The spiritual and meditative benefits of oud

[~A Coburn]

Many of the most profound and meaningful conversations about oud happen in private correspondences.

Here I will post testaments to the Spiritual and Meditative benefits of oud from individual experiences which have been shared in correspondences with me and that I feel will benefit others.

The permission for each of the testaments has been given by the authors, some of whom wish to remain anonymous.

Show your support and appreciation of their willingness to share by liking the content.

Perhaps it'll also encourage these incredible individuals to participate personally!

With appreciation,

 

[~A Coburn]

"I have to pen this down now, no delay. I just finished reading one of Ensar's old blog posts, "Letter to an Oud Lover", Jan 31, 2011. The last paragraph really startled me:

In a very weird sense, Oud has a consciousness. It knows what you expect from it, and it changes to reflect your expectations; or does it? Berkeley would say the entire thing happens in the consciousness of the perceiving subject, without any objective reality. I say the Oud is alive. With the spirit of the One who created it; the Unchanging who effects every change.

I was thinking something very similar just yesterday. Lately I've been experimenting with Aroha Kyaku, trying to get to know it, how to best apply and use it, and I feel that the oil is a bit elusive. As if it doesn't like me backbiting it in these emails. I mentioned in the previous email of some "ethereal vapour" (I pick up these words from reading your descriptions and other people's reviews to match my own experiences) present in Joy de Boche but totally absent in Our Yusuf. Guess what? I was running late last evening, I hastily put on some Oud Yusuf and rush to the surau, and as I arrived and about to start praying, there you go, the "absent" ethereal vapour making its appearance. I was dumbstruck... and humbled.

I guess in my case, the oils didn't change to reflect my expectations, it changes to falsify and challenge my expectations, as if to tell me to stop saying things I have no knowledge about. I feel as if I've enrolled myself in a school of some sort. Studying my own thoughts and presumptions. To think that all these came from these tiny bottles of oil, is just mind boggling." ~Mohammed, Malaysia

 

[~A Coburn]

"I have been thinking about oud (not necesarily the best of the times because I am not working) and how one evolves understanding as one experience things. In this case, thanks to you guys I got a bit more acquainted with the world of oud oils. My previous experience (a completely different thing) with “oud" and perfumery was Francis Kurdjan, and others (I was never very fond of Tom Ford ones), and with oudh in mixed Bakhoor and with kyara in tea ceremony or in a couple occasions kodoh games. Besides this, my old addiction to incense. In fact I “discovered “ Ensar Oud when looking for my favorite incenses smells in a flask. I found the pair of my second favourite incense in Nasomato Black Afgano, not the same but resembles the jinko kyara somehow. The first one I haven't found yet (the incense is called oi matsu - wind of pines) and it is a not so kyara kind of kyara or I do not know how to describe it well. The other Kyara smells I found in some Ys Yuzak perfumes. But I have been reluctant to buy perfumes last years because I met you and got very tired of the artificial smells, aldehydes and the likes. I was buying and learning something about oils and I knew I needed patience.

Back to the thread I was thinking about oud and said to myself that the healing song that the tree sings when sick or wounded is then transformed into oil so we can enjoy it. It came to me that maybe I my mood was too affected by a healing song and I should go to the more happy songs of flowers or the meditative song of sandalwood. Be patience and give a rest to oud. I've been using the rose and the jasmine oils and have been feeling very happy. Also Santal Royal. I said to myself last week Oh maybe after returning from my meditation retreat I will order the Tanzanian sandalwood. While meditating though I felt the pervasive smell of wood. It was not an outer smell. It was something in my heart having effects on my body, some numbness accompanied by metallic smokiness. I though: Aroha Kyaku! how is this possible? I am feeling chenko in the core of it. Japanese pepper containing brightest umami in the core of this overpowering old smoky wood. Then I thought it was the older wood of Encens Royal. I was distracted in senses but the feeling was quite meditative. I continued meditation saying ok, lets think about continuing with the oud later on. The image I had later pondering on it was that of a huge buddha wooden statue

