Hari Om

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Explanation given by Swami Chinmayananda on the sacred mantra " Hari Om "

 

Om is the goal to be reached. We consider Om as Hari. Hara means 'to loot', and

Hari is the looter. Om is the state of Awareness, of Consciousness, when I reach

which, all my experiences in BMI (body-mind-intellect), PFT

(perceiver-feeler-thinker) and OET (objects-emotions-thoughts) are removed.

 

This can be done only when my vasanas are exhausted. I cannot remove them one by

one -- the infinite variety of vasanas. " O Lord! Please, help me to remove

them. " " Hari! O Lord! I invoke Thee. Please help me to exhaust my vasanas, which

I cannot do by my own efforts. I need Thy grace to loot it from me. "

 

Atonement is 'at-one-ment'. Identification with Om is the total atonement for

all the sins you have committed. When I awake to that higher state of

Consciousness, all these are looted away, just as on waking up from sleep all

the dreams in the dreamer's world are looted away. " O Lord, I know that once I

reach there, all these are of no value, no significance. They do not exist at

all. Please loot away all the misapprehensions. "

 

Om is the state of Consciousness I want to reach, and I am striving my level

best to reach it. " O Lord! Please give a little help by plundering these vasans

away from me. " But at this present moment, if we only meditate on it or chant

" Om Om Om, " the sound has such a soothing effect that we may get into a sleepy

mood. The alertness and vigilance may not be there. The mind may become quiet,

but it may not be alert and vigilant. Saying " Hari, Hari " in between the

chanting of Om keeps you alert and vigilant. And, of course, the actual meaning

is 'Harry Home! " Return home quickly, the original home from where you came.