene Brotherhood at the Dead Sea which planted the Essene Tree of Life, whose highest branch was represented by the Essene Jesus."

There are numerous other references to the divine Sound in the Bible. For example, from the Book of Revelation 14:2: "And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder; the voice I heard was like the sound of harpers playing on their harps."

In Buddhism's Surangama sutra, Buddha Shakyamuni agreed with his fully enlightened disciple, Manjushri, when he deemed the divine Sound method of meditation to be the only way to Nirvana: "All the Brothers in this Great Assembly, and you too, Ananda, should reverse your outward perception of hearing and listen inwardly for the perfectly unified and intrinsic sound of your own Mind-Essence, for as soon as you have attained perfect accommodation you will have attained Supreme Enlightenment.

  "This is the only way to Nirvana, and it has been  
  followed by all the Tathagatas (saints) of the past."

The Upanishads, the vast ancient Indian philosophical treaty, uses the terms Sabda Brahman, Akash Bani, Nad and Sacred Word, among others, to refer to the primal Sound. For example, the Hansa Naad Upanishad states: "Meditation on Nad or the Sound Principle is the royal road to salvation."

Muhammad perceived the divine Sound in the cave at Gare-Hira, and the original Sufis called the divine Sound, Saute Surmad, which means "the tone that fills the cosmos."

Lao Tzu described the Tao, or Way, as "unimpeded harmony," and the source of all things. He also wrote about the Great Tone "that goes beyond all usual imagination." Chuang Tzu, who lived some three hundred years after Lao Tzu, also expounded the merits of contacting the spiritual Sound when he said: "Hear with the mind instead of the ears; hear with the energy instead of the mind. Hearing stops at the ears, the mind stops at contact, but energy is that which is empty and responsive to others. The Way gathers in emptiness; emptiness is mental fasting.

"If you have your ears and eyes penetrated inwardly, and are detached from conceptual knowledge, then even if ghosts and spirits come after you they will stop..."

In the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, which is Sikhism's holy book and possibly the most complete scripture available today, the terms "Unstruck Melody" and "Word" are often used to refer to the divine Sound:

Blessed, Blessed am I, that my God is my Spouse,
Within whose Court Ringeth the Unstruck Melody 
(of the Word). Night and day, I abide in Joy,
hearing ever the Music of Bliss:  	 
Yea, no more in this state is Pain or Sorrow,  
neither birth nor death.

Furthermore, many ancient cultures, including the Aztecs, Eskimos, Malayans and Persians, also support the notion that the universe has its origin in Sound. Australian Aboriginals also believe in Songlines or the "Way of the Law," which sang the world, and everything in it, into existence. A modern day physicist would use the typically prosaic phrase "Big Bang" to describe what certainly must be essentially the same phenomenon.

Indeed, the considerable scriptural evidence of a primal Sound or Vibration is supported by scientific evidence which recognizes that the basis of all matter is vibration: "All of Nature exists as a vast oscillatory spectrum. . . That sound shapes matter and imparts structure was unarguably demonstrated by Swiss scientist Hans Jenny in the 1960's. Using electronic sound oscillators and sophisticated photographic equipment, Jenny documented the reality of wave phenomena underlying matter (a new field he called cymatics) by filming the instantaneous shaping effects of tones, music, and vocal sound on various substances. . . spread on a metal plate. He meticulously catalogued the symmetrical, geometrically perfect structures and elegant sound mandalas that resulted from directing hundreds of different frequency and rhythmic combinations, from single tones and intervals to complex musical harmonies, through the plate."

Even more recent developments in the field of vibrational/sound therapy have produced some remarkable results, clearly indicating the significant effects of vibrational frequencies on living organisms. As author Larry Dossey relates, "A child psychologist recently reported his experience with an 11-year-old boy who was diagnosed as a catatonic schizophrenic. The child had not uttered a word in seven years. In one session with him, the therapist played Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's DJesu, Joy of Man's Desiring'. The boy began to weep. When the music ended he announced through his tears, "That is the most powerful music I have ever heard; now I can speak!"

