The Music of Life

By Saki Lee

"What makes us feel drawn to music is that our whole being is music; our mind and our body, the nature in which we live, the nature that has made us, all that is beneath and around us… it is all music." - Sufi mystic Hazrat Inayat Khan

-Music has always been a metaphor for harmonious relationships for me. Because it is a miniature of the whole harmony of the universe, it trains me to harmonize with life:  to be in right relationship with my own body, emotions and consciousness; with the people who are part of my world; and with the Source of nature and Creation.

Chinese character for Joy (LÈ)

Music is also a pathway toward healing, transformation, self-unfoldment and happiness.  Music tunes the heart to the harmony of rhythm, balance, and beauty in life. It uplifts the spirit and gives us joy and inspiration.   In Chinese, the same character for Joy  also means music.

I studied western classical music (violin) at a young age, but later became more interested in the voice. I probably started singing because I was so afraid to speak up in public!   For many years, I studied North Indian classical raga singing with Shri Biresh Roy from Calcutta and Jelaluddin Bhartiya from Bombay.  This taught me a lot about creativity and improvisation. 

After many years of training,   I also became certified as a dance teacher for the Dances of Universal Peace.  The Dances of Universal Peace are simple circle dances inspired by the prayers and sacred chants of the world's spiritual traditions.  These continue to amaze me when I share them with groups.  Such simple chants and dances can open hearts to the unity of being.

The golden thread that has connected these outer forms of music with the music of my life continues to be the teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan.  He was one of the first teachers of the Sufi tradition who brought the message of spiritual liberty to the west in 1910..  His murshid (teacher) Khwaja Abu Hashim Madani of the Chisti Order had given him the task to bring his teachings to the west as a musician of the soul, and to tune hearts to the divine harmony.

Saki with her Tamboura

From the Sufi teachings, I discovered that  music is sacred; it is prayer, glorification and purification, and enables us to invite the presence of the Beloved into our hearts.  Music also realigns our subtler energies, and awakens us to our soul nature. It is true nectar for the soul.

I am deeply grateful for the blessings and inspiration I have received through the living spiritual transmission of Hazrat Inayat Khan's son, Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, who has been my beloved teacher and guide since 1973.  Pir Vilayat taught me that it is the music of the universe that is the background of the small picture which we call music.  And that healing is a combination of joy and peace.  Joy in our relationship with the outside and peace in our discovery of the springhead of our being.

Our world is in such need of healing today.  My deep wish is that there be joy and music to harmonize us all.

Love,
Saki Lee