The Bhagavad Gita concludes with Krishna asking Arjuna whether he was able to hear attentively and whether his illusions were thereby dispelled. This question points to the profound link between attention to sound and becoming present in the moment—realizing the richness of the divine presence in the present.

This relationship can be summarized in two principles:

  1. Hear to be here

Whenever sacred sounds such as mantras are uttered or messages of wisdom are spoken, they have the potential to attune us to reality. This attunement spans physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions, culminating in the presence of God, who presides at the summit of reality.

When we give our full attention to sacred sound, it doesn’t just enter our consciousness but also expands within it, leading to a dual transformation. First, the sound becomes the focus of our attention, leading to absorption. Second, it expands our consciousness, helping us become aware not just of the sound itself but also of the higher reality it represents.

This dynamic development is exemplified later in the Bhagavad Gita when Sanjaya declares (18.76–77) that recollecting Krishna’s words leads him to envision Krishna’s form and thereby Krishna as a person.

God is not far away in some distant spiritual world, nor is he merely someone we will meet at the end of life. He resides within us, orchestrating the circumstances around us. When we hear attentively, we become attuned to the present moment, realizing there is much more to reality than we perceived with our previously scattered mind. Thus, hearing attentively helps us become present and experience the divine richness of the moment.

  1. Be here to hear

To hear attentively, we must consciously strive to be present. This involves aligning our sensory and mental faculties with the present moment. For instance, if we recite the Bhagavad Gita mechanically as a ritual, we derive minimal benefit. However, if we strive to focus fully—engaging our senses, mind, and consciousness—the sacred sound ceases to be just one of many stimuli. Instead, it becomes the central focus that fills and fulfills our consciousness, elevating us to a sublime experience of reality and joy.

The synergy of sound and presence

While “hearing to be here” and “being here to hear” are distinct approaches to attuning our consciousness, they work synergistically. Starting with one nurtures the other, creating a virtuous cycle of spiritual growth. Regardless of where we begin, we can embark on an exciting journey into divine consciousness.

Summary:

Hear to be here: Paying full attention to sacred sound reveals the richness of the present, where the divine is present both within us as our guide and outside us as the orchestrator of events.

Be here to hear: Bringing our senses and mind into the present enables us to better receive sacred sound, allowing it to fill and elevate our consciousness.

Both approaches are synergistic, nurturing each other and leading us into higher consciousness.

Think it over:

  1. How does sound lead to presence? How does presence lead to sound?
  2. Recollect instances when sound led you to presence or presence led you to sound.
  3. Reflect on what you can learn from such experiences for future opportunities to enter higher consciousness.

***

18.72 O son of Pṛthā, O conqueror of wealth, have you heard this with an attentive mind? And are your ignorance and illusions now dispelled?