What is the Significance of OM?

What is the Significance of OM?

The symbol OM, Source: http://om.exoticindiaart.com/

OM is one of the most well known symbols of spiritual knowledge in Hinduism; it also appears in Buddhism as a mantric symbol.  It is both a symbol and a mono-syllabic sound that is not a word but rather a manifestation of spiritual power, often associated with god and the “presence of the absolute within.”

The curves in the symbol OM represent four states of consciousness.  The largest curve on the bottom (1) is the waking state, the level of external activity; it is consciousness turned outward and the most common state of humans.  The upper curve (2) symbolizes unconsciousness or deep sleep, complete unawareness; and the smaller side curve (3) represents the dream state, the individual turned inwards.  The dot is the fourth state of consciousness- the absolute state of integration of all differentiated aspects of existence and absolute bliss.  The semicircle (4) under the point represents the phenomenal world of appearances and forms of illusion or deception that separates us from bliss.

 Chanting OM gives us the experience of the divine.  According to Patanjali’s Sutras, OM is pranava, which means humming.  Patanjali selected OM as the name of God (or Ishvara) because it is a “vibration which can include all vibrations, all sounds and syllables, because God is like that – infinite” (Satchidananda).  To vocalize the OM, it helps to know that the syllable has three sounds:

A (ah)	Waking state	Beta waves
U (oh)	Dream state	Alpha waves
M (mm)	Deep sleep state	Theta waves
-silence	Bliss/turiya	Delta waves

Why do we chant OM?  Chanting OM is an extremely effective way of connecting with your prana- vital energy.  Prana is the basic vibration of the body and of the universe, right down to the atomic level in both animate beings and inanimate objects.  Satchidananda states that “even without you repeating it, the basic sound [of OM] is always vibrating in you…. That is why OM represents God [the divine] in the fullest sense.”

Click here to read more and listen to the sound of OM: http://www.meditationiseasy.com/mCorner/techniques/Om.htm

Sources:  A Concise Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen, 2010; http://om.exoticindiaart.com/