OM: Universal Sound, Divine Vibration
By Karen Allgire, MFA, FYT
Thhe word yoga comes from the Sanskrit root “yuj,” and the usual translation of this syllable is to yoke or to join. Yoga is union or integration of all aspects of the human being, as well as the individual spirit with the Divine Spirit. In a life filled with division and fragmentation, yoga is the mindful practice of connection. Another less known meaning of yuj is to use or apply, to restrain or to concentrate. Yoga is the utilization or application of specific body/mind techniques in the process of attaining freedom from suffering. In order to practice discipline of body, speech and mind, we need both concentration and restraint.
The physical practices of yoga are the most widely known and accessible, while the training of the mind through meditation is subtle and challenging. The link between the two is the discipline of speech. As always in yoga, training involves both what should be cultivated and what should be avoided. For the benefit of ourselves and others, we can avoid untruth, gossip and talk that may harm others. To cultivate positive use of the faculty of speech, we can explore the art of sacred sound or “mantra.”
A mantra is one or more syllables that have a vibrational quality of sacredness. The use of a short phrase or prayer imbued with spiritual potency is a practice found in many traditions. The most widely known and universal mantra in the yogic tradition is “om,” or in its Sanskrit transliteration, “aum.” In his translation of The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, Georg Feuerstein writes: “Since the earliest times the sages of India have symbolized the Absolute by the morpheme om. The humming of om is, in fact, one of the oldest and most widely practiced techniques of yoga.”
As modern physics tell us, vibration is the subtlest manifestation of matter. The ancient yogis understood this truth when they viewed sound as the source of all manifestation. BKS Iyengar writes that the divine is beyond vibration. But vibration, being the subtlest form of creation, is the nearest we can get to God in the physical world.
Aum has many layers of meaning. It is the word that expresses the source of all being. Aum is the symbol of serenity, power and universality. BKS Iyengar explains that the Latin word omni and the Sanskrit word aum are both derived from the same root meaning “all.” Both words convey the concepts of omniscience, omnipresence and omnipotence. Thus aum is an expression of divinity. The written form of the Sanskrit aum is a symbol of the supreme being. Chanting this syllable is said to help practitioners experience union with the universal supreme consciousness or God. Aum is both praise of God and the means to experience God directly. In the Yoga Sutras, the sage Patanjali teaches that the mantra must be repeated with contemplation on its meaning. Done in this way, the practice removes obstacles to the mastery of the inner self.
Many yoga classes begin with the chanting of aum. After intoning this mantra, you may feel more relaxed, calm and silent. It is a good way to let go of the concerns of daily life before starting your yoga practice or any time. You can start your home yoga practice by chanting aum three times to get centered and to sense your connection with all that is. You also can use the chanting of aum as a practice in itself. Sitting in a comfortable, upright posture, seated on the floor or in a chair, let the sound resonate. The sound does not need to be loud or long. Experiment with creating sound with the least possible tension in your throat, face and body. After you finish chanting, sit quietly and observe yourself.
Chanting the sacred syllable aum is a timeless tool for experiencing the sacred ground of being. Through this practice, you can explore your own connection and resonance with the syllable aum and its meaning.
Karen Allgire, MFA, RYT, is a Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor. She has been teaching dance and movement since 1983 and yoga since 1998. Karen is co-director of Green Tara Yoga & Healing Arts in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. You can reach her at info@greentarayoga.com or (216) 382-0592.
