Swami Sivananda Introduction Japa, chanting, and meditation on Om are the most important portions of the Vedantic Sadhana..the state of turiya, Brahman, the atman and Om are one. Om is an embodiment of the essence of the whole of the Vedas..The whole essence of the Vedas is compressed in the symbol of Om. This symbol is endowed with occult powers of the highest character. Aspirants who tread the path of Vedanta always repeat Om mentally and enjoy supreme bliss from this mystic practice..Live and move in Om..Utter Om in each and every breath. Be ever wakeful in the bliss of Om. Melt the dream of this illusive world in the wakefulness of Om. Sink the pains and miseries of samsara [earthly life, including recurring birth and death] in the bliss of Om, the bliss of the Eternal, the abode of peace, bliss, and joy..Meditation on Om leads to the realization of Brahma Jnana [Divine Knowledge]..Think of nothing other than Om. May Om be the solace of your life. May Om be the solace of your past, present, and future. May you ever live immersed in the ecstasy of the Pranava.
Om is the Name of Brahman. Through proper understanding of Om and its right significance, you can find out the way to approach and realize Brahman.
May you all enter the soundless Om by transcending the sounds of the letters. May you all meditate on Om and attain the goal of life, the Ultimate Reality, Satchitananda Parabrahman. May the Om guide you. May this Om be your center, ideal, and goal.
The Philosophy of Om: Symbol of Brahman
Parabrahman, that Eternal Highest Being, the abiding place of all that lives and moves, is beyond name and definition. The Vedas have ventured to give a name to Him, in order that man may recognize and call Him. A new-born child has no name, but on receiving one he will answer to it. Men who are troubled by the afflictions of this world run to the Deity for refuge, and call Him by the name. When Brahman is invoked through the name, that which is hidden is revealed to the aspirant.
Brahman is the highest of all. Om is His name. So Om is to be adored. Om is everything. Om is the name or symbol of God, Ishwara, or Brahman. Om is your real name. Om covers all the threefold experience of man. Om stands for all phenomenal words. From Om this sense-universe has been projected. The world exists in Om and dissolves in Om. Om is formed by combining the letters a, u, and m. A represents the physical plane, u represents the mental and the astral planes, the world of spirits, all heavens, and m represents all the deep sleep state and all that is unknown and beyond the reach of the intellect even in your waking. Om therefore represents all. Om is the basis of your life, thought and intelligence. All words that denote objects are centered in Om. Hence the whole world has come from Om, rests in Om and dissolves in Om..All the letters of the alphabets of all languages are contained in this mysterious, sacred monosyllable-Om. Therefore, it is quite proper to regard Om as the symbol or name of Brahman..Om only is the solid reality. Om is the soul of your breath.
Om gives peace, calmness, tranquillity and serenity. This symbol brings the entire universe and all it contains in its span..Om includes everything we can imagine and something more, too. As such it is a fit symbol to be meditated upon. No other symbol can span so much in its embrace.
The sound produced in the flowing Ganga, the sound that is heard at a distance and that which proceeds from the bustle of a market, the sound that is produced when the fly wheel of an engine is set in motion, the sound that is caused when it rains, the sound that is produced when there is a conflagration of fire, when there is thunder, it is all Om only. You split any word, you find Om is there. Om is all-pervading like akasha [ether], like Brahman.
Om is the symbol of Brahman. It is the word of power. It is the sacred monosyllable. It is the essence of all the Vedas. It is the boat to take you to the other shore of fearlessness and immortality. Meditate on Om with bhava and meaning. When you think or meditate on Om, you will have to think of Brahman, the thing signified by the symbol.
The word Om is the most appropriate name of Brahman, the Supreme Spirit. It is emblematic of Brahman, as images are of material objects. When You hear the sound "tree," you at once understand that it has a root, stem, branches, leaves, flowers, fruits, etc. Similarly when you hear the sound Om it denotes Satchidananda Brahman, Existence Absolute, Knowledge Absolute, Bliss Absolute. All collections of speech or words terminate in one sound: Om. All objects are denoted by sound and all sounds merge in Omkara. The whole universe comes out of Om and is absorbed in Om. Hence Om is very important. It should be worshipped. It should be chanted loudly. It should be repeated mentally with meaning and feeling. It should be meditated upon.
Why is Om taken as the symbol of Brahman? Can we not have any other word besides Om to represent Brahman, the solid Reality, the living Truth? Om is a mysterious and sacred syllable. Chant Om for one hour. Chant any other word also for one hour. You will yourself feel the difference. There is a real connection between Om, the symbol and Brahman, the thing signified by the symbol Om. Thought and word are inseparable. Om and Brahman are inseparable. When you think of the image of Om, the image will bring to your memory Brahman the thing signified. There is intimate relationship between the symbol Om and Brahman the thing signified.
Om is the common symbol. It will represent all the symbols of God. The common symbol Om, the basis of all sounds and all languages, represents all names and becomes the head of all names of God..Therefore worship Om. Live in Om. Meditate on Om. Merge in Om. Rejoice in Om.