If worldly sound can have such profound effects on our states of consciousness there can be little doubt about the potency and spiritual significance of the celestial Sound.

As my own master, I believe Supreme Master Ching Hai has perfected the ancient art of Surat Shabd yoga after finally finding Her master in the Himalayas, from whom She received the mastership transmission. Her incredible search for a master, which spanned several countries over many years, was punctuated with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The trials She endured made Her steadfastly resolve to make this ancient yogic tradition easily accessible to all sincere seekers of Truth. While many may find it difficult to comprehend the concept of a transcendental Sound and, moreover, appreciate the spiritual significance of this Sound, in a few simple words Supreme Master Ching Hai so aptly explains::

"The worldly sound is very important for our sensual and mental comfort, but the supra-worldly Sound draws us back to God."

"This inner Sound is the Great Creative Force of the cosmos. It is a Vibration that sustains and nourishes all things. Its manifestation in the outer world can be heard as the natural melodies such as the sound of the wind, the water, the birds, insects, et cetera. . . There are more subtle and higher Sounds which are inaudible to the mortal sense, because they vibrate in the higher dimensions. . . . To catch these higher Sounds we must raise our own levels to those worlds beyond our senses."

The key to raising one's level of consciousness to perceive the divine Sound is finding a living spiritual master who can genuinely initiate spiritual seekers. Initiation is necessary to fully awaken one's God-nature or master within. After initiation on one needs to meditate, according to the master's instructions, on the Light and the Sound each day to make continued spiritual progress..

A second and equally important role of the living master is to accept the past-life karma of their neophytes. Hence the master must take on a physical body to suffer the karma that would normally befall their students. Without this incredible sacrifice by the master, the neophyte's karmic burden would be too heavy to escape the endless cycle of rebirth. As Supreme Master Ching Hai observes, "While a living Master is on Earth he takes on some of the karma of the people, especially those who believe in the Master, and even more-so those who are disciples of the Master. . . . Therefore, the Master suffers for the disciples, and for mankind at large, in his lifetime. . . he might be sick, he might be ill, he might be tortured, he might be nailed on the cross, or he might be slandered."

Furthermore, the master's omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent qualities protects the initiate at all times because, once initiated, an eternal, spiritual link is established between the master and initiate until mastership is attained. This ensures numerous pitfalls along the spiritual journey are avoided. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus alluded to the precarious nature of the spiritual journey when He said, "For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few." (Matthew 7:14)

Although not as well known as other yogic traditions, the yoga of the celestial Sound Current is regarded by some to be the highest tradition. The compelling written evidence from ancient, wise philosophers and past great spiritual masters certainly supports such a view. While therapists are only recently discovering the healing effects of worldly vibrational frequencies, for thousands of years the great past masters have imparted the one unified Truth and the one path of celestial Sound and Light through which to assimilate this Truth. The fundamental unity of their message derides the superficial divisions that have taken root in the minds of influential, but sadly misguided, religious fanatics throughout the ages. Since the past masters are no longer with us, a living master is the key to experiencing this Truth and to contacting the divine Sound that pierces the dark layers of consciousness to uplift the soul to a supremely blissful spiritual reality within us all, where, we are told, the Light of millions of lamps of sun and of moon burn eternally.

Supreme Master Ching Hai is a female meditation master who espouses the essential unity of all religions and initiates sincere spiritual seekers into the ancient spiritual Sound and spiritual Light meditation practice, free of charge. She calls the practice the Quan Yin Method because She gave her first public lectures in Taiwan almost a decade ago (Quan Yin is a Chinese term that means contemplation of the vibration). Supreme Master Ching Hai's initiates agree to a life-long commitment to basic ethical codes of conduct, including the adherence to a lacto-vegetarian or vegan diet. She has meditation Centers in more than 40 countries.

