The Role of Music in Human Life
Music is an integral part of our lives. From a young age, we are drawn to it. As children, the first thing we do is sing, and only then do we start speaking. A newborn baby does not talk; it sings. Lying in the cradle, they go “aaaa”… that is their natural state. We were all born knowing how to listen and sing along. However, as we grow up, we often forget this innate ability.
Think about what a mother does when a baby cannot sleep. She sings a lullaby. As she sings, the baby relaxes more and more, and then drifts off. This process of dissolving into rhythm is known as Laya Samadhi. ‘Laya’ means dissolving in the rhythm of the music. Music is the lifeline of every individual, whether they recognize it or not. We have simply forgotten that we have all experienced music this way.
However, those who are only in music, only in emotion, tend to suffer from a lack of logical reasoning. They calculate less, they foresee less. They live in a different world altogether. They often become miserable over small things.
On the other hand, the sharpest minds—such as lawyers, judges, chartered accountants, auditors, engineers, scientists, and analysts—are brilliant people. They calculate, they analyse, they solve problems. People find it good to do business with them, as they are competent. You can trust their logic. But if the emotional side is not nurtured, they can remain overly calculative, overthinking.
The Balance Between Brain Hemispheres
The brain has two hemispheres, left and right, that are connected and communicate with each other. The left hemisphere governs speech, logic, and calculation. The right hemisphere governs creativity, emotion, and music. When one side dominates completely, something in the human being goes out of balance. And balance, not brilliance alone, is what makes life beautiful.
Now, we all listen to music—or so we think. Actually, we only play music. There is a difference. Music is going on, and we are talking, driving, and messaging. That is not listening. That is just noise with a pleasant face.
Real listening is when you simply sit down, close your eyes, and let the music flow through you. Your whole body is hollow and empty, and music fills it—if you allow it. Even ten minutes of this, truly listening, and you can feel something shift within. A shower of music can lead you to an eternal silence.
Ancient Wisdom in Music and Architecture
The ancient Indian temples understood this deeply. They were not just places of worship; they were designed to help us move from the external to the inner world through sound, flowing from the gross to the subtle. At the outermost periphery: big drums, shaking out dullness and restlessness, activating the base chakra. Chakras are subtle nerve centres in the body, running from the base of the spine to the top of the head, through which energy flows and influences our body, mind, and consciousness.
Moving inward, you find string instruments, such as the veena, that resonate with the navel centre. The flute speaks to the heart. And at the innermost sanctum is a small bell or conch—so delicate, so subtle—touching something near the crown chakra. The entire architecture was a map of human consciousness, guiding you from the heaviest sounds inward to the most refined—from noise to silence, to relaxation.
The Power of Wordless Music
Music without words works even better for relaxation. When there are words, your left brain stays engaged in interpreting and following their meaning. For true rest and balance, go to the wordless: a sitar raga, a flute piece, a solo piano.
This is especially helpful for all those living too much in logic—lawyers, accountants, scientists, and analysts. Set aside at least ten to thirty minutes every day. Sit down with your eyes closed in silence, and listen to a single piece of instrumental music. Just listen and relax.
The Benefits of Harmonizing the Brain
When left and right brains come into harmony, you are not only sharper, you are also kinder, calmer, and more fully alive. That is the music many are actually missing.
