The Life Absolute from which has sprung all that is felt,
seen, and perceived, and into which all again merges in time,
is a silent, motionless and eternal life which among the Sufis
is called Zat. Every motion that springs forth from this silent
life is a vibration and a creator of vibrations. Within one
vibration are created many vibrations; as motion causes motion
so the silent life becomes active in a certain part, and creates
every moment more and more activity, losing thereby the peace
of the original silent life. It is the grade of activity of
these vibrations that accounts for the various planes of existence.
These planes are imagined to differ from one another, but in
reality they cannot be entirely detached and made separate from
one another. The activity of vibrations makes them grosser,
and thus the earth is born of the heavens.
The mineral, vegetable, animal and human kingdoms are the
gradual changes of vibrations, and the vibrations of each plane
differ from one another in their weight, breadth, length, color,
effect, sound and rhythm. Man is not only formed of vibrations,
but he lives and moves in them; they surround him as the fish
is surrounded by water, and he contains them within him as the
tank contains water. His different moods, inclinations, affairs,
successes and failures, and all conditions of life depend upon
a certain activity of vibrations, whether these be thoughts,
emotions or feelings. It is the direction of the activity of
vibrations that accounts for the variety of things and beings.
This vibratory activity is the basis of sensation and the source
of all pleasure and pain; its cessation is the opposite of sensation.
All sensations are caused by a certain grade of activity of
There are two aspects of vibrations, fine and gross, both
containing varied degrees; some are perceived by the soul, some
by the mind, and some by the eyes. What the soul perceives are
the vibrations of the feelings; what the mind conceives are
the vibrations of the thoughts; what the eyes see are the vibrations
solidified from their ethereal state and turned into atoms which
appear in the physical world, constituting the elements ether,
air, fire, water and earth. The finest vibrations are imperceptible
even to the soul. The soul itself is formed of these vibrations;
it is their activity which makes it conscious.
Creation begins with the activity of consciousness, which
may be called vibration, and every vibration starting from its
original source is the same, differing only in its tone and
rhythm caused by a greater or lesser degree of force behind
it. On the plane of sound, vibration causes diversity of tone,
and in the world of atoms, diversity of color. It is by massing
together that the vibrations become audible, but at each step
towards the surface they multiply, and as they advance they
materialize. Sound gives to the consciousness an evidence of
its existence, although it is in fact the active part of consciousness
itself which turns into sound. The knower so to speak becomes
known to himself, in other words the consciousness bears witness
to its own voice. It is thus that sound appeals to man. All
things being derived from and formed of vibrations have sound
hidden within them, as fire is hidden in flint; and each atom
of the universe confesses by its tone, 'My sole origin is sound.'
If any solid or hollow sonorous body is struck it will answer
back, 'I am sound.'
Sound has its birth, death, sex, form, planet, god color,
childhood, youth and age; but that volume of sound which is
in the abstract sphere beyond the sphere of the concrete is
the origin and basis of all sound.
Both sound and color make their effect on the human soul
according to the law of harmony; to a fine soul color appeals,
and to a still finer soul sound. Tone has either a warm or a
cold effect, according to its element, since all elements are
made of different degrees of vibrations. Therefore sound can
produce an agreeable or a disagreeable effect upon man's mind
and body, and has its healing effect in the absence of herbs
and drugs which also have their origin in vibrations.
Manifestation being formed of vibrations, the planets are
the primal manifestation, each planet having its special tone;
therefore every note represents one planet. Every individual
therefore has a note peculiar to himself which is according
to his birth planet; for this reason a certain tone appeals
to a particular person according to the grade of his evolution.
Every element has a sound peculiar to itself; in the finer element
the circle of sound expands, and in the grosser element it narrows.
It is therefore distinct in the former and indistinct in the
The earth has various aspects of beauty as well as of variety
in its sound. Its pitch is on the surface, its form is crescent-like,
and its color is yellow. The sound of earth is dim and dull,
and produces a thrill, activity and movement in the body. All
instruments of wire and gut, as well as the instruments of percussion,
such as the drum, cymbals, etc., represent the sound of the
The sound of water is deep, its form is serpent-like, its
color green, and it is best heard in the roaring of the sea.
The sound of running water, of mountain rills, the drizzling
and pattering of rain, the sound of water running from a pitcher
into a jar, from a pipe into a tub, from a bottle into a glass,
all have a smooth and lively effect, and a tendency to produce
imagination, fancy, dream, affection, and emotion. The instrument
called jalatarang is an arrangement of china bowls or
glasses graduated in size and filled with water in proportion
to the desired scale; more water lowers the tone, and less raises
it. These instruments have a touching effect upon the emotions
of the heart.
The sound of fire is high pitched, its form is curled, and
its color is red. It is heard in the falling of the thunderbolt
and in a volcanic eruption, in the sound of a fire when blazing,
in the noise of squibs, crackers, rifles, guns and cannons.
All these have a tendency to produce fear.
The sound of air is wavering, its form zigzag, and its color
blue. Its voice is heard in storms, when the wind blows, and
in the whisper of the morning breeze. Its effect is breaking,
sweeping and piercing. The sound of air finds expression in
all wind instruments made of wood, brass and bamboo; it has
a tendency to kindle the fire of the heart, as Rumi writes in
his Masnavi about the flute. Krishna is always portrayed in
Indian art with a flute. The air sound overpowers all other
sounds, for it is living, and in every aspect its influence
The sound of ether is self-contained, and it holds all forms
and colors. It is the basis of all sounds, and is the undertone
which is continuous. Its instrument is the human body, because
it can be audible through it; although it is all-pervading,
yet it is unheard. It manifests to man as he purifies his body
from material properties. The body can become its proper instrument
when the space within is opened, when all the tubes and veins
in it are free. Then the sound which exists externally in space
becomes manifest inwardly also. Ecstasy, illumination, restfulness,
fearlessness, rapture, joy and revelation are the effects of
this sound. To some it manifests of itself, to others when they
are in a negative state caused by weakness of the body or mind;
to neither of these is it a benefit, but on the other hand it
causes them to become abnormal. This sound only elevates those
who open themselves to it by the sacred practices known to the
The mingled sound of earth and water has a tenderness and
delicacy. The sound of earth and fire produces harshness. The
sound of earth and air has strength and power. The sound of
water and fire has a lively and animating effect. The sound
of water with ether has a soothing and comforting effect. The
sound of fire and air has a terrifying and fearsome effect.
The sound of fire with ether has a breaking and freeing effect.
The sound of air with ether produces calm and peace.