Chapter 17Subtle Sights, Sounds, Smells and Tastes · Subtle Sounds

When the mind becomes quiet, there are certain sounds that are heard, which are supposed to be signs of the awakening of the subtle senses and the inner consciousness.

* Sounds in the ear indicate a pressure to open the inner consciousness.

* The sound is a very good sign. It comes when the inner consciousness is opening or preparing to open to the Yoga-force and the deeper experiences it brings.

* They [subtle sounds] are the signs of a working going on to prepare something — but as that is a general thing, it cannot be said from the sounds themselves what the preparation is.

* The sounds or voices you hear are like the sights (persons, ob-jects) you see. As there is an inner sight other than the physical, so there is an inner hearing other than that of the external ear, and it can listen to voices and sounds and words of other worlds, other times and places, or those which come from supraphysical beings. But here you must be careful. If conflicting voices try to tell you what to do or not to do, you should not listen to them or reply. It is only myself and the Mother who can tell you what you should or should not do or guide or advise you.

* Such sounds (bells, bees, crickets etc.) are stated in the Upa-nishad to be signs of realisation approaching. They come very commonly when the inner or subtle consciousness is awake.

* The hearing of the bells has always been considered a sign or a premonition of the opening of the inner being to spiritual experience.

* It [the sound of the conch] is one of the many symbol sounds one hears in Yoga. The conch shell is the sound of victory.

* Both of these [the sound of OM and of church bells] are usually sounds that indicate the opening or attempt to open to the cosmic consciousness.

* The music you heard was the music of the divine call to the soul — like the flute of Krishna.