Book II / VIII

Why do we not hear the Sound Principle?

Though Shabd is ever reverberating in each one of us, we do not hear It. The reason for this is not hard to find. So long as the mind stuff is in a state of perpetual storm and stress, is torn by countless conflicting passions and desires, feeds fat on the food of egotism, and is tossed about on the endless waves of worldly life, it cannot possibly catch the slow and sublime rhythmic vibrations of the subtle Sound, nor acquire any love for It. 

As long as the mind is in a state of perpetual flux and unrest, and is filled with thoughts of I-am-ness, Shabd fails to impart its sweet fragrance and Naam fails to inspire love and attraction.

Guru Ram Das, Sarang War M4

Maulana Rumi likewise says:

Your ears cannot listen to the Music of the Sound; perverted as you are, you have lost the very sense of hearing.

In the Gospel of St Matthew, Christ says:

For this peoples' heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted and I should heal them.

St Matthew 13:15

Shabd is the Voice of God and His primal manifestation. It is pervading everywhere in and out of space.

The Word of the Master shows the Way to God-Realization.

Guru Nanak, Basant M1

This Sound Principle has often been referred to as Bani as well:

Bani has been reverberating through the four ages, emanating from Truth, It sings of Truth. 

Guru Amar Das, Sri Rag M3

The Bani pervades everywhere. It is known as Shabd or Naam, and has sweetness in It.

In every age, Bani has been known as Shabd, sweet is the Naam and mind longs for it.

Guru Amar Das, Sorath M3

What a pity! For the Jiva, clogged as it is and hemmed in by mind and matter on all sides, has lost the angel in him and as such cannot listen to the subtle and sublime Sound of the Beloved.

Alas! Ye are improsoned behind the walls of the finitude (body and bodily adjuncts), and listen not to the sublime Sound of the Merciful.

Maulana Rumi

This sound is an eternal call for a return home:

There comes a perpetual call from afar, calling thee back to thine own home. 

Tulsi Sahib

The Sublime Sound cannot of course be heard by the physical ears. There is a way for our listening to the divine Music which can be heard by the inner faculty of transcendental hearing, and this can be trained, developed and pressed into service through the Grace of some Master-Soul; for no amount of worldly knowledge, wisdom and ingenuity can help in this. Though science has not yet been able to probe into this mystery, yet it can be resolved and experienced by actual experimentation in the laboratory of the Self with the instruction and guidance of the Saints.

The results of recent scientific investigations have now revealed the presence of rhythmic motion even in atoms, and scientific findings are every day coming closer to reality.