Some comments about article on "Om"

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

Prof. VK wrote in Beach 1: The First Prostration, Wave 2:, Drop 9:

The tAraka mantra AUM or OM

"Om - by itself is the mystic word which is most important for the

religious and spiritual pursuit of a Hindu. Without an explanation and

understanding of this word no study of Spirituality in Hindu religion

may be complete. The word consists of a triad of three sounds

(maatras), namely 'a' (as the 'u' in 'but'), 'u' (as the 'u' in 'put')

and 'm'.This is why many texts referring to this word use the spelling

'aum' thus emphasizing the three 'maatras' which make up 'om'. In

fact, a whole Upanishad (though a very small one), namely,

Maandookyopanishad, devotes itself entirely to the explanation of the

word Om. This Upanishad for this very reason, has been termed the

quintessance of vedanta."

 

I have some general comments regarding this type of explanation of Om:

Isn't Om a sound/vibration which an aspirant hears when body plus mind

is suitable for spirituality, something which could take

decades/years/days/seconds? For the aspirant the sound is beyond the

mind, since it is perceived all the time and leads him/her to a deeper

experience and understanding of advaita. If people in the past/recent

times have had this experience (different tones of sound perceived) as

has been explained in B.Gita translated by Kriya yogis (Paramhansa

Yogananda), the discovery of this sound by many of these individuals

renders it as an universal vibration which they say is essential for

spiritual growth. Isn't it much easier to meditate with Om and seek

the sound? Would'nt it be appropriate to also give importance to

techniques (one of them presented in Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda)

to prepare oneself towards this conscious perception which actually

could make one perceive this sound?

 

Regards

Ashwin Hattiangadi

[Guest guest]

Namaste Ashwinji.

 

I have heard some teachers say that 'OM' meditation involves a lot of

happiness and a possibility of the aspirant getting hooked to and

stuck with it, thus undermining the ultimate goal of advaita. This

may just be an opinion or, perhaps, there is some scriptural sanction

to support it. Honestly, I do not know. Now that you have raised

the topic, I would expect our veterans to comment on it.

 

Well, sounds in meditation are common. At least, in my case, ENT

specialists have found a pathology behind it - hearing impairment!

Yet, I have found that they don't in any way affect my daily routine

and told them that they need not bother to 'cure' me. Being sensible

guys, they have happily left me to live with my happiness without

bothering to advise further. Of course, this may be just one

personal instance and, therefore, not a general rule to go by.

However, in these days, when tired executives in the US find some

solace in chanting the Gayatri mantra amidst their busy routine,

particularly while rushing to their places of work, we ought to be a

little more cautious about this phenomenon of sound in meditation.

This is just a very personal thought.

 

Thank you very much for your thought-provoking input.

 

PraNAms.

 

Madathil Nair

________________

 

advaitin, Ashwin Hattiangadi <ashwin.h@g...>

wrote:

>

> Namaste,

>

> Prof. VK wrote in Beach 1: The First Prostration, Wave 2:, Drop 9:

> The tAraka mantra AUM or OM........

> "Om - by itself is the mystic word which is most important for the

>

.......> Isn't Om a sound/vibration which an aspirant hears when body

plus mind

> is suitable for spirituality, something which could take

> decades/years/days/seconds? For the aspirant the sound is beyond the

> mind, since it is perceived all the time and leads him/her to a

deeper

> experience and understanding of advaita. If people in the

past/recent

> times have had this experience (different tones of sound perceived)

as

> has been explained in B.Gita translated by Kriya yogis (Paramhansa

> Yogananda), the discovery of this sound by many of these individuals

> renders it as an universal vibration which they say is essential for

> spiritual growth. Isn't it much easier to meditate with Om and seek

> the sound? Would'nt it be appropriate to also give importance to

> techniques (one of them presented in Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda)

> to prepare oneself towards this conscious perception which actually

> could make one perceive this sound?