What’s The Truth Behind The “OM”
“OM” is a very simple sound with a very complex meaning.
I’ve always been fascinated with people doing yoga. Before I started practicing it myself, I was wondering whether it could genuinely help you connect more deeply with your inner world and universe. That’s the whole point of it, right? So, one day, I decided to try it.
Back then, I wasn’t aware of that the difference is between doing yoga and meditating. It was all the same to me. Nevertheless, I had to start from somewhere.
It’s been two years now since I started practicing yoga. Never felt better in my life. At first, I was watching videos on YouTube and copied every single move of the “teacher.” With time, you learn the poses by heart and you start to do everything on your own.
When I say poses, I don’t necessarily mean only stretching yourself, but also, probably more importantly — breathing. That’s where the magic is. That’s where the “OM” comes in.
What Is The “OM”?
In the Hinduism, the “om” or “aum” is a sacred sound with a deep meaning. If it’s pronounced in the right way, it should sound exactly like A-U-M. The “A” would be silent. Just like in Django Unchained, “the “D” is silent.”
In basic terms, the chant symbolizes the ultimate reality, our consciousness, and our inner-self — also referred to as Atman, which is a Sanskrit word. It’s the essence of the individual. No need to mention that this syllable is probably the most important one in Hinduism when it comes to spiritual symbols.
“The earth is my altar, the sky is my dome, mind is my garden , the heart is my home and I’m always at home yea, I’m always at OM .”
In Upanishads, ancient texts of religious teaching and ideas in Hinduism, the “OM” syllable symbolizes various abstract ideas. Some scholars, such as Max Müller, argue that these texts see the “OM” as a “tool for meditation.” It ranges from “artificial and senseless” to “highest concepts, such as the cause of the Universe, essence of Life, Brahman, Atman, and Self-knowledge.”
Elements Of The “OM” Symbol
As I already mentioned, the “OM” can also be referred to as the “AUM,” as this is the correct way to pronounce it. The illustration above is the actual sign. Yes, it looks like the number 30. The meaning of it, comes from the consciousness states that the “AUM” represents. “A” is the waking state, “U” is the dream state, and “M” is the unconscious state.
- The bottom curve of the symbol represents the waking state, the middle curve depicts the dream state, and the unconscious state is represented by the upper curve.
- The absolute state (the one of absolute peace and bliss) is represented as a dot at the top of the symbol.
- The curved shape, also on top, represents Maya (Illusion), representing the complicated path of reaching the highest state of bliss.
How Does “OM-ing” Help You?
In the past decade, practicing yoga, with simultaneously chanting “OM,” has grown rapidly in the West. This has allowed us to study it more profoundly. Today, most people associate the “OM-ing” with calmness and concentration.
That’s all true, but here’s some science behind it:
Several studies argue that, during an “OM” meditation, there is a mixture of mental alertness with physiological rest. Also, people exercising it, feel an increased sensitivity to sensory transmission. In theory, one who realizes the true nature of “OM,” will merge with the Absolute.
As for other studies, there are some that explore the benefits of meditation on the body and mind. However, these articles are mainly concerned with how the exercise affects your brain on a neurological level, i.e. it does not give clear indications and does not provide concrete evidence that it helps the mental state of the individual.
Nevertheless, there are some examples that clearly show that there is something happening in your brain — be that beneficial or not. It depends on how you perceive it. For me, meditating, be that chanting “OM” or just breathing, is a way of just clearing my mind of any clutter.
I’m curious what the benefits are on your body and brain. Drop a comment below and let me know :)
Thank you for reading!
If you’re further interested in mental health & psychedelics, you can follow me on medium:
Also, if you’re interested in the topics mentioned above, you can check two of my previous articles on LSD-assisted therapy and whether being high makes you more creative and productive:
