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Aum-Kerry Brown |
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The chant Aum (commonly known as Om) has an extraordinary effect on human beings. Only by chanting it ourselves can we understand why millions upon millions of people over the ages have found harmony, peace and bliss in this simple, but deeply philosophical, sound. Aum belongs to no language or culture (although it appears in the religious vocabulary of many, e.g. Amen, Amin, ominiscient, omnipresent, etc.) Aum is not a word but rather an intonation which, like music, transcends the barriers of age, race, culture and even species. Aum is chanted in meditation and before and after all prayers and teaching. |
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Aum is the entire message of the Hindu scriptures. It is the sound symbol for the Absolute and Infinite Truth, known to Hindus as Brahman. It is the goal of all spiritual practices and austerities. Brahman is not knowable by any of our human faculties. It cannot be intellectually, emotionally or physically grasped. So we need a symbol––an idol––to help bring us closer to realization of the Unknowable. |
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When we meditate our mind should chant Aum. The momentary silence between each chant symbolizes Brahman. Mind moves between the opposites of sound and silence until, at last, it ceases the sound. In the silence, the single thought – Aum – is extinguished. There is no thought. Mind and intellect are transcended as the individual Self merges with the Infinite Self in the sacred moment of realization. |
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That word which all the Vedas declare, which all the austerities proclaim, for which people live the life of a religious student, that word, I will tell you, in brief. That is Aum. |
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Kathopanishad I.2.15 |
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Why Aum? |
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Sound symbols are the subtlest idols, those closest to the spiritual realm, because only one of the five senses can perceive them – the ear. At the other extreme are stone idols which can be perceived by all five sense organs and are therefore the grossest – the most materially bound – idols. For this reason, verbal teaching, chanting and music have always played a predominant role in Vedic philosophy. |
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A-U-M is the most complete utterance and therefore the best sound symbol for the complete Reality. It begins at the very base of the throat (A), rises to be shaped by the mouth (U) and then finally vibrates on the lips (M). |
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The three sound constituents of Aum represent the three constituents of material existence – waking (A), dreaming (U) and deep sleep (M). These three states, experienced as a single seamless life, are manifested Brahman. They are pervaded by the fourth state, the pure Consciousness of unmanifested Brahman, just as the sound A-U-M is pervaded by silence. Out of silence come these tones, within silence they exist and into silence they merge. Similarly, waking-dreaming-deep sleep arise out of unmanifested Brahman, exist within It and merge back into It. |
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© `The Essential Teachings of Hinduism’ by Kerry Brown, published (1988) by Century Hutchinson Ltd, Brookmount House, 62-65 Chandos Place, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4NW. |
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