Aum-Kerry Brown

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.

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.

© `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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