The journey of meditation often leads to profound experiences of transcending the mind—reaching a state that is beyond the limitations of thought, emotion and personal identity. Meditation on the inner Light and Sound is one such method that has been described by many mystics and spiritual leaders, including Guru Nanak, as a path to go beyond the mind and connect with higher spiritual dimensions.

In this article, we will explore what it means to go beyond the mind through meditation on the inner Light and Sound and consider other meditative practices that may lead to similar transcendence. We will also reflect on the teachings of Guru Nanak and other spiritual traditions that describe this experience.

Meditating on the inner Light and Sound is an ancient practice that aims to connect with the spiritual frequencies beyond the material world. As practitioners focus on perceiving the subtle, inner light or the sound—often described as celestial music, a hum, or other divine tones—they gradually silence the noise of the mind. This inner focus allows them to access states of consciousness where thought no longer dominates, and awareness shifts to a deeper level of being.

When one reaches a point beyond the mind in this form of meditation, they are no longer limited by the fluctuations of thoughts, emotions or ego. Instead, they connect with a source of higher wisdom, often experienced as pure awareness or divine consciousness. This is sometimes described as the realm of the soul, where the practitioner becomes aware of their true spiritual nature.

The mantra TEK RAA SEE, for example, is often used in this meditation to silence the lower mind, allowing the practitioner to attune to the inner Light and Sound. As the mind quiets, the meditator may experience visions of light, sacred geometry, or a sense of oneness, which are signs of moving beyond the mind.

Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, emphasized the importance of listening to the Anahad Shabad (the unstruck sound), an inner sound that exists beyond the realm of physical perception. He spoke about the practice of listening to this sound as a way to transcend the limitations of the mind and ego.

In Japji Sahib, Guru Nanak describes this spiritual journey as a process of silencing the mind and merging with the divine. He teaches that through deep meditation on the Naam (the divine Word or Sound), one can go beyond the illusion of the material world and experience the eternal truth.

According to Guru Nanak, going beyond the mind involves dissolving the ego and realizing that the soul is part of the infinite divine consciousness. In this state, distinctions between the self and the divine fade away, and the practitioner experiences a unity that is both transformative and liberating.

While meditation on inner Light and Sound is a profound path to transcendence, there are other methods in spiritual traditions that lead beyond the mind. For instance, in the practice of Samadhi in yoga, the practitioner reaches a state of complete absorption where the mind becomes still, and the true self is realized. This state of being beyond the mind is described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali as the ultimate goal of yoga—union with the divine.

Similarly, in Zen Buddhism, the practice of Zazen (sitting meditation) emphasizes letting go of thought and focusing on pure awareness. The mind, in this practice, is seen as an obstacle that can be transcended through mindfulness and deep meditative focus, leading to Satori, or Enlightenment.

In these traditions, going beyond the mind involves silencing the thought processes and accessing a higher state of awareness that is beyond duality, time and space.

Going beyond the mind in meditation, whether through the practice of inner Light and Sound or other forms of deep spiritual focus, is a universal experience described in many traditions. The teachings of Guru Nanak offer profound insights into how one can transcend the mind by attuning to the divine Sound and Light within, leading to a realization of unity with the divine.

As more people explore various paths of meditation, they may discover that going beyond the mind is not just about escaping thought but about entering a state of deeper, more expansive awareness, where the true nature of the soul is revealed.

The journey to transcend the mind is deeply personal, but with dedication, patience and the guidance of spiritual teachings, anyone can experience this transformative state of being.