Importance of Om
The vibration produced by chanting Om in the physical universe corresponds to the original vibration that first arose from the mouth of Hiranyagarbha, the Creator. Hence Om is very important.
You will find in the Bible: "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God." This is Om, the word of power. No one can exhaust the subject of this sacred Mantra Om even if they have the water of the oceans as ink and all the trees of the world as pens. Volumes have been written in the Sanskrit language on the significance of Om, the sacred and the mysterious monosyllable.All Vedas, all Vedanta, all the sacred scriptures of the Hindus are contained in Om.
Om is the womb for everything. This world has come out of Om, exists in Om, and dissolves in Om during the cosmic Pralaya. The creation itself is set in motion by the vibration of Om.
All colors are centered in the eye; all tastes are centered in the tongue; all touches are centered in the skin; all sounds are centered in the ear; all scents are centered in the nose; all senses are centered in the mind; all minds are centered in Om or Brahman, the Supreme Self, the Support for everything.
He who chants or repeats Om really repeats the sacred books of the whole world. Om is the source or the womb for all religions and scriptures of different parts of the world. Om represents the Truth, Brahman, the one Existence.
There is no worship without Om. Om is both Saguna and Nirguna [with attributes and without attributes], Sakara and Nirakara [with form and without form].
Pranava or Om is the greatest of all mantras. It bestows liberation directly..The greatness of the Omkara cannot be described by anybody. Even great sages have failed to fully describe the greatness of Pranava. There is Om in every sound.
Om is an auspicious trademark of sannyasins and Vedantins who deal with the trade of dissemination of spiritual knowledge to the world at large. It is written on the front wall of every ashram of a sannyasin. Om is used in the form of invocation or addressing in prayer or supplication. Om is the formula of imperative prayer which transmits a certain grace or virtue to the person over whom it is pronounced. Votaries of Om write Om first before they begin a letter.
Benefits of Om Rishis and sages of yore who have attained self-realization have experienced the mysterious effects of repetition or chanting of Om. Having made long researches and experiments on Om and its vibrations, they meditated on Om for a considerable period and then gave to the world Om as the right symbol of Brahman. This is not a hocus-pocus work or a juggler's trick. This is authoritative assertion of the seers. Om served as a beacon light or light-house or a safe boat for them when they sailed in the turbulent and deep unnavigable waters of this ocean of Samsara. Through Om they ascended safely to the summit of the hill of nirvikalpa samadhi, the knowledge of the Self, Brahma Jnana. You can safely rely on their teachings.
There is a mysterious inscrutable force in Om. This force tears the veils, destroys desires, cravings, and egoism and takes the aspirant to Brahman. It raises the Brahmakara Vritti [the thought of Brahman that excludes all other thoughts] within the sattwic mind, annihilates the mula-ajnana [root ignorance] and helps the meditator to rest in his own Satchidananda swarupa [form].
Om or Pranava is a sparkling ferryboat for men who have fallen into the never-ending ocean of mundane life. Many have crossed this ocean of Samsara with the help of this ferryboat. You can also do so if you will. Meditate constantly on Om with bhava and meaning and realize the Self.
Om is the ladder which takes the aspirant to the loftier levels of superconsciousness and spiritual heights of splendor and glory. Meditation on Om will reveal to you the laws of the higher planes and the spiritual laws. Meditation on Om will give you liberation, immortality, courage, inner spiritual strength, supreme peace, penetrative insight, and change your very being. It will transmute you into a jivanmukta, a liberated sage.
You already know that in a single second radio waves travel seven times around the whole world. Mysterious indeed! Have you ever thought of this? Have you ever thought of the efficacy of this mysterious chanting of Om vibrations? If this scientific fact be true, what I believe is, that the vibrations of Om chanting have travelled throughout the world.
What does Lord Krishna teach by holding the flute in His hands? What is the symbolic philosophy of the flute? The flute is the symbol of Om. He says: "Empty your egoism. I will play in your body-flute. You will become one with My will. Take refuge in Om. Meditate on Om. You will enter into My Being. Hear the inner soul-stirring music of the soul, music of Om, and rest in everlasting peace."
An adept in Yoga who contemplates on Om is not affected by karmic influences or even by tens of crores [hundreds of millions] of sins. Whoever does japa of this mantra destroys sins. Whosoever recites Om becomes free from all sins, however sinful he may be, derives the good effects of the recitation of all the Vedas, and is freed from all the five great sins also. Such is the greatness and glory of Om, the name or symbol of Brahman. If you put unshakable faith in the glory of this name you will be freed from the bondage of births and deaths. If you perform any action with the utterance of Om in the beginning, middle, and end, you will attain perfection and success in the action.
Composition of Om Om is called Pranava, because it runs through Prana or the vital force and pervades life.
The rhythm of repetition of Om causes stillness in the mind. Chanting of Om, silent Japa of Om and meditation on Om set up harmonious vibrations in the mind or subtle body, elevate the mind to magnanimous heights of divine splendor and eventually raise the consciousness to the state of turiya wherein the meditator loses his individual consciousness and merges himself into the Supreme Soul, the all-pervading Brahmic Consciousness.
