AUM, THE COSMIC AMEN
By Maria Karastergiou, Ph.D.
AUM, THE MOST SACRED SOUND
What is the origin of Aum? Aum1 : we can better feel, perceive and comprehend its meaning if we know its origin and definition. Besides many definitions of the word, Aum let us recollect that of the Agni Yoga Teaching:
“A is Thought—the Basis;
U is Light—the Primary Cause;
M is Mystery—the Sacred.”2
One of the Sanskrit dictionaries defines the Sanscrit word AUM as follows: “AUM is an ancient Sanskrit “sound “औम् the sacred syllable of the Mudras, Primordial Sound.”3 Deva Premal defines Aum as the «Cosmic Yes ». According to her “…it contains that energy which is the unification of masculine and feminine energy. And it’s also called the soundless sound, it’s called the sound of the universe, it’s the cosmic ‘Yes’.4
AUM represents everything. It is said to be the seed of all of creation. Chanting Aum brings into awareness the physical reality with the reality of the subtle world. Harmonising the subtle vibration of the body, with the subtle impressions of the mind and the heart.
“The perfect state or superconscious state and all that precedes it are a part of Aum” is stated in the Mandukya Upanishad. “The sound in its written form it appears as having three parts, in fact, it has four. The A (“aahhh“) sound represents the creative aspect of the universe and all of the gross objects within it. Ahh is the beginning of all sounds (this is the most common letter that starts alphabets). It connects us to our sense of Self. When you chant this sound notice that it is produced in the throat and back of the mouth where the tongue is rooted and resonates in the lower abdomen. The first sound embodies “Sat”, the sound that starts to bring you back to unity, to the truth of your existence. The U (oooh) sound signifies the maintaining energy of the universe and the subtle impressions of the mind. It connects us to an inner sense of something greater than that which we can see and feel with our senses. “Oooh” lets in lightness, clarity, balance, and goodness. When you chant this letter the sound moves forward between the tongue and the palate up to the lips and vibrates in the solar plexus. The sound denotes “Chit”, an illumination of knowing, pure wisdom. The M (mmmm) sound characterises the transformative energy of the universe and the thoughts and beliefs of your being. This sound unites you to the awareness of oneness. It allows you to slow down in order to feel the connectedness of all that is. The sound “mmmm” is produced by closing the lips and it vibrates at the crown of the head. The sound symbolizes “Ananda”, to be at one with bliss everywhere with all things. The fourth sound is silence or anagata. It is the vibration which is beyond verbal pronunciation. It is pure consciousness of the Self or the Atman. The unity of Sat Chit Ananda (I exist, I know, I am blissful) is experienced here.”5
Aum is called the seed sound (bija), the original sound from which all other sounds and worlds come from. Because it has the power to create everything.
Ramakrishna defines Aum as the Brahman, the Source, the Universal Consciousness. In “The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna”, he gave some explanations about the sacred Word “Aum”. Let him explain in his own words:
“The sound Aum is Brahman. The rishis and sages practised austerity to realize that Sound-Brahman. After attaining perfection one hears the sound of this eternal Word rising spontaneously from the navel. »
AUM thus, is an ancient “sound”. It was first “heard” and experienced by the rishis, and the sages, while they were meditating. And even when they were not meditating, according to Ramakrishna, as a « sound…rising spontaneously from the navel.
CHANTING THE AUM
Why not praying then instead of chanting Aum? “Essentially, they are the same, but because of its antiquity and the refinement the sound Aum it will be the stronger in its vibration. Let the resonance of the highest concept be pondered deeply. The word itself is vibration; such resonances are needed for the harmony of space.”6 Great Spiritual Beings pray for the well being of the others, not for themselves.
If AUM is the “Cosmic Sound”, the “primordial sound of the Universe”, the “Cosmic Yes”, the “Primary Cause”, the Basis, the Sacred, the Light, the Mystery, Brahman what is the purpose of chanting it? What is the effect when someone is chanting AUM? What is the benefit of chanting AUM? What is the experience of AUM? What is the gain by merely hearing this sound?
