Meditation: The Speed of Sound in this moment

speed of sound in dry air at 20 °C = 343 m / s (approximately 350 m/s)

So when we're meditating on sound and we're being aware of everything that is happening in this moment, and we hear the sound of an aeroplane passing overhead, what are we actually hearing?

The events that caused the noise (eg a propellor spinning) happened at an altitude say of 30,000 feet, or approximately 9000 meters above us (we're using simple approximations here!).

and it takes 1 second for the pressure waves generated by that aircraft (i.e. the sound) to travel approximately 350 meters in dry air.

How long does it take for that soudn to reach our ears?

9000/350 = 25 seconds (approximately).

So when we're meditating and we hear such a sound what is actually happeneing 'in this moment' is that the eneregy of vibrations that occured approximately 25 seonds ago (i.e. in the past) are now arriving at our ears .

Another exampole is when a dog barks say 2Km away - that sound takes 5 seconds to reach us - so again what we are aware of when we hear that sound during meditation and in this moment, is that the energy of an event that happened in the past (i.e. 5 seconds ago) is now arriving at our ears.

Next time you meditate on sounds, without analysing the sounds too much, be aware that the sound you are hearing is energy arriving at your ear, it does not signify an event that has just happened in this moment.

Curious hey!