That which is Om is the imperishable, immutable noumenon, the Supreme Brahman. Om includes the experiences of man in the three states, viz., waking state, dreaming state and deep sleep state. Om stands for all the manifested and unmanifested planes.
The syllable Om bears in its heart all the Devas.
In Aum, the letter a stands for the masculine principle the Father; the letter u stands for the female principle, the Mother; and the letter m stands for the Son
It signifies the one Self beyond names and forms, That which is, was and will be for ever.
The primary meaning of Pranava is the Supreme One which is known to be of the nature of undivided Existence-knowledge-bliss Absolute (Satchidananda). This enables man to get over to the other shore of the ocean of Samsara..Meditation on this Pranava in the form of muttered prayer [japa] is useful for attaining krama-mukti (progressive emancipation). This is subordinate. But the abstract meditation on this is the best. The meanings of other names used by devotees are included in the meaning of Pranava.
Meditation on Om [1]
Om is your best companion in life because it gives you immortality and eternal Bliss. Om is your Sadguru. Om is your guide and preceptor. Therefore, keep company or constant satsanga with Om by practising japa of Om, chanting of Om, smarana [remembrance] of Om, chintana [reflection] of Om, manana [continual thinking] of Om, vichara [inquiry into the nature] of Om, and meditation of Om.
Japa of Om is constant repetition of Om either verbally, mentally, or in a humming manner. Chanting of Om is loud repetition. Smarana of Om is remembrance of Om or Brahman. Chintana of Om is thinking of Om. Manana is reflection on Om. Vichara of Om is enquiry into the nature of Brahman. Meditation of Om is nididhyasana [profound and deep meditation] on the invisible, immortal Self with advaita [non-dual] bhava or feeling: "I am pure consciousness." This feeling should go deep into the very core of your heart. Every cell, every pore of your body, every atom, every molecule, every nerve, every fibre, every drop of blood, every artery, every vein should powerfully vibrate or pulsate with this sacred, soul-elevating, sublime feeling. When you chant Om or meditate on Om or sing Om, feel that you are one with the supreme Self. Transcend the world of names and forms and identify yourself with the all-pervading pure Consciousness.
Chanting of Om Chant Om from the very bottom of your heart with profound feeling. When chanting Om, knowing its omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence, feel that Om gushes forth with its true colour, from every nerve, every vein, every cell, every atom, every molecule, every electron and the very blood corpuscles of your body. Pour forth Om vibrations into the world with mighty vigor, speed, force and strength. Get ready now for recharging. Now roar like a lion of Vedanta and chant Om.
The mysterious vibrations produced by the chanting of Om will produce one-pointedness of mind and harmony in the annamaya, pranamaya and manomaya Koshas (food sheath, vital sheath, and mental sheath) and make the mind in tune with the Infinite.
Drive away evil thoughts by chanting Om. Draw inspiration, power, and strength by singing Om. Get one-pointedness of mind by doing japa of Om. Melt the mind in Brahman by meditating on Om and rest in your own Satchidananda Swarupa. May that Om guide you, protect you, elevate you, take you to the goal, and free you from the round of births and deaths.
Whenever you feel depressed, whenever you get a little headache, take a brisk walk and chant Om while walking. While chanting Om feel that your entire being is filled with divine energy. Chanting of Om is a potent, easily available tonic and specific for all diseases. Om is a panacea or sovereign remedy for all ailments. Try this prescription yourself and feel the miraculous effects of this divine medicine. Just as you take medicine, take recourse to the chanting of Om. Brahman, the Atman, is one with Om. Chanting of Om means going near to the source and tapping the cosmic energy which is inexhaustible. When you chant Om feel: "All health I am." All pathogenic or disease-causing germs are destroyed or burnt by the
Omkara Pranam Mantra "The Yogis always meditate upon Omkara which has an anusvara (bindu) on it [and is therefore pronounced Om]. This Omkara is the bestower of all desires and salvation. We bow down to the Supreme Omkara."
Omkara Smarana Stotra
1) The Supreme Brahman is attained by the devoted contemplation, hearing, japa, and sankirtan of Om at all times.
2) By the mere thought [smaran, remembrance] of Om one attains the highest Brahma Jnana [Knowledge of God], the state of final Liberation and Immortality.
3) He who meditates on the Pranava in a continuous stream of thought like that of oil poured from one vessel to another or the continuous sound [resonance] of a bell, such a man should be considered as the knower of the Vedas.
4) By the long repetition of Om the knower of the Supreme Reality, whose refuge is solitude, overcomes the wandering of the mind due to the taint in the intellect.
5) Concentrating on the tip of the nose with hands and feet controlled, the mind withdrawn from all activities, one should meditate on Omkara, the Pranava.
6) By the meditation on the monosyllable Om, Vishnu attains the status of Vishnu; Brahma attains Brahmanhood and Shiva becomes Shiva.
The contents of this booklet are excerpted from Swami Sivananda's full-length book Meditation on Om.
