Kundalini.Tantra.by.Satyananda.Saraswati

Practice 3: Perception of subtle inner sound
This practice should be preceded by bhramari pranayama. In this stage no loud
humming sound is produced, you only listen attentively to the inner sound. You should
keep your eyes closed and your fingers in your ears; this is necessary to block out
external disturbances. Listen for any subtle sounds within your head. At first you may
find this difficult, but keep trying. As soon as you become aware of a sound, any sound,
try to fix your awareness on it to the exclusion of other sounds. Go on listening. After
some days or weeks of practice, you should find that one sound is very distinct, and it
will become louder and louder. Be totally aware of that sound. This is your vehicle of
awareness - let your awareness flow towards this sound, leaving all other sounds and
thoughts. Gradually, through practice, your sensitivity will increase. Eventually you will
hear another sound, a faint sound in the background; it will be almost obliterated by the
main, louder sound that you are hearing, but you will hear it nevertheless. You should
now listen to the new faint sound. Leave the other louder sound and continue to listen to
this new sound. It will become more and more distinct. This will become the new, more
subtle vehicle of your awareness. Let this sound occupy your whole attention. This will
further increase your sensitivity of perception. Eventually you will hear another faint
sound emerging from behind this louder sound. Fix your awareness on this new sound,
discarding the other sound. Continue in the same manner, allowing the new sound to
occupy your whole awareness. When it becomes loud, try to perceive a more subtle
underlying sound and fix your awareness on it. In this manner your perception will
become progressively more sensitive, allowing you to dive deep into your being.
Note: It requires practice over a period of weeks and months to perceive these
progressively more subtle sounds. For many weeks you may be unable to hear even the
first sound.
* This is a very simple but powerful technique that will bring results if you persevere.
All that is necessary is time and effort. Try to practise for as long as you have time. In the
beginning, devote 15 minutes or more to bhramari and this practice together.
Practice 4: Yoni mudra
Yoni mudra is also known as shanmukhi mudra,which means,'the closing of the seven
gates'. It is so called because the two eyes, two ears, two nostrils and the mouth arc
closed during the practice. These are the seven doors of outer perception. It is via these
doorways that one receives the sense data from the outside world. When these doors are
closed, we facilitate the direction of the awareness internally; that is, into the mind.
Yoni mudra is amore advanced practice than bhramari. It is slightly more difficult as it
is not preceded by a vocalized humming sound, and it is combined with retention of the
breath. Yoni mudra is more suitable for those who have a reasonably harmonized mind
and are not beset by distractions.