Lights/ Sounds In Meditation Article By Sivananda

[Ragmaala]

Excellent read!

http://sivanandaonline.org/public_html/?cmd=displaysection&section_id=1722&parent=640&format=html

Lights in Meditation

Various kinds of lights manifest during meditation owing to concentration. In the beginning, a bright white light, the size of a pin's point will appear in the forehead in the Trikuti, the space between the two eyebrows, which corresponds tentatively to the Ajna-Chakra of the astral body. You will notice, when the eyes are closed, different coloured lights, white, yellow, red, smoky, blue, green, mixed lights, flashes like lightning, like fire, burning char-coal, fire-flies, moon, sun, stars. These lights appear in the mental space, Chidakasa. These are all Tanmatric lights. Each Tanmatra has its own specific colour. Prithvi (earth) Tanmatra has a yellow-coloured light; Apas (water) Tanmatra has a white-coloured light; Agni (fire) Tanmatra has a red-coloured light; Vayu (wind) Tanmatra has a smoky light; Akasa (sky) Tanmatra has a blue light. Yellow and white lights are very commonly seen. Red and blue lights are rarely noticeable. Frequently there is a combination of white and yellow lights. In the beginning, small balls of white light float about before the mind's eye. When you first observe this, be assured that the mind is becoming more steady and that you are progressing in concentration. After some months, the size of the light will increase and you will see a full blaze of white light, bigger than the sun. In the beginning, these lights are not steady. They come and disappear immediately. They flash out from above the forehead and from the sides. They cause peculiar sensations of extreme joy and happiness and there is an intense desire for a vision of these lights. When you have steady and systematic practice of two or three hours in the morning, and two to three hours at night, these lights appear more frequently and remain steadily for a long time. The vision of the lights is a great encouragement in Sadhana. It impels you to stick steadily to meditation. It gives you strong faith also in superphysical matters. The appearance of the light denotes that you are transcending the physical consciousness. You are in a semi-conscious state when the light appears. You are between two planes. You must not shake the body when these lights manifest. You must be perfectly steady in the Asana. You must breathe very, very slowly.

TRIANGLE (LIGHT) IN THE FACE

One whose food is moderate, whose anger has been controlled, who has given up all love for society, who has subdued his passions, who has overcome all pairs (heat and cold, etc.), who has given up his egoism, who does not bless anyone nor take anything from others-such a man during meditation obtains it (the triangle) in the face.

LIGHT FROM SUSHUMNA

"Vishoka Va Jyotismati." (Chap. I, Sutra 36. Patanjali- Yoga-Sutras). "You can attain Samadhi by meditation on the Effulgent One Who is beyond all sorrow."

Sometimes, during meditation you will see a brilliant dazzling light. You will find it difficult to gaze on this light. You will be compelled to withdraw your mental vision from this light. This dazzling light is the light emanating from the Sushumna in the heart.

FORMS IN THE LIGHTS

You will see two kinds of forms (1) lustrous forms of Devatas, (2) physical forms. You will see your Ishta Devata or tutelary deity (guiding Devata) in handsome dress and with various, valuable ornaments, flowers, garlands, with four hands and weapons. Siddhas, Rishis, etc., appear to encourage you. You will find a huge collection of Devatas and celestial ladies with various musical instruments in their hands. You will see beautiful flower-gardens, fine palatial buildings, rivers, mountains, golden temples, sceneries so lovely and picturesque as cannot be adequately described.

DAZZLING LIGHTS

Sometimes, during meditation, you will get very powerful, dazzling lights, bigger than the sun. They are white. In the beginning, they come and fade away quickly. Later on, they are steady, they become fixed for 10 or 15 minutes or half an hour according to the strength and degree of concentration. For those who concentrate on the Trikuti, the space between the two eyebrows, the light appears in the forehead in the Trikuti, while for others who concentrate on the top of the head, Sahasrara Chakra, the light manifests on the top of the head. The light is so powerful and dazzling sometimes, that you have to withdraw yourself from looking at it and break the meditation. Some people are afraid and do not know what to do and how to proceed further. They come to me for instructions. I tell them that this is a new sensation which they have not hitherto experienced. By constant practice, the mind engaged in concentration will be used to it, and the fear will vanish. I ask them to go on with the practice. Some people concentrate on the heart, some on Trikuti, and some on the top of the head. It is a question of personal taste. It is easy to control mind by concentrating on the Trikuti. If you are used to fix on the Trikuti, stick to it always. Do not make frequent changes. Steadiness is very necessary. The beings and objects with whom you are in touch during the early period of meditation belong to the astral world. They are similar to human beings minus a physical overcoat. They have desires, cravings, love, hatred, etc., just as human beings have. They have fine bodies. They can move about freely. They have powers of materialisation, dematerialisation, multiplying, clairvoyant vision of an inferior order. The lustrous forms are higher Devatas of mental or higher planes who come down to give you Darshan, and encourage you. Various Saktis manifest in lustrous forms. Adore them. Worship them. Do mental Puja as soon as they give you Darshan. Angels are beings of mental or higher planes. They also appear before your mind's eye.

