 NEWSLETTER
THE AUM
Hello subscribername,
The great Pranava sound or Aum, sometimes written OM is
scientifically the rubbing together of the particled structure of Shakti
and Prakritti. It has been ever existent. It is these two forces of
energy (Shakti) and matter (Prakritti) which has given rise to the
cyclic breathing in and out of infinity. From there arose the gasses and
the solids, the formations of heavenly bodies and also the destruction
of others. An infinite continuum without beginning and end.
This sound, Aum, is also called Amen in Christian texts and Amin in
the Arabic world, and in all religions it is given over as the great
comforter or the Holy Ghost.
In India there are some caves, that should one remain too long, one
would be driven quite mad by the intensity of the Aum, yet, to
adherents, it is restful and peaceful and truly a great comforter when
they hear it. The hearing of it is one of the great precursors to an
intense meditation.
The light is said to be the Pure Consciousness of God and the Aum is
the voice of God. From it, all languages have evolved, and for those
that hear the Aum, meditating on that sound is of equal value as
meditating on the light.
It has been explained as if one holds a conch shell up to one's ears
one can hear the rushing of waves - yet it is not like that, but given
the listeners state of stillness can be heard in many ways. Its true and
final sound one hears is that of the scurrying of atoms, which gives a
continual unending sound of great peace, which can be heard over any
other known physical sounds. Some skeptics say it the sound of the
rushing of blood through your brain, but if you have heard blood through
a sonar machine, you know it is not that sound either.
Sitting still and silent and listening to the Aum - truly listening,
pitching all one's attention into that sound, making it part of your own
self, rather than as separate, will take one in to deep meditative
states.
In order to do the meditation properly though you must never let go
of the sound - for then you either begin to think, or fall asleep, or go
into some trance state, none of which is desired. Truly deep meditative
states are in complete concentrated awakeness.
Not everyone has the capability to visualize, thus hearing becomes a
sense which can be utilized by diving deep into the rushing waters of
the infinite AUM.
Sit in a quiet room and try and remain very still, let the breath in
and out naturally. When you feel this has been accomplished, let your
attention go suddenly to your right ear - and listen. You will hear it,
and if you haven't heard it before it may take you by surprise, so
return to listening for it again. Once heard, hold on to it.
A sage in India was well known to never speak - except for one word -
AUM. If some query was put to him of the nature of God, he would reply
AUM. He would reply AUM to any other question also and quite rightly so
as Aum is the beginning and ending of every thought in every language.
When you find, through intense long lasting meditations, in a fully
awake state where all thoughts (vrittis) have ceased, the great Pranava
sound will sing out loudly to you. It does so because it too is like
Pure Consciousness, giving rise to Satchitananda and acts as an entrance
through the Portal into Truriya.
Namaste.
Swami
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