Reflections

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  1. Robin Ann
    Robin Ann
    4 days ago

    Sound of the ocean waves on the seashore, birds chirping in the early hours

  2. Mary
    Mary
    4 days ago

    The sound of the ocean waves at the beach are soothing.
    The sounds of birds in the morning are lovely.
    The sounds of all kinds of music nourish me.
    Chanting is especially soothing.
    I like to listen to the voices of different animals.
    Goats have interesting voices that make me laugh, so cute.
    I love to hear an owl hooting from somewhere in the dark.
    The variety of cat voices is so interesting and enjoyable to hear.
    From the throaty yowly-growly Siamese to the mew mew of tiny kittens.
    And of course the sound of a cat purring always soothes my soul.
    (One of my cat snores (just a bit) and I enjoy hearing this as she blissfully sleeps).
    Rain has a wonderful sound especially when heard from indoors.
    Likewise I enjoy the sounds of a thunderstorm (with softly rumbling thunder)
    once again, when heard from indoors.
    And I love the sound of wind blowing through the trees.
    Oh, yes, I love the sound of laughter, especially good hard belly laughs.
    And the sound of someone humming or singing quietly to themself.
    Thanks for this question. I didn’t realize I like so many sounds
    and I’m sure there are many more that I didn’t think of.

    1. Ose
      Ose
      4 days ago

      Great comment, thanks a lot! 😊❤️

  3. sparrow51014
    sparrow
    5 days ago

    When I first started my practice of sitting zen
    I was easily distracted . . .
    living in town at the time.
    The passing cars
    and occasional calls and shouts from passersby
    all irritated me
    and kept me off kilter.
    Then,
    slowly,
    I learned to incorporate and accept them into my head space
    like I did with thoughts . . .
    clouds just passing through.
    I even found a way
    to accept them without judging
    whether they were ‘good’ sounds or ‘bad’ sounds . . .
    they just became part of the landscape.

    It doesn’t mean though,
    that I don’t enjoy one kind of sound over another
    because I do.
    Za zen
    has just opened my heart to sound.

    In the spring
    I can sit with the peepers,
    summer,
    the cicadas,
    autumn with the wind in the trees,
    and winter
    with the sound of snow . . .
    a silence that is not silent at all
    but a vibrant hush,
    sometimes with a faint, but crisp sparkle to it,
    depending on how cold it is outside.

    I think of what people in war-torn countries
    are hearing . . .
    bombs,
    guns,
    screams and destruction.
    Do they get to hear birdsong and laughter as well?
    What sounds nourish them? ♥

    1. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      4 days ago

      That would be very revealing of the distressed and oppressed essence of the human being, dear Sparrow

      1. sparrow51014
        sparrow
        4 days ago

        I can’t imagine,
        dear Joseph . . .

  4. Cathie
    Cathie
    5 days ago

    Sounds that nourish me: bird songs in the AM, owls hooting in the night, waves washing up on shore, some prayer/worship songs/music, baby giggles and cooing, the voice of a loved one returned after an absence, and silence.

  5. Ose
    Ose
    5 days ago

    Music does, and kindness and sensitivity of any expression in words from the heart, or while listening to heartfelt music, which it does in everyone, i guess. Birds singing warms the heart in spring, and the rustling of dry leaves in autumn while walking in the woods is fun since childhood. Such a lovely question. And besides this, stillness, God´s unspoken words. Thank you all very much.

    1. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      5 days ago

      ”…stillness, God´s unspoken words.”

  6. Yram
    Yram
    5 days ago

    The sound of my husband’s walker.
    A notification ding that our elderly friend is up in the morning.
    The fan circulating the air.
    Silence!
    Laughter
    The words of assurance and appreciation.

  7. Carol Ann Conner
    Carol
    5 days ago

    Music immediately came to mind. It’s my “go to” when I’m and when I’m down.

    1. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      4 days ago

      Aren’t you glad,
      dear Carol,
      that we have ears? 🙂

      1. Carol Ann Conner
        Carol
        3 days ago

        Yes, Sparrow, and I appreciate my ability to hear more and more as I age and it is not as sharp as it use to be.

        1. sparrow51014
          sparrow
          3 days ago

          Me too,
          dear Carol . . . ♥

  8. A
    Antonia
    5 days ago

    My children’s voices, my cat’s purrs, birdsong, cicadas, bullfrogs, the ocean waves, children’s laughter, music, the calm before a storm

  9. Charlie T
    Charlie T
    5 days ago

    Like many of these questions, I start at one place and I end up somewhere else. That’s what I like about this contemplative practice. The first things that came to mind were sounds that bother me or make me uncomfortable or anxious. But then, as I dug deeper, more of the full range of sounds started to flow and I started thinking about the sounds that fill me up, like the sounds of calmness, gentle sounds, sounds that are joyful, soulful or sorrowful music, the sound of my wife’s voice,
    my cats purring, and on and on and on…
    Thank you for this question 🙏

  10. pkr29022
    pkr
    5 days ago

    Birdsong.
    Wind rustling through the trees.
    Cats purring & meowing.
    Music, music, music…..🎶
    Falling rain.
    Ocean waves hitting the shore.
    My daughter’s voice.
    Laughter.
    Children’s voices as they play.
    The fog horns in San Francisco.🩷

  11. Carla
    Carla
    5 days ago

    Birdsong is always a gift regardless of the time of day. Pitter patter trickle of rain with the occasional crescendo of thunder’s applause. Giggling children brings my heart joy too.

  12. Patti
    sunnypatti
    5 days ago

    Birds singing in the morning. The sound of the waves at the beach. Laughter. The quietude of some of the hikes I’ve been on in places that don’t draw crowds. Listening to mantras. The Long Time Sun Song… https://youtu.be/i5dRRhASY7c

    1. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      5 days ago

      Love the song,
      dear Sunnypatti . . . ♥

      1. Patti
        sunnypatti
        4 days ago

        I heard it for the first time at the end of a Kundalini class and it really got into my heart. I play it often for myself and recently at the end of a class I taught.

  13. L
    Loc Tran
    5 days ago

    Ngoc’s natural sweet voice

  14. J
    Jaykay
    5 days ago

    The morning chorus of songbirds. The evening cooing of the barred owl in our woods. Sound of rain. One of my children playing the piano in the other room. And of course, the sound of silence.

  15. Laura
    Laura
    5 days ago

    Birdsong. Laughter. My kids’ voices. Music. Waves breaking on shore. Wind rustling tree leaves.

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