This week i read the mail about the legends, and while maybe the senkohs have that airy peppery numbing feeling I am looking for, I saw the Kinam Rouge and said to myself that better smelled than never smelled. I know Kinam Rouge will help with my learning (it was a tough decision between this and Borneo 50K). Also got a piece of the tanzanian wood. With patience, better days and opportunities to experience things will come." ~Javier, Peru

 

[~A Coburn]

"First of all, thanks for the recent package, and thank you for the two sample vials of Kupang 98 and Bliss du Boche. It was a reminiscence of my very first purchase from you, like deja vu, surreal. Even the setting was the same. I was in the office, a different office this time, but all the same, in the middle of some time consuming task requiring my attention. That was five months ago, how time flies. Had I knew then what kind of a rabbit hole, no, black hole, I was getting myself into, would I venture into it? I believe I still would. They say in the singularity of black hole time stops, it'll be perpetual now. Well, in the oud black hole, psychological time stops, unfortunately for poor souls like me the external mechanical time or electronic time just blip away.

Oh, Sidi, what can I do? You gave an offer I couldn't refuse. Both my previous ouds are rapidly diminishing, Oud Yusuf is less than half a bottle left. Now a Cambodian Ensar Oud with that price, how could I say no? True to my own made up principle of financial "prudence", every purchase I make must qualify the free shipping deal, I almost went for the whole 12g bottle, but decided I still have to explore as much variety as I can. So, Santal Royale it was, (so, did I get the last bottle?) and I have always wondered how the best Malaysian oud from the hands of the best distiller smells like. I just have to know.

Now I can say I've followed the wisdom in an old Malay "pantun":

Sudah gaharu, cendana pula;
Sudah tahu, bertanya pula?

Maybe you've already heard this pantun before. It would be the first thing to come to mind whenever people say the word "gaharu". Kids know this pantun even if they have no idea what gaharu or cendana is. I was that kid. I believe I used to think gaharu and cendana as a kind of flower or whatever I don't care. Or some food only old people eat or munch? Like the mysterious sireh leaves. Well, gaharu is agarwood, and cendana is sandalwood.

"Sudah gaharu, cendana pula" = "After agarwood, now comes sandalwood."

Don't ask me, I have no idea what that means. Maybe you know? Or Ensar knows?

"Sudah tahu, bertanya pula?" = "You knew already, is there still any need to ask?"

What?

Typically, this pantun is used when a man proposes to a lady, and she shyly replies with this pantun. But I am now thinking there is more to this pantun than just the romantic encounter of two persons wanting to get married. Reflect on this, I will.

Anyway, I still haven't said anything about the Ouds (and Sandalwoods). I do have many things to say, but inshaAllah, I'll pen them down soon.

Until next time, JazakumulLah Khayr. God bless you all. "

~Wan, Malaysia

 

[~A Coburn]

"Words are one thing, but to actually experience something is all together different. You speak of Zen and Nirvana, and yet these are subjective experiences which exist in the hearts, minds and souls of those who experience it, to me 'Nirvana' is both blissful and relaxing and while I'll attempt in the words below to portray the experiences of these wonders, it will fall short, much like reading a description of Nirvana falls short of actually obtaining it.

There are degrees of consciousness, and presence. If one has concerns weighing them down, causing anxiety or panic, then a medium, such as these ouds may relieve that state of anxiety or panic. When one is free from worry and utterly content, a medium such as these ouds, may aide to raise one's state from contentment and joy, to opulent bliss and Nirvana.

There are prerequisites to such states, and one cannot assume to reach these heights in a moment. If you are ready for such experiences, and aware of the nuances of your heart and soul, then these ouds can play your heart strings like an instrument and sooth your mind, body and soul.

Kynam No 1, is a "mind numbing experience." Its vaporous attribute is sharp and medicinal and it cuts through all thought demanding presence in the moment. With it you get a scent that centers you, its tone is high frequency pulling you up. It's energetic and lively, uplifting, like the warm sun on your face after a long cold winter. It's all together different than Royal Kinam and Kyara LTD. Remember that Kynam No 1 is Vietnamese Kynam, where the latter are Chinese.

As for Royal Kinam and Kyara LTD, they too are centering, and increase awareness in the present moment, however they have more of an opiate effect. Their tone is lower frequency than Kynam No 1 and their effect on your energy is more grounding. Perhaps this is what you are referring to as anxiolytic or relaxing. Much like how you described the effect Hainan had on you, but amplified 5 fold! Royal Kinam's opening has the edge over Kyara LTD because it is a slight shade brighter than Kyara LTD. But Kyara LTD emerges in full bloom during the drydown.

And Nha Trang LTD?!? Well again here we're talking Vietnamese, and not just Vietnamese, but the legendary province of Nha Trang. Recently it was said to "blow Kynam No 1 out of the water." Now I believe this was said in haste and excitement, but it's a testament to its station. It's important to note that my friend who said that hasn't had a chance to try Royal Kinam, nor Kyara LTD.

Nha Trang LTD is worlds apart from Borneo 3000. But yes, eyes of any lover will shed tears at its beauty. It's a middle ground between Kynam No 1 and Royal Kinam it has elements of both light and dark, it's grounding but stimulating without the sedative feeling that comes with the two Chinese Kinams.

In terms of degrees, I would rank them as follows from greatest to least both in profile as well as the feelings and experiences they invoke. Nha Trang LTD is first and foremost, followed by Royal Kinam, Kynam No 1, then Kyara LTD. "

 

[~A Coburn]

"May you be immersed in the Divine Oneness, and in a state of Peace!

I'd like to discuss something about the similarities and differences of Nha Trang LTD, Kyara LTD, and Royal Kinam.

From the vial of Kynam No 1 you'll notice it's profile is earthen, and as grounding as tree roots firmly anchored through moistened soil, into the depths of mineral rich clay. This is the beginning of the journey, from which its transcendence begins.

Like our beings, Kynam No 1 begins from an earthly state, its body if you will, and journeys from the physical to the spiritual as the profile expands. Like a rising Phoenix it emerges in its final state of vaporous light!

The earthen profile rises becoming brighter and brighter until its peak just before the drydown. So too like spiritual experiences, we reach the heights only to seemingly come down to whence we started. However the consistent observer knows you never descend all the way but start the next journey from a height that is degrees above the last.

With time, and observation you'll notice your olfactory senses become heightened beginning each application from a state of awareness, degrees above your last.

Kynam No 1 is most similar to Nha Trang LTD by proximity, however there are vast differences. Nha Trang LTD has more layers of depth and complexity than Kynam No 1, it encompasses its profile along with other characteristics of the Nha Trang region. And when you observe Royal Guallam, you will notice its herbal tone, like a tincture of ginseng and licorice., the elixir is a clear bright yellow liquor. Nha Trang LTD conveys threads of that too. A harmony of notes, conducted by the ancient region of Nha Trang, and all its life and history.

I believe there are many hidden mysteries in Nha Trang LTD which have yet to unfold, however these are my experiences thus far, and I am listening closely for them to reveal themselves to me.

Royal Kinam I also feel has more to tell me, however so far what I've observed is that it's a distinct, clean, Chinese Kinam, from start to finish.

As for Kyara LTD it goes through various phases of development and each layer is more stunning than the last. Layer after layer of piercing yellow to red kinam like heights of spiritual transcendence without the physical earthly beginning.

Each element of the profile is distinct, and the effect is heightened by the Kyara skins in the distillation. Kyara LTD is one of those ouds that you've just got to sit down for, if you don't observe its every minute, you'll miss something amazing!"

~Anonymous