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The Mysticism of Sound and Music
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Music, according to Sufi teaching, is really a small expression of the overwhelming and perfect harmony of the whole universe—and that is the secret of its amazing power to move us. The Indian Sufi master Hazrat Inayat Khan (1882-1927), the first teacher to bring the Islamic mystical tradition to the West, was an accomplished musician himself. His lucid exposition of music
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Paperback, 322 pages
Published
September 3rd 1996
by Shambhala
(first published 1911)
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Showing 1-30
I sometimes watch suspense movies for the hidden love story, or comedies for the political satire. Likewise, it's not so much the insight into music but the hidden stories, the side stories that make this book transforming. I am quite taken by any writer who attempts to access a theory via intuition. It is a nearly impossible task. It is, as Andre Breton wrote, "reaching for the impossible while standing on the possible ground." Khan does this, and the journey is quite wonderful. It's like being
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I loved this book. It has very little to do with music as we think of it. This is a book about spirituality. It draws from all religions and shows how they are similar. I would recommend this book to anyone. It was (for me)and a slow read, as I would stop reading to ponder and think about the concepts.
heavy stuff...
music is the closest representation of the wholeness of the universe that humans have.
"The further we advance, the more difficult and the more important becomes our part in the symphony of life; and the more conscious we are of this responsibility, the more efficient we become at accomplishing the task."
The ideas are really profound, but the writing style can be pretty poor...seems like it was poorly translated from oral lectures. The structure detracts from the beauty of the conc ...more
music is the closest representation of the wholeness of the universe that humans have.
"The further we advance, the more difficult and the more important becomes our part in the symphony of life; and the more conscious we are of this responsibility, the more efficient we become at accomplishing the task."
The ideas are really profound, but the writing style can be pretty poor...seems like it was poorly translated from oral lectures. The structure detracts from the beauty of the conc ...more
I'm a musician myself, and this book helped me understand and sense music as a potential divine healing force.
Best Book i ever read in my life up to this point!
2.5/5
I read this book slowly over a year or so, it is...a lot.
There are some insightful and thought provoking bits buried in here - I found it very hard to read overall. The writing is overly ornamented and I wonder if it also suffers from its translation. Big ideas and sweeping statements are made with little explanation, let alone evidence or background (not that "hard evidence" is really to be expected in this type of book).
The book is split into two main sections, "Music", and "Aphorisms". ...more
I read this book slowly over a year or so, it is...a lot.
There are some insightful and thought provoking bits buried in here - I found it very hard to read overall. The writing is overly ornamented and I wonder if it also suffers from its translation. Big ideas and sweeping statements are made with little explanation, let alone evidence or background (not that "hard evidence" is really to be expected in this type of book).
The book is split into two main sections, "Music", and "Aphorisms". ...more
A beautiful compilation of the lectures and teachings of Sufi master Hazrat Inayat Khan. Topics include the origins and significance of sound and language, the power of thought, music, words and names, the relationship between sound and light. Khan does a wonderful job explaining the basic teachings on Sound which have been shared and practiced throughout time and which can be found at the heart of each of the major world religions. Although, he reminds us, a complete understanding of Sound is ...more
"This book is a revised and enlarged edition of the second volume in the series of 'The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan'. It contains a Sufi vision on music, sound, language and the power of words.... Almost all chapters of this book - 'The Mystery of Sound' excepted - were originally lectures and addresses, delivered in various circumstances. Some were addressed to pupils and students who were already acquainted with the Sufi teachings; others were public lectures, and some reports show that
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This is certainly a book that you read over several years. It is meant to be studied, not sped-read.
That being said, it's a beautiful book for those who have a deep, meaningful relationship with music and the power of sound (you know who you are). The author's insights are accurate in a way that can't be described as scientific, but rather heart- (and soul) felt.
That being said, it's a beautiful book for those who have a deep, meaningful relationship with music and the power of sound (you know who you are). The author's insights are accurate in a way that can't be described as scientific, but rather heart- (and soul) felt.
Don't enjoy this one as much as The Music of Life. Author skips around a great deal and here and there. Antagonists toward mysticism in general might have a field day with his theories, although those (like myself) who approach music esoterically will probably find it deep enough in spots. But not as well written as the former, I feel.
This book took me about 3 years to finish reading becuase it is very dense. Each individual sentence opens pandoras boxes of enlightenment, and it can be hard to fully digest it, but it's definitely a classic,.. especially if you are a musician.
Jan 28, 2008
Daria Kutuzova
rated it
really liked it
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review of another edition
Shelves:
narrative-reflections
Интересные идеи про резонанс, разум, волю, выбор - и, само собой, звук и музыку - с суфийской точки зрения. Заставляет задуматься и многое проясняет.
Amazing!
Wow ... Sufi insight applied to my area of obsession ... very nearly blinding
Interesting to anyone who is interested in Sufism, mysticism, or the spiritual aspect of music.
The book is compiled from the author's lectures and articles. Consequently, he often restates the same points, which makes for a repetitious read. After the first section, you may find yourself skimming.
The book is compiled from the author's lectures and articles. Consequently, he often restates the same points, which makes for a repetitious read. After the first section, you may find yourself skimming.
Beautiful and inspiring
The author has a great deal of love for life and music and it shines through.
It wasn't quite dense enough to hold my interest.
It wasn't quite dense enough to hold my interest.
This is another book that changed my perspective on music and how the world is really shit without it. It also showed me some very important ideas about how music is not really created by the people who 'write' it...
Full of truth and beauty.
Jan 17, 2010
Wahyudinata Denny
added it
jika anda suka dg psikologi, sastra, puisi, mistisisme, tasawuf, esoterisme, agama, dan lainnya....maka anda harus baca buku ini, untuk menangkap sisi esoterisme segala sesuatu dlm hidup manusia..
Some memorable moments. Really great for a music or physics lover.
i only read the first 3 chapters. it was that good.
awesome
Beautiful in its expanse. The first section is my favorite. Spiritual, insightful, and sound.
true gem for each music lover
Fascinating blend of metaphors and taken-for-granted arcane knowledge. Cool beans!
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Hazrat Inayat Khan (Urdu: عنایت خان ) (July 5, 1882 – February 5, 1927) was an exemplar of Universal Sufism and founder of the "Sufi Order in the West" in 1914 (London). Later, in 1923, the Sufi Order of the London period was dissolved into a new organization formed under Swiss law and called the "International Sufi Movement". He initially came to the West as a representative of classical Indian m
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“The true use of music is to become musical in one's thoughts, words and actions. One should be able to give the harmony for which the soul yearns and longs every moment. All the tragedy in the world, in the individual and in the multitude, comes from lack of harmony, and harmony is best given by producing it in one's own life.”
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“Some day music will be the means of expressing universal religion. Time is wanted for this, but there will come a day when music and its philosophy will become the religion of humanity.”
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