Sound, Relation, and the Lived World

Research Focus

We explore how sound and vibration serve as the fundamental building blocks of reality within Indigenous Anangu Tjukurrpa and Sufi metaphysics. Both traditions describe sound as a generative force that precedes the existence of matter and individual consciousness. We contrast these relational ontologies with Western perspectives that often isolate the human mind from the external world. While Tjukurrpa emphasizes an eternal, law-bound continuity and the ethical principle of Kanyini, Sufism focuses on spiritual attunement to cosmic harmonies. We argue that existence is an ongoing process of resonance and participation. Through this comparison, we encourage a shift in how we study religion and consciousness, prioritizing interconnectedness over individual interpretation.