What Is Music And Why Is It So Important To Us? with Eckhart Tolle

Thank you for being such a great master, Master Eckhart. And my question is about music. What is music? Somehow it does stop our minds and why it is so important to us. Maybe about art in general also. And what is your favorite kind of music?

Okay, yes. It certainly stops the conceptual mind. Although music exists at different levels, there's some kind of music that very much stimulates the emotions. That's not the mind, but the emotions. The listening of music can be a wonderful meditation and practicing of music even more so. Do you play an instrument? But do you listen to music? What kind?

Classical.

Mostly classical music. Yes, yes, yes. There were several years, I don't know how many, maybe 15 years, when I listened to very little music. And why? Because the strange thing, I actually said that to somebody at that time who asked me the similar question, and I said, no, I don't listen to music much. That was at that time. Why not? He asked. Because it felt to me that.

All.

Those things like music and art, they were all inside me in the essence of whatever music can express. I could continuously sense. Well, I still can. I could continuously sense inside me. And so I can appreciate music. I said to her at the time, but I don't need it. It's like I have the cream and everything else is the skimmed milk. But even nature I perceived as the skimmed milk. I remember often sitting in nature and in a state of sometimes closing my eyes. Especially when I was still living in London, I would go on Hampstead Heath every day, sit there on the bench and close my eyes and such beauty and depth of the formless life itself, or consciousness. And then when I opened my eyes again, nature was still very beautiful, but it seemed like a diluted version of what I had within or even what I was within. Not that there's anything wrong with that. For many people it can be an entry point into that. So it can take you into that now. Then the time came when I started listening to music again as an enjoyment. And I do now, perhaps not every day, but from time to time I listen to music more recently on my iPad. Although the speakers are very small, they're about that size on the side, but yes. And I actually enjoy some of the spiritual kind of music, some New age music. Some of it is I love very much. Some of it can be a little bit tinkly and emotional or superficial. But other kinds of New age music I love very much. And I found this the other day. I found a station, I think Kim found it. It's called Calm Radio. And I believe it May even be Canadian and calm. Radio has many channels, but at least one station. And you can choose the type of music you like and it'll play that classical, oriental music, Om music, healing music, spa music, folk music, classical music, opera. So many channels. Just wonderful. Yes. The practice of an instrument also can be a wonderful meditation for many people because it really stops your mind. The important thing, however, can be helpful is not for presence to become associated with any particular activity. The activity can be helpful, but at some point you have to use it as a help, like playing an instrument, the flute, whatever it may be. If I learned an instrument, I would probably take up the flute. It looks a simple thing, although not easy probably to master. This is the. I'm now playing the soundless flute, the equivalent of one hand clapping. Not to become dependent on a particular activity so that you can be present for a while. It can be helpful, but not to become dependent on either. Use it as a tool to help you. Yes, but don't become dependent on listening to music so that you can be present only when you listen to music. Don't become dependent on playing the instrument and or dancing. Beautiful thing too. Moving your body. Don't become dependent so that you can only be present when you're actually dancing. Well, at least it's a wonderful thing. You can be present when you dance, but you can't dance continuously. Well, unless you regard your whole life as a dance, then it might work. Don't become dependent on climbing a mountain so that you can be present, because if you're not, you fall off. Don't become dependent on driving a fast car. Oh, really? Present because. So that presence is not bound up with one particular thing that you do, but nevertheless use those things as helpful ways of bringing you into presence. But then once more presence arises. Switch off the music. Doesn't mean you can't switch it on again or later, or tomorrow. Switch off the music. If music brings you into presence, the mind is not. There's just a pure act of listening. And you're aware that there's a pure act of listening. And you are the consciousness. You know yourself as the consciousness that's listening. Beautiful meditation. And then my next suggestion. Switch off the music and continue listening to what? Nothing. So when you remove the object of awareness, what remains is awareness itself. So this is how it can be. A wonderful portal. The same thing. Any activity that brings you into presence. Once you feel presence is arising, it's there. Stop the activity and just be aware of presence itself. And then you can carry. If you enjoy it then carry on doing, but. And then again step out. So that's the. So that presence is not bound up with one particular activity. Or you can even. You can look at the. You can look at a photo of a spiritual teacher who is present to bring you into presence. Ramana Maharshi. There's one particular photo of him that was. Is a beautiful photo where you actually truly feel the light shining through his eyes. And that was where the photographer took that photo, 1930 or so. And the photographer said, no. Ramana Maharshi said, is there enough light? The photographer said, you are the light. And that's a beautiful picture. And the amazing thing, some people have even used pictures of me. And you look, as long as you know you're not looking at a person, that's not why you have the photo you are looking at. To put you in touch with a particular state of consciousness. You're ultimately looking at yourself, the essence. So then a picture can activate that in you. And then the next step is again similar to what I said before. Close your eyes or remove the picture and continue to feel that presence. So you can use whatever is there to help you, but don't become dependent on it, whatever it may be, use it, enjoy it, but don't become a pendant. So that that then exclusively becomes associated with presence. And then you can only be present when you put a little altar with Ramana Maharshi up. And then suddenly. But as soon as you go away. So enjoy the.