God is not Deaf!

Some of us are so lost in the noises of our own and around us that we think even God has forgotten to listen. However, when truly reflected, we find, we are the ones who have stopped listening.

Science of sound tells us that if we hear louder than normal sound, it is harmful to our ears. If one keeps listening to loud sound for a while, so much so that he may become deaf one day. Loud noises occur every day. From annoyance of a dog bark, covering your ears as you pass a construction site or if you live near airport. Any sound above 80 dB can cause hearing loss, and the loss is related both to the power of the sound as well as the length of exposure. Just remember, human speech is only registered at about 25-35 decibels. The pain threshold for humans is 120-130 Decibels.

 

Some examples of average decibel of common noises:

20 dB (A) A quiet room at night
60 dB (A) Ordinary spoken conversation
70 dB (A) City street
80 dB (A) DANGER LEVEL
100 dB (A) Pneumatic drill
100 dB (A) Maximum volume on some mp3 players
115 dB (A) Rock concert
120 dB (A) Aeroplane taking off

 

Instrument (left) used for measuring Sound output (right).

Sound & Culture: I lived for one year in Japan and compared to a Japanese, whom we literally can't hear in public, we all talk very loud. We have made listening to loud sounds our culture. In India especially, listening to loud music and movies in buses is very common in addition to road noises, "Kirtan" volume is 50% louder than required in nearly every religious place, even when there are no listeners in the hall. Ordinarily, volume controlled by priest in a temple and the bus driver, both do not understand complexities of sound.

Fact is, to listen to anyone, we ourselves has to keep quite. To listen to ourselves also we have to stop 'chatter', taking place within us all the time. For listening to our Guru, we need quietness and stillness. Our elders found wee hours-early hours, when some birds start tweaking also known as 'Amritwela', when worldly noises are absent, most suitable to meditate on the Creator and appreciate the nature of creation and for the gifts HE provides. HE, most commonly nick named as God.

Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and many others creatures also offer prayer early in the morning. Talking to God through Jap ji, meditating on him through "Shabad" or reflecting in the wee hours, how may I, have a great, peaceful day, not bogged down by small problems, I need to be quiet.

There may be some who may not agree with me but Kabir ji does.

kabeer mulaaN munaaray ki-aa chadheh saaN-ee na bahraa ho-ay.
Kabeer: O Mullah, why do you climb to the top of the minaret? The Lord is not hard of hearing.
jaa kaaran tooN baaNg deh dil hee bheetar jo-ay.
Look within your own heart for the One, for whose sake you shout your prayers.

When interpreted this simple message, I simply understand: I do not need to be loud, God is not hard of hearing and feel-look close, as close as your heart. Are we really heading the simplest advise of our Guru? On a Gurpurab day I always go to Gurudwara with enthusiasm to listen to specially invited 'Ragee'. Who are coming from far away some times from a distant land.

Lots of time, I am not the only one, who is unable to enjoy kirtan due to large quantity of sound equipment, being used to louder the message in our temples, which in fact is doubled or tripled on a day of celebration or a Gurpurab.

Other learning, for me personally, being an architect, is in the same verse, which relates to Design of the building - Gurdwara today. For which you may refer to my article, 'A New Concept of Dharamsal.'

In the beginning of Jap ji, Guru Nanak, wants us to listen and tells all the benefits one can reap by listening.

And he concludes:

All the virtues of listening by heart are listed here. If you read 'Gurmukhi', do so below and I request you to do it slowly, like this is your first time. And please pause, where necessary. So it feels close to your heart as per advise of 'Kabeer Ji'.

