Awaken to the Healing Power of Sound

Since the beginning of human spirituality, people have used sacred sounds or chanting to worship. The creation myths in almost every culture describe the world coming into being through sound. The Christian Gospels state, “In the beginning was the word,” and in Hindu philosophy the vibrations of the sacred sound of OM were the origins of the cosmos.

Sound, which is believed to have the power to create the world, also can be used as a potent healing medicine. According to Ayurveda, pure consciousness leads to the vibrations that are expressed through sound and language. Whether listening to music, speaking, or chanting, we are engaged in an exchange of vibrations that is often subconscious. By putting some intention into our experience of sound, we open another gateway into our inner pharmacy.

When we listen to music, the body starts to align with whatever melody or rhythm to which it is exposed. Music that has a tempo below or similar to the heartbeat tends to relax the listener. Studies show that while a person listens to certain types of music, the body produces opiates that regulate the immune system.

Another way that sound can act as an instrument of healing is through the use of mantra. The word mantra literally means “instrument or vehicle of the mind.” Through repeating certain sounds or phrases, the incessant patterns of the mind are interrupted, allowing one to catch a glimpse at the deeper silence that lies beneath the chatter.

As with meditation, mantras slow one’s respiration, stimulating the flow of lymph, which removes toxins from the body. In addition, the vibrations we create through the sound of our own voice affects our pituitary gland—located near the roof of the mouth—optimizing the function of the entire endocrine system.

The Chopra Center teaches Primordial Sound Meditation (PSM), which uses mantras formed by using the seed sounds of the Sanskrit alphabet. Your personalized mantra becomes a vehicle to take you beyond your mind and back into a state of pure awareness.

Whatever music or mantras you feel drawn to, don’t underestimate the ability of your own inner sound system to provide you with relaxation and rejuvenation. Good vibrations are more than just pop lyrics—they are the sound of the body healing itself.