For Further Reading:
"Berendt, J.E., The World is Sound: Nada Brahma (USA: Destiny Books, 1983), pp. 38, 171 and 174.
"Chatwin, Bruce, The Songlines (London: Pan Books Ltd., 1988), p. 2.
"Ching Hai, Supreme Master, The Key of Immediate Enlightenment (Book 1), (Taiwan: Supreme Master Ching Hai International Assoc., 1991), p. 85.
"Ching Hai, Supreme Master, I Have Come To Take You Home (USA: Supreme Master Ching Hai International Assoc., 1995), pp. 76 and 126.
"Chuang Tzu, see Cleary, p. 87.
"Cleary, Thomas, The Essential Tao (USA: Harper & Row, 1991).
"Dossey, Larry, Meaning and Medicine: A Doctor's Tales of Breakthrough and Healing, (USA: Bantam Books, 1991), pp. 143 and 145.
"Hansa Naad Upanishad, see K. Singh, p. 40.
"Hans Jenny, see Leviton, p. 44.
"Hazrat Inayat Khan, see Berendt, p. 38.
"Leviton, Richard, Rhythm, Harmony and Healing (Sydney: Australian WellBeing, 1994 annual edition no. 54).
"Singh, Dr. Gopal, trans., Sri Guru Granth Sahib, (India: Gur Das Kapur & Sons, 1964), Vol.3, p. 804.
"Singh, K., Naam or Word (USA: Ruhani Satsang, 1994).
"Sufis, see Berendt, p. 38.
"Surangama Sutra, see K. Singh, p. 62.
"Szekely, Edmond Bordeaux ,The Essene Jesus, (USA: International Biogenic Society, 1977), p. 5.
"Szekely, Edmond Bordeaux, Essene Communions with the Infinite, (USA: International Biogenic Society, 1979), pp. 26 and 27.
"Tagore, Rabindranath, trans., Songs of Kabir, (Canada: International Biogenic Society, 1989), p. 22.

Q: I have a practical problem due to previous yoga work that I did;
Chapter5: E. Entities: The Killing Karma. Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai October 30, 1995, Hsihu,
Formosa (Originally in English). Q: I have a practical problem due to previous yoga work that I did;
I have problems which most of Your initiates do not. That is with regard to entities. ...
godsdirectcontact.us/com/qa/e9.htm - 20k

breath-counting method or yoga exercise.
... They are created according to the law of karma, and are related to the karma that we have
incurred in previous lives. ... It is not easy to change our habits or magnetic field, which absolutely
cannot be done by practicing some breath-counting method or yoga exercise. ...
godsdirectcontact.us/ com/lectures/Worldly_Sound_Vs_Supra-worldly_Sound.htm - 28k

March 6, 1986 (Originally in Chinese)
... They are created according to the law of karma, and are related to the karma that we have
incurred in previous lives. ... It is not easy to change our habits or magnetic field, which absolutely
cannot be done by practicing some breath-counting method or yoga exercise. ...
godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/eNews/enews033-109/ htm033-118/news100/b-1.htm - 26k

Selected Questions & Answers
The Killing Karma. Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai October 30, 1995 Hsihu, Formosa (Originally
In English). Q: I have a practical problem due to previous yoga work which I did; I have problems
which most of Your initiates do not. ... M: That's the problem with the killing karma. ...
godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/eNews/enews033-109/ htm033-118/news91/f.html - 10k

Media Reports
... Most readers would be aware of the different forms of popular yoga, namely: Hatha yoga, Jnana
yoga, Bhakti yoga, Karma yoga, Raja yoga, Mantra yoga and Laya yoga. Regardless of the differing
emphasis one tradition of yoga places over another, all should have the same goal. ...
godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/enews/htm/084/h.html - 19k -