suni-ai siDh peer sur naath.
Listening-the Siddhas, the spiritual teachers,
the heroic warriors, the yogic masters.
suni-ai Dharat Dhaval aakaas.
Listening-the earth, its support and the Akaashic ethers.
suni-ai deep lo-a paataal.
Listening-the oceans, the lands of the world and
the nether regions of the underworld.
suni-ai pohi na sakai kaal.
Listening-Death cannot even touch you.
naanak bhagtaa sadaa vigaas.
O Nanak, the devotees are forever in bliss.
suni-ai dookh paap kaa naas.
Listening-pain and sin are erased.
suni-ai eesar barmaa ind.
Listening-Shiva, Brahma and Indra.
suni-ai mukh saalaahan mand.
Listening-even foul-mouthed people praise Him.
suni-ai jog jugat tan bhayd.
Listening-the technology of Yoga and
the secrets of the body.
suni-ai saasat simrit vayd.
Listening-the Shaastras, the Simritees and the Vedas.
naanak bhagtaa sadaa vigaas.
O Nanak, the devotees are forever in bliss.
suni-ai dookh paap kaa naas.
Listening-pain and sin are erased.
suni-ai sat santokh gi-aan.
Listening-truth, contentment and spiritual wisdom.
suni-ai athsath kaa isnaan.
Listening-take your cleansing bath at
the sixty-eight places of pilgrimage.
suni-ai parh parh paavahi maan.
Listening-reading and reciting, honor is obtained.
suni-ai laagai sahj Dhi-aan.
Listening-intuitively grasp the essence of meditation.
naanak bhagtaa sadaa vigaas.
O Nanak, the devotees are forever in bliss.
suni-ai dookh paap kaa naas.
Listening-pain and sin are erased.
suni-ai saraa gunaa kay gaah.
Listening-dive deep into the ocean of virtue.
suni-ai saykh peer paatisaah.
Listening-the Shaykhs, religious scholars,
spiritual teachers and emperors.
suni-ai anDhay paavahi raahu.
Listening-even the blind find the Path.
suni-ai haath hovai asgaahu.
Listening-the Unreachable comes within your grasp.
naanak bhagtaa sadaa vigaas.
O Nanak, the devotees are forever in bliss.
suni-ai dookh paap kaa naas.
Listening - pain and sin are erased.

ਸੁਣਿਐ ਸਿਧ ਪੀਰ ਸੁਰਿ ਨਾਥ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਧਰਤਿ ਧਵਲ ਆਕਾਸ ॥
ਸੁਣਿਐ ਦੀਪ ਲੋਅ ਪਾਤਾਲ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਪੋਹਿ ਨ ਸਕੈ ਕਾਲੁ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਭਗਤਾ ਸਦਾ ਵਿਗਾਸੁ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਦੂਖ ਪਾਪ ਕਾ ਨਾਸੁ ॥੮॥
ਸੁਣਿਐ ਈਸਰੁ ਬਰਮਾ ਇੰਦੁ ॥ਸੁਣਿਐ ਮੁਖਿ ਸਾਲਾਹਣ ਮੰਦੁ ॥
ਸੁਣਿਐ ਜੋਗ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਤਨਿ ਭੇਦ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਸਾਸਤ ਸਿਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਵੇਦ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਭਗਤਾ ਸਦਾ ਵਿਗਾਸੁ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਦੂਖ ਪਾਪ ਕਾ ਨਾਸੁ ॥੯॥
ਸੁਣਿਐ ਸਤੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਅਠਸਠਿ ਕਾ ਇਸਨਾਨੁ ॥
ਸੁਣਿਐ ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਮਾਨੁ ॥ਸੁਣਿਐ ਲਾਗੈ ਸਹਜਿ ਧਿਆਨੁ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਭਗਤਾ ਸਦਾ ਵਿਗਾਸੁ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਦੂਖ ਪਾਪ ਕਾ ਨਾਸੁ ॥੧੦॥
ਸੁਣਿਐ ਸਰਾ ਗੁਣਾ ਕੇ ਗਾਹ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਸੇਖ ਪੀਰ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹ ॥
ਸੁਣਿਐ ਅੰਧੇ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਰਾਹੁ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਹਾਥ ਹੋਵੈ ਅਸਗਾਹੁ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਭਗਤਾ ਸਦਾ ਵਿਗਾਸੁ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਦੂਖ ਪਾਪ ਕਾ ਨਾਸੁ ॥੧੧॥

Truck load of equipment for a celebration at a Gurdwara

There is more to technicality of sound then just raising the volume to make it heard.

