Dr. Vijai S Shankar MD.PhD.
Published on www.academy-advaita.com
The Netherlands
4 February 2018
Birth of Sound
“Gross and subtle”
A man or woman takes sound for granted. A man or woman believes that he or she brings about sound by making a sound. A man and woman are convinced that they can make sound, because they are able to utter sound.
All that a man or woman knows is that he or she can utter a sound at will and by choice. Man and woman also know that animals of every species also are able to make sound.
What sound is and how it is formed is wisdom. So what could this wisdom be is the question that man or woman needs to enquire?
Enquiry into what is known as a fact would provide a clue to the wisdom of what sound is and how it is formed. What is known as a fact is that daily life is full of movements.
What is also known as a fact is that every living and non-living entity in life moves and is made up of the elements fire, air, water and earth.
Now, wherever there is a gross movement of fire there is sound. This implies that wherever there is subtle movement of fire there would be subtle sound as well. But the human mind can only hear gross sound and not subtle sound.
Now, wherever there is a gross movement of air there is sound. This implies that wherever there is subtle movement of air there would be subtle sound as well. But the human mind can only hear gross sound and not subtle sound.
Now, wherever there is a gross movement of water there is sound. This implies that wherever there is subtle movement of water there would be subtle sound as well. But the human mind can only hear gross sound and not subtle sound.
Now, wherever there is a gross movement of earth there is sound. This implies that wherever there is subtle movement of earth there would be subtle sound as well. But the human mind can only hear gross sound and not subtle sound.
The above wisdom implies that wherever there is movement either gross or subtle, the movement is accompanied by the birth of either gross sound or subtle sound. The wisdom signifies that movement and sound are together and not separate.
Since every atom of fire, air, water and earth is light, it signifies that sound is an illusion of light. The enlightened have rightly proclaimed that life is a play of light and sound.
Author: Dr. Vijai S. Shankar
© Copyright V. S. Shankar 2018
Editor’s Note:
Life is richly endowed. The life that you and I live is richly endowed. The deep understanding of the enlightened, as presented in this article, enriches this life, revealing the reality that is the play. As the superficial experience and knowledge of our daily lives give way to a deeper understanding, so the guiding star of wisdom illuminates your journey and mine.
Julian Capper, UK.
German Translator’s Note:
That sound happens to everything in nature including humans who don’t bring sound about by will and choice, is wisdom. Dr. Shankar, however, never expects anybody to just repeat this wise claim, for it would do no good to anybody. Dr. Shankar repeatedly and again in this article, requests the reader to enquire deeply himself or herself. Let us enquire everything Dr. Shankar shares! The enquiry too will finally be understood as the spontaneous sound of life.
Marcus Stegmaier, Germany