At the Beginning of Any Sound - Awake
यस्य कस्यापि वर्णस्य पूर्वान्ताव् अनुभावयेत् । शून्यया शून्यभूतो ऽसौ शून्याकारः पुमान् भवेत् ॥
yasya kasyāpi varṇasya pūrvāntāv anubhāvayet | śūnyayā śūnyabhūto 'sau śūnyākāraḥ pumān bhavet ||
VBT Verse 40
The Sutra
"In the beginning and gradual refinement of the sound of any letter, Awake."
Paul Reps translation, Zen Flesh, Zen Bones (1957)
Understanding
Every sound has a beginning, a middle, and an end. This technique focuses on the very beginning - the moment a sound emerges from silence. In that emergence, there is awakening. You can also follow the "gradual refinement" - how the sound becomes subtler and subtler until it returns to silence. Both the birth and death of sound are doorways to awareness.
Original Sanskrit
यस्य कस्यापि वर्णस्य पूर्वान्ताव् अनुभावयेत् । शून्यया शून्यभूतो ऽसौ शून्याकारः पुमान् भवेत् ॥
yasya kasyāpi varṇasya pūrvāntāv anubhāvayet | śūnyayā śūnyabhūto 'sau śūnyākāraḥ pumān bhavet ||
Vijnanabhairava Verse 40 (Technique 40 of 112)
How to Practice
Choose any letter or syllable. It can be a Sanskrit letter, a vowel, or any sound.
Focus on the very first instant the sound arises - the moment it emerges from silence.
That instant of emergence is the moment of awakening. Catch it.
Alternatively, chant the sound and follow its gradual refinement - louder to softer to silence.
The refinement mirrors the path from gross to subtle to the most subtle to beyond.
Both approaches lead to the same place: the awareness that exists before and after all sound.
Duration
15-20 minutes
Best Time
Early morning when sounds are naturally sparse
Related Techniques
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