The SOUND for MUSIC in GENERAL

The audience must clearly hear all of the music with the proper balance between instruments, and the proper tonal balance for each instrument. The performer must clearly hear himself and the other performers. Reverberation should be appropriate to the style of the music. Extraneous sounds must be inaudible in the concert space. The sound should not be audible outside the space of hall.

 

Presently Micro technology is becoming obsolete and Nano technology is being developed at a fast pace, Think of your smart phone sound quality for a second. Bigger or Louder is not the best performing piece any more. Up to date is best in sound quality as you know today. One needs to have a complete system in order for functions it needs to serve. My recommendations are if you would like to buy a system for Gurdwara, please take professional help.

Once again, sound is a complex field, not merely matter of numbers of microphones in your hand or neck. Choosing Directional or Uni-Directional microphones and number of speakers; but knowledge of Basic concept, Signal path, System components, Input transducers, Mixing consoles, Signal processors, Digital signal processors, Equalizers, Compressors, Noise gates, Effects, Power amplifiers, Output transducers, Main loudspeakers, Monitor loudspeakers, Digital signal, etc.

All this is also related to building size, shape and height. Buildings materials used in interior for acoustic etceteras.

Best quality sound at Harimandar Sahib, Largest Gurdwara complex. Harimandar-Golden Temple-largest covering area with smallest speakers has best sound.

Some young in age and a few new 'Jathas', constituted of several young people, have started a new wave. They open with loud sound and keep playing instruments for several minutes, either to impress their own energy or and to draw attention. I am not against their kirtan but suggest switching off a few microphones.

Precaution to be taken: There are a few simple ways to safeguard your hearing. First, be aware of the noise levels around you. Also, notice how close you are to the source of loud noises and how long you're exposed to them. And pay attention to the ringing in your ears. Our bodies are sometimes more fragile than we think.

My oldest Veerji has good knowledge and technical background of sound details. During my general conversation he shared an English movie clip from 1956, Veerji was in high school then. The clip described by him chuckle me. Imagine the scenario:

An English young lady is in love with a Sikh boy. They decided to get married. During ceremony in a Gurdwara, the bride, famous actress of her time Eva Gardner, hears many different voices in her head. Voices became louder then kirtan, of course words or kirtan meant nothing to her and she ran away from the Gurudwara. The movie is Bowani Junction, first MGM movie shot in Pakistan. It's worth watching, specially, if you want to catch up with partition times. Movie is in color and if you don't have time to watch full, the clip I am talking about begins at 1hr.6mins.

Veerji also has a friend with very sensitive ear, who would not stay in Gurudwara, if sound is loud. I loose focus from the shabad, if speed is too fast or words not clear due to sound.

Kirtan is like instructions which will suit us more when communicated, clearly audible.

ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਸਦਾ ਹਦੂਰਿ ਹੈ ਕਿਆ ਉਚੀ ਕਰਹਿ ਪੁਕਾਰ ॥
Saahib Sadhaa Hadhoor Hai Kiaa Ouchee Karehi Pukaar ||
Our Lord and Master is always present; why do you cry out to Him in such a loud voice?

God is omnipresent, why to shout?

Hearing the guru's shabad through sublime message, contemplatively, alert body position, focused mind and peaceful surroundings helps to be with 'One' at peace - Creator-God.
So Dear Gurdwara managements around the world: Please adjust the volume to really relish the Kirtan.

 

I presume God is not Deaf we are. He understands mildest of sound from our heart.

Sikhi is a simplified-practical-perfect-way of life.

Guru Granth teaches delightful living.
(Good+happy) Good for today better for tomorrow.
Follow it.

 

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Related Article:

 

http://www.sikhnet.com/news/new-architectural-concept-dharamsal