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Series:   Elements in New Religious Movements

The Sound Current Tradition

A Historical Overview

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 June 2022

David Christopher Lane
David Christopher Lane
Affiliation:
Mt. San Antonio College

Summary

The practice of listening to subtle, inner sounds during meditation to concentrate and elevate the mind has a long history in various religions around the world, including Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Today there are a number of new religious movements that have made listening to the inner sound current a cornerstone of their teachings. These groups include the Radhasoamis, the Divine Light Mission, Eckankar, the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA), MasterPath, the Sawan-Kirpal Mission, Quan Yin/Ching Hai, Manavta Mandir, ISHA, and a number of others. In this study we provide a historical and comprehensive overview of these movements and how they have incorporated listening to the inner sound as part of their spiritual discipline. We are particularly interested in the distinctive and nuanced ways that each group teaches how to listen to the inner sound current and how they interpret it in their own unique theologies.
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Keywords

Shabd YogaRadhasoamiEckankarSant MatNada Yoga
Type
Element
Information
Series: Elements in New Religious Movements
Online ISBN: 9781009047821
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication: 14 July 2022

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