What is the ‘OM’ or ‘AUM’?
Widely reputed to be one of the most sacred words in the East, the word OM is found in most religions In one form or another. The word ‘Amen” of the Christian religion is said to have its derivation from that same word. It is a symbol of the eternal ‘Now’. The OM is considered in eastern religions as the first sound of creation uttered from Brahma or the Absolute Reality. The past, the present, and the future are all included in this one sound.
The OM, when rightly sounded, releases the soul from the realm of glamour and of illusion. It is the sound of liberation. It is not a triple sound as is the AUM, but a dual sound, significant of the relation of spirit and soul, and of life and consciousness. It is the note of the evolutionary arc.
The AUM, a triple sound, brings the spiritual energy down onto the physical plane and anchors it there by the force of its outgoing vibration. It is made up of three Sanskrit letters, ‘aa’, ‘au’ and ‘ma’ which, when combined together, make the sound AUM. Using the AUM helps to increase the hold of matter upon the soul. It is the note of the involutionary arc.
Why chant the OM?
The OM has many purposes, but the main ones are focus, alignment, elimination, purification and creating and maintaining a point of tension.
It is the first syllable of the Sacred Name of Deity and, as such, immediately aligns you with your higher self or soul.
The OM sounded forth, with intent and thought behind it, acts as a disturber, a loosener of the coarse matter of the body of thought, of emotion, and of the physical body. When sounded forth with intense spiritual aspiration behind it, it acts as an attractive medium, and gathers in particles of pure matter to fill the places of those earlier thrown out.
Sound or speech and the use of words such as the OM have been regarded by the ancient philosophers (and are increasingly so regarded by modern thinkers) as the highest agent used by man in moulding himself and his surroundings. Thought, speech and the resultant activity on the physical plane complete the triplicity which make a man what he is, and places him where he is.
The use of the word OM also serves to indicate to the workers on the inner , universal planes that you are available for work and can be utilised in the needy places of earth.
How to chant the Om
- Sit with spine straight. Be aware of any tension in the neck—drop the chin slightly.
- Take a deep breath in, if possible through the nostrils.
- Sound the OM while gently exhaling. Use the note that comes most naturally to you. Have a rounded mouth with the palate as a sounding board. It helps to visualise the palate as the roof of a large cathedral. The sound of the ‘M’ is slightly longer than the ‘O’.
The momentary silence between each exhalation becomes palpable. Mind moves between the opposites of sound and silence until, at last, it ceases the sound. In the silence, the single thought—OM—is quenched; there is no thought. The individual self merges with the Infinite Self in the sacred moment of realisation. It is a moment when the petty worldly affairs are lost in the desire for the universal. Such is the immeasurable power of OM.
If in a group sounding the OM, try to use the same note or harmonise in 3rds and especially in 5ths.
Visualisation
- See the energy of the OM streaming out from the point within the head, NOT the throat.
- Be aware of the vibration in the head caused by the sound. This vibration is replicated in the head in more advanced meditation practices where the OM is sounded silently.
- The sound made in the throat is not important—it is in the vibration and the visualised stream of energy where the effects lie.
- Be careful not to strain. If any tension occurs while trying to exhale for too long, etc. headaches may develop and all the benefits of sounding the Word are lost.
When sounded silently, it can be used as a breathing exercise and can thus be used in many situations, not only in meditation, e.g. during times of stress and tension, to control the emotions that are raging, and to cope with pain and grief.
Power of the OM
The Tibetan, Master DK, gives in the books of Alice Bailey the following description of the use of the sacred word OM:
“There are mantric forms based entirely on the Sacred Word. These, sounded rhythmically and on certain keys, accomplish certain results… As the power of sound is more completely understood and its effect studied, these mantrams will be adopted in the occident. Some of them are very old and when enunciated in the original Sanskrit have unbelievably powerful effects …”
Alignment with use of InfiniteOm CD
When using the tracks from the ‘InfiniteOM’ CD, alignment from the outer worlds to the inner soul and spiritual realms is made easily and effectively. By chanting the OM along with the CD one can experience the power of the group behind the Word. The mind is released and one can touch and experience the Sounds of Silence and Peace of the inner planes. The individual self merges into the totality of the universal, whence identification with the whole is experienced. Worldly affairs and troubles are left far behind. One emerges purified, refreshed, at peace, and able to continue one’s daily life with power, peace, love, confidence, calmness, and better able to cope with stress. It helps one to remain centred, focussed and productive throughout the day.