Sometimes, you will feel an invisible help, possibly from your Ishta Devata when you are actually pushed from the physical body into the new plane. That invisible power assists in your separating from the body and going above body-consciousness. You will have to mark carefully all these operations.

Do not waste your time in looking at these visions. This is only a curiosity. These are all encouragements to convince you of the existence of superphysical, metaphysical realities and the solid existence of Brahman. Drive these pictures. Fix yourself on the goal-Lakshya. Advance. Proceed seriously and energetically.

As soon as you retire for sleep, these lights manifest themselves without any exertion on your part. Just when you are going to transcend the physical consciousness, just when you are drowsy, these lights appear without your effort. Also in the morning, before you get up, in the transitional stage, half-asleep, half-awake, you will get again these lights by themselves without attempt.

Sometimes, during meditation, you will see an infinite blue sky, ethereal space. You will see yourself in the blue space as a black dot. Your form will appear in the centre of the light sometimes. Sometimes, you will notice highly vibratory, rotating particles in the light. You will see physical forms, human forms, children, women, adult males, Rishis with beards, Siddhas and lustrous Tejomaya forms. Visions are either subjective or objective, your own mental reactions or of realities on finer planes of matter. Universe consists of planes of matter of various grades of density. Rhythmical vibrations of Tanmatras in various degrees, give rise to the formation of various planes. Each plane has its things and beings. Visions may be of these things or beings. They may be purely imaginary. They may be crystalisation of your own intense thinking. You must discriminate in Yogic practices. Reason and common-sense must be used throughout.

Edited May 6, 2015 by Ragmaala

[Ragmaala]

I think this will help those who are advanced.

Also apparently ,the sounds are heard from right ear, because Pinagal Nadi is on that side.

[sukrit kaur]

And what If one hears sounds from both ears,but more prominent sounds from left ear?

[Ragmaala]

"And what If one hears sounds from both ears,but more prominent sounds from left ear?"

lucky and sat veer, please address the above question

[Sat1176]

It doesn't matter what side it starts. Just keep going! Waheguru is everywhere so why should we limit his voice to only one direction.

[Lucky]

Yes, just keep going!

The earlier sounds can be both sides, but when the naam sound begins to manifest....they say that it starts on the right.

This is more of a nishani, so that you know you have the correct one to focus on.

But, the earlier sounds before naam shabad can sometimes be on the left or the right.

[sukrit kaur]

Yes I read that On right side leads to more progress.I'm little worried as sounds are much audible in left ear.Yes,sounds are in right ear too,but not loud.Only when focus on right side,then gets louder,but on left are easily audible without much focussing.So does it mean that one is still too far for naam shabad?

[Lucky]

What sort of sounds are they ?

[sukrit kaur]

I really dont know how to answer your question.Sounds are tiiiii tiiii type.kinda sounda of insects.some time ,its like some thing is passing by my ears.during some moments,a very high pitch voice with tiiiiiiiiii rings in my ears.but this ring is just only for an instant.

[Sat1176]

These types of sounds in my encounters appear to come from the ear drums. As you do more simran I believe the act of doing more abhyaas verbally and moving the jaw applies further subtle pressure on the ears which change the types of sounds you hear. Furthermore your hearing becomes more refined and you begin to pick up other sound frequencies.

With the Anhad sounds I experienced they were very loud and distinct that when you hear them they will startle you the first time you hear them. When I heard them they appeared to be coming from near the head but not directly in the ear like the pressure cooker whistle you describe. It's like someone is playing an instrument directly next to you, either behind you or directly into your ear but not touching it.

Eventually the sounds should come from the trikuti region. It has been a long time since I've experienced the strong ones but the memory is extremely vivid and how I long to have a encounter with them again :-(

Edited May 6, 2015 by Sat1176

[sukrit kaur]

. As you do more simran I believe the act of doing more abhyaas verbally and moving the jaw applies further subtle pressure on the ears which change the types of sounds you hear. Furthermore your hearing becomes more refined and you begin to pick up other sound frequencies. :-(

Personally,I don't use my tongue or jaws much during simran.almost negligible.I mean I do simran in mind.I've never done simran in loud voice..

[Sat1176]

LOL. I'll think I will keep my theories to myself in the future.

