Sutra 4.16 of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which touches on perception and consciousness, fits perfectly with the themes of interconnectedness, mystery, and the celebration of life and death tied to Samhain and All Saints Day celebrated last week, as I had technical difficulties here in the studio, this episode is kind of a week late, but our way of timetravel back to last week. . Sutra 4.16 essentially questions the nature of reality and perception: “An object is perceived or exists only when the mind is aware of it.” The sutras instruct.

This calls up the classic thought experiment, “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” The sutra invites us to ponder the intersection between what we perceive, what actually exists, and the nature of consciousness itself.

Aldous Huxley: “After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.”

This quote ties seamlessly into the themes of Sutra 4.16 and Chuang Tzu’s Dream. Just as the dream blurs boundaries and questions reality, music also leads us beyond words and everyday understanding, offering a glimpse into what we can’t easily describe or perceive. Music, like silence or dreaming, opens a space where we can connect with the intangible, the unseen, and perhaps, even with the truths that lie beyond perception.

Todays carefully curated playlist of world contemporary tunes acts as both a sonic exploration and a spiritual journey through todays theme. Music becomes a vessel, much like the journey of yoga, that allows us to touch the unknown, reach into the inexpressible, and find connection in the mysteries that lie just beyond sight.

VOILA…. “After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.”by