Dear All,
If
you enjoy being plugged into your favourite music while commuting or at
work because it soothes you or energises you, then, without knowing it,
you may be helping your mental, emotional and physical health by
practising a form of musical therapy.
In
an article that appeared in a 2013 issue of New Yorker magazine,
entitled "How music makes us feel better", writer Maria Konnikova cited
research that showed that listening to some well-chosen music, had a
beneficial effect on certain physiological measures of stress such as
heart-rate variability and a decreased level of the stress hormone,
cortisol(see link below).
As
with other ideas related to better ways of living and better ways of
looking after ourselves, such as meditation, science is playing
catch-up. The knowledge has been around for ages. Literally, ages.
Probably,
the oldest body of knowledge in the world is contained in the 'Vedas',
ancient texts from India. One branch of this collection of texts in
called the 'sama veda' , the vedas relating to song. From the sama veda
has arisen both the knowledge of mantra and the knowledge that forms the
basis of Indian classical music.
The
2 tracks provided for free download are a sanskrit chant/mantra
performed by sahaja yogis in Mumbai, India, which enhances the energy of
the mooladhara chakra(joy & spontaneity).
And an Indian classical composition, a 'raaga' performed by Dr. Arun
Apte a sahaja yogi musicologist/music therapist, that enhances the
energy of the sahasrara(bliss & freedom).
The
way to use these tracks, and you can try it now, is to go into
meditation - raise your kundalini and put on a bandhan- play the track
for mooladhara - 'Shri Ganesha Arthavar Shirsha' while keeping your attention on mooladhara chakra, 'tail' bone, and see whether you feel any sensation of expansion.
Next shift focus of attention to top of head while listening to the next track raaga darbari for sahasrara and see whether you feel an expansion at the sahasrara.
Notice
that unlike the instrumental music we normally play at the beginning of
the group meditation session on Tuesdays, these two tracks are vocal
pieces. It's been said that the best musical intrument of all is the
human voice. It's also been said that an instrumental musician only
really achieves virtuoso level when they are able to make their
instrument sound like the human voice.
If you are a musician then you'll appreciate a demonstration of this truth by B.B King playing at the 1993 Monreaux music festival :o)
See you at group meditation on Tuesday.
Regards
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