When I initially started I found that the constant verbal jaap had a dramtic effect on my throat. The jaap became much deeper as if my throat was opening up. It was such a dramatic change that even my wife commented that I was pronouncing WaheGuru differently.

Edited May 6, 2015 by Sat1176

[sukrit kaur]

LOL.No,your theories are much better.

You're right that verbal jaap puts a dramatic effect on one's spiritual progress.But personally,I'm not doing verbal jaap.Actually I can't.I usually keep praying that waheguru ji shows his kirpa upon me in form of verbal jaap. But every time,I'm silent!

Hope my throat starts working!

[Lucky]

I really dont know how to answer your question.Sounds are tiiiii tiiii type.kinda sounda of insects.some time ,its like some thing is passing by my ears.during some moments,a very high pitch voice with tiiiiiiiiii rings in my ears.but this ring is just only for an instant.

Yeh, the sound of insects, crickets or chirping are some of the activating sounds that you hear earlier. Some people have reported buzzing as well.

These sounds are all very subtle sounds that happen when the chakras are aligning.

The unique beauty of gurmantar jap is that they will align in order automatically, as compared to how yoga likes using different mantras for each chakra.......The end goal is still the same.

However, as far as I understand, with gurmantar jap it is important to keep the techniques described as per saas graas and saas saas.....so that the dhun is from the area of navel up towards mouth..

With this combination of techniques along with gurmantar, the rising of the sukhmana- which is a straight and central nadi going all the way up, will begin.

You have to keep reminding yourself to try and ignore them and keep the focus on gurmantar.

Don't get caught up with the sounds...just take them as signals, and say to yourself "OK..that was crickets I heard, now I shall continue moving on"

Then try and forget that instance and bring focus back on to jap.

Sometimes the sounds can be just occasional instances, other times they may continue and continue, and then other times you don't even realize that they are in the background, until your dhian comes off the jap towards the end of your session.

Just continue with this self-discipline and it shouldn't be long until the anhad naad begins to appear.

[Lucky]

Personally,I don't use my tongue or jaws much during simran.almost negligible.I mean I do simran in mind.I've never done simran in loud voice..

That's OK...don't worry, because sometimes, it may not be practical or possible.

My core simran is usually anytime between 2am-5am.....when everyone is asleep and it's quiet, and I'm careful not to wake others up.

Doing quiet and silent jap is absolutely fine, but I would recommend doing the upward tongue roll to roof of mouth with ""Gu-Rrrru"

... you can still incorporate the very quiet "gu-Rruuu" whilst just taking a saas inwards for "wahe".

This way the actual 'word' or mantra gets completed by the action of the tongue touching the roof of the mouth..... So, going from the navel and up to the roof of mouth and back down again, a cycle of circular repetition is formed within the body and this also contributes to the beginning of amrit russ.

Most mantras are used as tools in this way, so that they complete their cycle when the tongue contacts the roof of the mouth.

..for eg....ram..hari...satnam..so-hang...Amen...

If it still not possible to do this, then don't worry either, because doing simran in the mind is what everything is aimed at.

If you are able to, then you can start off by doing quiet simran itself from the beginning.

But, I think you still need to have some kind of movement (breath, navel or even mala) that maintains that same cycle of jap.......and my wife has done it quite well in this manner.

Edited May 6, 2015 by Lucky

[sukrit kaur]

You're absolutely right.As per your suggestion to have some movement,I want to add that my abdomen area starts pumping in beginning of my abhyaas with waheguru recitation going in mind .but after some while,It stops.But I'll try to use my tongue too.I tried ur suggestion just right back by rolling tongue on roof.I did it!Hope to do it more properly with daily practice .

Gur fateh!

[CdnSikhGirl]

The sounds I have heard both while doing simran, and also prior to out of body experiences were in both ears. And as for describing the soudns themselves, it was electromagnetic in nature. Rushing, static sounds but pulsating / vibratory. Static is only closest thing I can compare it to... it was not like the static bewteen radio stations but more like a sum of all sounds occurring at once, so that it becomes one sound. Kind of like all colours of light converge to become white light as we know it (the octave can still be separated out by a prism though). In fact, octave is a good description... only it's every sound in the full octave all playing at once.

As for things I have seen... when I reached a certain level, it was like everything had an aura around it. Even inanimate objects had an aura. I could see energy emenating from everything and the energy was the same for everything. Some times, I had a definite interpretation of hearing colours and seeing sound... if that makes sense. It's like everything is all just differing levels of the same thing. Pure frequency... sound is vibration, light is vibration, even matter is vibration at the subatomic level... I actually experienced this.

[Guest ...]

what stage do little white balls of light lead to? What if u see lightning like flashes of light without lightning with your eyes open?