News Magazine NO.45
... Hinduism books, anything you want, yoga exercise, holy saints' teachings, so much to read. Q:
Master, if the Quan Yin Method can help me avoid reincarnation, how about my karma in my past
lives? M: Oh, I burn it. I throw it in the dust-bin and set fire to it and finish. Okay? ...
godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/eNews/enews033-109/ htm033-118/news45/ms.html - 30k

Different Methods are Like Different Vehicles
... What exactly is karma? Everything we do in this life or all that we did in our previous lives will transform
into a magnetic field and attract similar qualities to our body, making us what we are. ... By practicing
yoga, we can also attain the first or second realm, or at the most, the third realm. ...
godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/eNews/enews033-109/ htm033-118/news108/e-1.htm - 30k

FAQ -- Meditation on Light and Sound -- Godsdirectcontact.us
... It is the mercy of heaven, of Buddhas also. We have accumulated too much negative karma, through the
killing of animals en masse, and through many destructive weapons. ... Hmmm? So, the conditions - no experience
required. Yeah? No previous knowledge about any yoga, or any meditation required. ...
godsdirectcontact.us/faq.html - 76k

Appreciate Life, Start With Enlightenment
... Please tell me are these dreams involved with my karma? M. Maybe you had a very rough life before, um. ... Just
like an educated person and an uneducated person, there is a great difference. Q. Is it true that to
become fully realized one must practice the highest yoga-tantra and the secret mantra? ...
godsdirectcontact.us/com/teachings/ LECTUREappreciate.html - 90k

Enlightenment Awakens The Positive Power
... Hinduism books, anything you want, yoga exercise, holy saints' teachings, so much to read. Q.
Master, if the Quan Yin Method can help me avoid reincarnation, how about my karma in my past
lives? M. Oh, I burn it. I throw it in the dust-bin and set fire to it and finish. Okay? ...
godsdirectcontact.us/com/teachings/ LECTUREpositive.html - 77k

News Magazine NO.37
... Please tell me are these dreams involved with my karma? M: Maybe you had a very rough life before, um. ... Just
like an educated person and an uneducated person, there is a great difference. Q: Is it true that to
become fully realized one must practice the highest yoga-tantra and the secret mantra? ...
godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/eNews/enews033-109/ htm033-118/news37/ms.html - 74k

Supreme Master Ching Hai eNews
... Maybe only after the karma has been eliminated can they return to start anew from scratch, that is very
not good ... This year, over a hundred exhibitors at the Festival offered a wide range of interesting information
on relaxation and meditation techniques, sound therapy, yoga, feng shui (geomancy) and ...
godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/enews/htm/135/e135.htm - 101k

Supreme Master Ching Hai eNews
... Karma isn't always created by a sense of guilt; it also comes from our habits. ... The other yoga schools
usually refer to meditation as "a time to relax." Nowadays, if you read newspapers or magazines, the
regular ones, you'll find them mentioning meditation, or when they talk about how to live longer ...
godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/enews/htm/143/e143.htm - 101k

Is God A Being Or A Non-Being
... And when you take refuge, they read out loud: After you take refuge in the Buddha, your karma is all
cleansed, you will never be born in hell and as an animal, etc. ... Like Hatha yoga, they put all the breath
into the stomach, make it become very big and save it there for some time, maybe 2-3 minutes. ...
godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/eNews/enews033-109/ htm033-118/news51/i.html - 91k

La e-Revista Noticias de la Maestra Suprema Ching Hai No. 135
... Tal vez solo despues de que el karma haya sido eliminado, ellos podran empezar de nuevo desde cero,
!lo que no es muy bueno ... cien expositores en el Festival ofrecieron una amplia gama de interesante informacion
basada en tecnicas de meditacion y relajacion, terapia de sonido, yoga, feng shui ...
godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/eNews/snews135/s135.htm - 101k

