Hersey Baird - The practice of nada yoga: meditation on the inner sacred sound

For Jonji Provenzano
My dear friend and teacher of living and dying March 27, 1944September 1, 2008

The Practice of Nada Yoga

With Bairds easy-to-follow instructions, this book offers a practical method to unlock these ancient practices. It is an exciting addition to the vast body of yoga texts.

NANCY GILGOFF, STUDENT OF SRI K. PATTABHI JOIS AND DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSE OF YOGA & ZEN, MAUI

Baird, through his many years of practice and study in yoga and in music, has traveled to the depths of nada yoga, the yoga of sound. He leads us, in this remarkable book, to the infinite source of this sacred sound, the Self. If you are a disciplined student of yoga or music, this journey with Baird is an indispensable trip.

BERYL BENDER BIRCH, AUTHOR OF POWER YOGA

Bairds writing voice is strong and sonorous, confidently leading us toward a tranquil mind, an undefended heart, and a more sustained connection with the divine. His meditation exercises are among the clearest and easiest to follow that I have ever read. In a world where sound is associated with stress and overload, The Practice of Nada Yoga reminds us, as Baird says, what we might hear if we could listen through Gods ears.

GAIL STRAUB, COFOUNDER OF EMPOWERMENT INSTITUTE AND AUTHOR OF RETURNING TO MY MOTHERS HOUSE

Baird Hersey describes in clear, exact steps the process of developing the ancient practice of nada yoga. While these Hindu and Buddhist exercises are often clouded in mystery, he manages to make the process both comprehensible and accessible to Westerners serious about their meditation, contemplation, and concentration practices. This is a book by an experienced practitioner who knows the terrain.

JOSE LUIS STEVENS, PH.D., COFOUNDER OF THE POWER PATH, AUTHOR OFAWAKEN THE INNER SHAMAN, AND COAUTHOR OF SECRETS OF SHAMANISM ANDTHE POWER PATH

Acknowledgments

My deepest thanks to:

Eddie Stern, who took the time to sit with me and read through the verses of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. His insight and knowledge of yoga were of exceptional help to me in the writing of this book. Since 1999 I have had the good fortune to be his ashtanga yoga student when I am in New York City.

Shubhraji, with whom I have studied Vedanta since 1999. Her guidance and encouragement, both in my life and in writing this book, have been of extraordinary value to me. Her teachings on Vedanta helped shape this book.

Robert Thurman, to whom I will be forever grateful, for taking the time to come talk to my dear friend Jonji and his support group as Jonji was dying of cancer. Jonji was overjoyed by Bobs visit that afternoon. I have taken yearly teachings with Bob on the relationship between Buddha and the yogis since 2006. The meditation on the Eight Steps into Clear Light is based to some degree on his instruction.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, whom I have had the privilege of hearing teach yearly from 2006 to 2010. He is a beacon of light for those who believe that love, kindness, and compassion are the most powerful forces known to mankind.

Krishna Das, for all of his generosity in sharing his music and the stage with me and Prana since 2005 and for the foreword he contributed to this book. I have great respect for him both as a kirtan wallah and a person.

Eric, Joncarl, and Katina Hersey, my children, who have all in their own ways taught me about unconditional love. Although I can take very little responsibility for who they are becoming, they are the best reason I have for being here on this Earth.

Gina Dominique, for her love and support: an enduring light in my life. With her every chapter is more surprising, exciting, and fulfilling than the last.

John Hersey, my father, who was a kind, compassionate, thoughtful, and ethical man. He has been a true role model for me.

Frances Ann Cannon, my mother, who encouraged my interest in music. She bought me records, took me to concerts and Broadway musicals, and arranged music lessons for me. These acts of recognition and kindness helped shape me and my life.

Ann, Brook, Martin, and John Hersey, my sisters and brothers, who, each in their own unique way, have influenced the direction of my life.

Tom Guralnick, my lifelong friend, who has supported my music no matter what twist or turn it has taken.

The members of Prana, who have shown up at my house on almost every Monday night since 2000 to sing my music. Among them: Peter Buettner, Amy Fradon, Kirsti Gholson, Julie Last, Bruce Milner, Julian Lines, Leslie Ritter, Joe Veillette, Amy Goldin, Julie Parisi, and Bar Scott.

Robert (Rick) Bartz, D.C., who generously shared his broad knowledge of physiology and anatomy in answer to my many questions as I wrote this book. Thanks to him and all of the other ashtanga yogis who have shown up at my house, week after week, year after year, to join me in self-practice.

Mark Kinder, for some illuminating thoughts on sound and light meditations.

Ruth Levine, who for many years encouraged me to write and offered me many insightful observations.

Marcia Albert, my first yoga teacher, who with love and deep knowledge started me on this path of yoga and sound.

Teachers through the years have included: Sharath Rangaswamy Jois, Saraswathi Rangaswamy Jois, Manju Jois, Jerry Bidlack, Alvin Lucie, Bill Dixon, Henry Brant, Jane Odin, Bobby McFerrin, Beryl and Thom Birch, David Swenson, Nancy Gilgoff, Barbara Boris, David Hykes, Lobsang Phuntsok, Tim Miller, Richard Freeman, Odsuren Baatar, Made and Suathi Bandem, and Alash.

Martin Barding, for his photography, both here in this book and all the photos he has taken of Prana over the years.

Mavis Gewant, for her contribution of the lovely illustration in this book.

Kathy McNames of Yoga Vermont and Francois Raoult of Sky Yoga, for their ongoing support of my teaching over the years.

Ned Leavitt, for his insightful instruction on the publishing world and contract negotiation.

Jeff Davis, for his willingness to point me where I needed to go.

Robin Bourjaily, for her excellent and insightful copyediting.

Jon Graham, Jamaica Burns, Jeanie Levitan, Virginia Scott Bowman, Priscilla Baker, Manzanita Carpenter, Erica B. Robinson, Kelly Bowen, and all of the staff at Inner Traditions, especially Ehud and Vatsala Sperling.

A. G. Mohan, who, although I only met him briefly, communicated to me that I was on the right path.

Throughout this book I make reference to different examples of sound. I have compiled a selection of sound samples to help illustrate some of these examples. Text references with sound accompaniment are indicated with the symbol. Please refer to the Audio List on page 207 for the Web addresses of these samples.