What Is Listening in Anahat Nad? Understanding the Role of Attention and the Inner Ear

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👂 What Is Listening in Anahat Nad?

Understanding the Role of Attention and the Inner Ear

In daily life, listening is passive—you hear traffic, words, or birdsong without much thought. But in Anahat Nad meditation, listening is an active, sacred act. You’re not just hearing—you’re becoming receptive to the unstruck sound (अनाहत नाद) arising from within.

So what does it really mean to "listen" in the context of Nāda Yoga? And what inner faculties are involved?

Let’s explore.

🧘 The Subtle Nature of Anahat Nad

Unlike external sounds that hit the eardrum, Anahat Nad arises within—not from the outer world, but from the subtle body (सूक्ष्म शरीर). It's not physical vibration but a kind of inner frequency that can only be perceived when the mind is quiet and the attention is inward.

“This sound is not heard by the ears, but by the soul that listens.”
—Niran Bodhi

🎯 Listening Is Not Hearing

Many beginners confuse "hearing" with "listening". You may hear faint inner sounds, but unless you bring full awareness (संपूर्ण चेतना) to it, the experience doesn’t deepen.

Listening in Anahat Nad involves:

  • Turning inward (प्रत्याहार)

  • Holding your attention steady like a flame in still air

  • Becoming empty and quiet enough to perceive the subtle

👁️‍🗨️ The Inner Ear—Is It Real?

Meditative traditions often speak of the inner ear (अंतर्नाद श्रवणेंद्रिय). It's not physical—but it functions like an ear.

This "ear" is actually:

  • Your focused attention

  • Your heart’s receptivity

  • Your stilling of thoughts

You don’t "create" this sound—it’s always there. But only when you tune your subtle ear does it become perceivable.

🕉️ Practical Tips to Strengthen Inner Listening

  1. Begin with breath
    Follow your natural breath for 2–3 minutes. This helps shift from gross awareness to subtle.

  2. Let go of control
    Listening isn’t doing—it’s receiving. Drop all effort and simply wait.

  3. Return to stillness
    If the mind drifts, gently return attention to the back of the head or center of the chest—where sounds often arise.

  4. Don’t analyze or name sounds
    Naming breaks the connection. Let them be—humming, ringing, flute-like… just listen.

✨ Common Experiences

  • Sounds like bells (घंटी), flute (बाँसुरी), ocean waves (समुद्र की गूंज), or buzzing

  • A feeling of being drawn inward

  • Sound changing from moment to moment

  • Inner silence becoming alive and vibrant

❓ Questions You Might Ask

Q: Can I hear the sound with my physical ears?

No. These are not material sounds. They are part of your inner awareness field.

Q: Why do sounds disappear when I try to focus on them?

Over-effort and desire tighten your attention. Try soft, effortless focus—sahaj dhyan (सहज ध्यान).

Q: Are these sounds from the nervous system or imagination?

Early sounds may overlap with physical sensations, but with practice, true Anahat Nad becomes unmistakably distinct, clear, and deeply peaceful.

🙏 A Note from Niran Bodhi

I struggled for months to “listen” until I realized—I was trying too hard. True listening began when I stopped trying. The sound didn’t appear louder—it became clearer as I became quieter.

Once, while resting after a difficult day, I heard a soft flute playing in my right ear. It wasn’t dramatic, just subtle… and deeply calming. That night, I slept with a smile in silence.

📖 Deepen Your Experience with the Book

🕊️ Awakening with Anahat Nad: A Practical Guide to Inner Sound Meditation
By Niran Bodhi

📘 English Edition → Buy on Amazon
📕 हिंदी संस्करण → Amazon लिंक

Explore step-by-step practices, stages of sound, and personal stories to guide your inner journey.

I'm Niran Bodhi—meditator, writer, and explorer of the sacred sound within. I’m the author of Awakening with Anahat Nad: A Practical Guide to Inner Sound Meditation, a book born from decades of personal practice, silence, and listening to the unstruck sound known as Anahat Nad. This blog is a heartfelt extension of that journey. Here, I share the teachings and techniques of Nad Yoga, meditative tools, reflections from my path, and inspiration from mystic traditions around the world. Whether you're just beginning to sit in silence or are deep in your practice, may these writings support your unfolding. The inner sound is always playing. The question is: are we quiet enough to hear it? �� With love and inner peace,

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