Ramakrishna answers these questions in these terms. « You hear the roar of the ocean from a distance. By following the roar you can reach the ocean. As long as there is the roar, there must also be the ocean. By following the trail of Aum you attain Brahman, of which the Word is the symbol. That Brahman has been described by the Vedas as the ultimate goal. But such vision is not possible as long as you are conscious of your ego. A man realizes Brahman only when he feels neither ‘I’ nor ‘you’, neither ‘one’ nor ‘many’.
“Think of the sun and of ten jars filled with water. The sun is reflected in each jar. At first, you see one real sun and ten reflected ones. If you break nine of the jars, there will remain only the real sun and one reflection. Each jar represents a jiva. Following the reflection one can find the real sun. Through the individual soul one can reach the Supreme Soul. Through spiritual discipline the individual soul can get the vision of the Supreme Soul. What remains when the last jar is broken cannot be described.”7
So, if Aum is connected and represents Brahma chanting Aum, is a sacred experience! It truly is an experience of all in everything. It is said that the sound of AUM includes the entire process of sound and all other sounds are included within it.
When chanting Aum aloud, the sound will naturally evolve through the three phases corresponding to the three letters A-U-M. As the experience of Aum is a sense of completeness and pure consciousness, the three syllables are not distinct or separate phases, but a continuous motion of the body, breath, and awareness.
Now, the true power of Aum lies in the experience of Aum. Reading this can help the mind understand but it cannot give you the experience. Chant this, by yourself, with your friends, in your community. Allow the experience of all the words above to soak into your being. Feel the power each syllable has as the sound vibrations move from the low abdomen, up through the solar plexus and chest all the way to the tip top of the head. Let the vibrations clear and cleanse your energy system and chakras. Find wholeness and healing in this easy to remember mantra.
It is all in the head, and the frequency generated from the MMmmmm vibrations is aligning brain molecules in an organised and uniformed structure that reflects a feeling of euphoria. A few thousand years ago this may be magical, but with modern science explaining what is actually happening inside our mind, it just makes sense but without the magical part.”8
Yoga teachers, yoga practitioners, monks, religious and spiritual people are chanting this sound and it became well known now not only in the East but also in the West in our days. Many yoga classes begin and end with the chanting of Aum three times. This mantra allows the energy of the group to harmonise by breathing together and sharing it.
Repeating Aum at the end of a session, together with the traditional “Namaste”, is a declaration of respect for the practice, for the teacher, and of each other. It also allows us to diffuse the energy of the yoga group to the surrounding space. Carrying forth the energy of the yoga practice to everyone and raise the vibration in yourself and the others.
Let’s devote a few minutes after the relaxation of every yoga practice to chant the sacred sound AUM.
Sitting with a straight back and taking 3 deep breaths. We close the eyes and connect deeply with the Consciousness. Our intention is to be fully present as we chant the AUM. Observing how it feels in our body how it sounds within us we chant it so loud that we are able to feel deeply the vibration of our voice. Allowing enough breath and space for the ‘mmm’ so it’s not just the “Ooooooo” but also the ‘mmm’ sound. In this way “…it becomes a circle of energy, of deep breaths, until the very end of your breath. And then another deep breath.”9
Colour and sound (music) are important ways to direct energy in the mind. Chanting AUM creates vibrations (nada) that can help direct energy into the subconscious.
Aum is the most direct experience of the sacred only if it’s used with solemnity, from the heart, that all people of all faiths can use. “Aum has been explained in detail in various writings. The subtlety of vibrations, the wisdom of the sounding, and the beauty of the structure have long been known, but if the heart is dead, even such a “sesame” will not open the lock. Again it is necessary to remind one about co-measurement and the fortifying of the essence of the heart. Aum is not accessible to heartlessness.”10
1 Wolfgang Fries, Deva Premal’s father painting
2AUM, par. 132, from the books of the Agni Yoga series, 1936
3Dictionary of spoken Sanscrit
4Deva Premal and Mitten, Mantra Meditation Journey, December 2015
5Mandukya Upanishad
6AUM, from the series of the Agni Yoga books, Agni Yoga Inc., New York, 1936, Par
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7“Meaning of Aum”, In The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, Translated by Swami Nikhitananda
8Mindy Arbuckle, “what is the meaning of Aum?” Be Spiritual
9Deva Premal and Mitten, Mantra Meditation Journey, December 2015
10Aum, from the series of Agni Yoga books, Agni Yoga Inc., New York, 1936, Paragraph 114
