Resources for nāda yoga, theory and practice

Nāda Yoga is a spiritual practice rooted in the ancient traditions of Indian philosophy and mysticism. The term "Nāda", means sound and in this case, refers to the inner sound or vibration that is believed to exist within every individual. In Nada Yoga, practitioners focus on the perception and meditation of these inner sounds to attain spiritual enlightenment and self-realization. Many nāda yoga practices involve listening to sound, meditating on music or on the sound of om or other such outward listening exercises. Ultimately the goal is to ‘hear’ the mystical ‘inner sound’ or cosmic vibration of the universe - called ‘nāda brahma.’

The practices involves deep listening and/or concentration, often starting with external sounds such as music or chanting and gradually turning the attention inward to perceive the subtle, internal vibrations. The ultimate goal of Nāda Yoga is to connect with the divine through the exploration of these inner sounds, leading to a heightened state of awareness and a union with the universal consciousness.

Through regular practice, practitioners aim to harmonize their mind, body, and spirit, transcending the limitations of the physical world and experiencing a profound connection with the cosmic vibrations. Sometimes its said that the goal of nāda yoga is to hear the "Anāhata Nāda," literally the ‘unstruck sound’, an eternal and uncreated sound that resonates within the heart chakra, which shares the same name ‘anāhata cakra’

Since my younger life, I’ve always had a special almost magical connection to music, so when i was introduced to Jivamukti Yoga and then Nada Yoga I was instantly entranced. Over the years I have gravitated towards these philosophers and pracitces and writings.

1. Nāda Yoga - Shri Brahamananda Saraswati
This lovely volume is a short overview of nāda yoga

2. The Mysticism of Sound and Music - Hazrat Inayat Khan

Hazrat Inayat Khan is a Sufi musician and mystic who writes about music and devotional practice.
“The knower of the mystery of sound knows the mystery of the whole universe.”
― Hazrat Inayat Khan
“When we pay attention to nature's music, we find that everything on the Earth contributes to its harmony.”
― Hazrat Inayat Khan
“Everything in life is speaking in spite of its apparent silence.”
― Hazrat Inayat Khan

3. The Gift - Hafiz
This is just one of many collections of Hafiz poems. I’m fond of this collection which features several wonderful poems that relate to the topic of nāda yoga and the music of the universe as well as devotional practice.

4. The Practice of Nada Yoga - Baird Hersey
This is a practical guide with many meditations to try out for yourself to help start to train your heart and mind for nada yoga practice.