News Magazine NO.45
... to understand the special qualities of these little Quan Yin practitioners through the daily observations
of their teachers, who also are vegetarians and yoga practitioners ... However, if abortion is legal, it becomes
a much greater offense to the karmic law, due to the collective nature of the karma. ...
godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/eNews/enews033-109/ htm033-118/news45/child.html - 27k

The Supreme Master Ching Hai E-news Magazine No.116
... I have searched, I have tried, I have done zazen, I have done zen zen, I have done yoga, and
I have done all kinds of things. ... Of course, all these changes were due to Master's great compassion
and infinite power in shouldering the immeasurable karma of sentient beings. ...
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Supreme Master Ching Hai E-news Magazine No.116
... I have searched, I have tried, I have done zazen, I have done zen zen, I have done yoga, and
I have done all kinds of things. ... Of course, all these changes were due to Master's great compassion
and infinite power in shouldering the immeasurable karma of sentient beings. ...
godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/enews/htm/116/e116.htm - 101k

Supreme Master Ching Hai eNews
... In the end, she realized that it was better to accept her karma and thank God for giving her the opportunity
to grow through interacting with her ... I don't know if you saw that Newsweek and Time recently published
"The Power of Yoga." Also, they're studying the physiology of ecstasy and spiritual ...
godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/enews/htm/136/e136.htm - 101k

Report from Hsihu, Formosa
... When our fellow practitioners passed by the stall of a very famous Yoga practitioner, the person in charge told fellow practitioners
that they were a meditation organization. ... Heavily loaded with karma, he was tortured by agonizing illness. ...
godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/eNews/enews033-109/ htm033-118/news50/a.html - 45k

The Supreme Master Ching Hai eNews
... In the end, she realized that it was better to accept her karma and thank God for giving her the opportunity
to grow through interacting with her ... I don't know if you saw that Newsweek and Time recently published
"The Power of Yoga." Also, they're studying the physiology of ecstasy and spiritual ...
godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/eNews/enews136/e136.htm - 101k

Supreme Master Ching Hai
... This same theory applies to karma. Some time in the past, we had everything—money, power, and
free choice, but we got lost in them. We chose to indulge ourselves in them. ... They should steer
clear of their drinking friends. Of course, they can go to a yoga class or go swimming. ...
godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/enews/htm/125/e125.htm - 101k

The Supreme Master Ching Hai
... This same theory applies to karma. Some time in the past, we had everything—money, power, and
free choice, but we got lost in them. We chose to indulge ourselves in them. ... They should steer
clear of their drinking friends. Of course, they can go to a yoga class or go swimming. ...
godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/eNews/enews125/e125.htm - 101k

A King With A Lot Of Desire
... That was an excuse. "People praise you and don't praise me? and that was a good excuse. The same with
many so-called teachers of yoga and many other fields of science. ... Then that also will level the karma
away. These are people who are stronger, who do not need support beside them or behind them. ...
godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/eNews/enews033-109/ htm033-118/news49/mr.html - 51k

Supreme Master Ching Hai eNews
... This awesome sight brings to mind the heavenly realm! In Mongolia, people have begun to accept
chih-kung (a type of Chinese martial art), yoga and other forms of spiritual practice. ... Were it
not for Master, who dissolved the karma, she could have had no chance of escape! ...
godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/enews/htm/134/e134.htm - 101k

The Supreme Master Ching Hai eNews
... This awesome sight brings to mind the heavenly realm! In Mongolia, people have begun to accept
chih-kung (a type of Chinese martial art), yoga and other forms of spiritual practice. ... Were it
not for Master, who dissolved the karma, she could have had no chance of escape! ...
godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/eNews/enews134/e134.htm - 101k

The Supreme Master Ching Hai eNews
... Maybe only after the karma has been eliminated can they return to start anew from scratch, that is very
not good ... This year, over a hundred exhibitors at the Festival offered a wide range of interesting information
on relaxation and meditation techniques, sound therapy, yoga, feng shui (geomancy) and ...
godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/eNews/enews135/e135.htm - 101k -