Ever wondered about Om, the universal mantra?
The mantra Om is sacred to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. The Mandukya Upanishad describes it as "the eternal word... what was, what is, what shall be, and what is in eternity".
Yoga philosophy teaches that chanting Om will unite you with the cosmos.
The mantra is made up of three separate sounds: "aaa", "uuu" and "mmm". In Vedic chanting it is given four counts: three counts for the "aaauuu" ( combination of "a" and "u"), a half count for the "mmm" and a half count of silence.
Om is also called the mula mantra, meaning "root mantra": It is often chanted before other mantras and before and after a reading from the Vedas.
1. Waking (jagrat)
2. Dreaming (swapna)
3. Deep Sleep (sushupti)
4. Transcendental State (turiya)
5. World of Illusion (maya) that veils true awareness.
source: 'The Mind, Body, Spirit Miscellany' by Jane Alexander. Duncan Baird Publishers.
So there you have it! It does seem like you have to wade through the World of Illusion before you can arrive in the Transcendental State. Any tips or experiences you want to share about that little adventure would be most welcome!
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