AUM OM AMEN

Moonlight Shadow — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:14:52 -0000

OM

Certainly, AUM, OM syllabus are well known by most of people around the world. The purpose of this article is to share some less known meanings of AUM/OM as syllabus, symbol and mantra.

The origin of the syllabus AUM/OM is lost in the misty past. It is not being specific to any one country or civilization is indicative of its being an universally perceptible sound for the human race. This reason for this universal perceptibility possibly lies in the fact that AH is the most natural sound that issues from the human voice. This is evident when a person cries out naturally in extreme pain, anger or fear. When emotions reach an extreme pitch the articulate sounds evolved by man are not the ones that are heard, but the syllable natural to man which is AH or OH.

AUM / OM is a mystical or sacred syllable and symbol in the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain religions. It is considered the primordial sound, the symbol of infinity, where is not beginning and no end. It is the first letter of the Sanskrit alphabet, and it is said to be the first sound produced by the breath of a new-born child. This term occurs in various ancient and modern civilizations. It exists the same in Hinduism, Christianity and Islam.

The syllable AUM is first described as a mystical entity in the Upanishads. It symbolizes the three Vedas, the three states of the nature of man, the three divisions of the universe, the three Gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva, which are the agents of creation, conservation, and destruction on Earth or, more properly speaking, the three attributes of the Supreme Being personified by these divinities. Mandukya Upanishad greatly explains the significance of AUM.

" All this Cosmic Universe is the Eternal word OM. Its further explanation is this: the past, the present, the future and everything is just OM. And whatever transcends the three divisions of time - that too is just OM. ... Thus the Word OM is verily the Self (Atman). He who knows this, with his self (Jiva), enters the Self (Atman)."
Mandukya Upanishad

The syllable OM is quite familiar to a Hindu. It occurs in every prayer. Invocation to most Gods begin with this syllable.
Invoking the sacred syllable, the ancient Rishes of India said, "Nothing either begins or ends; all is change, and that which we call death is transformation".

AUM in ancient Egypt: It seems that the ancient Egyptians were familiar to AUM as Amen or Amun. Amen-Ra was the name of the supreme God who was considered the primordial creator and ruler of the other gods of Egyptian Pantheon.

OM in ancient Greece: The ancient Greek alphabet had Alpha as the first letter and Omega as its last letter. Omega written in the lowercase of the Greek alphabet, if turned to its side, looks quite similar to the Sanskrit way of writing OM. It is from the Greek alphabet that we have the English phrase “the Alpha and Omega,” which means, “to include everything.”
“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. Amen.”

OM in Judaism and Christianity: Indian mystical thinking influenced Judaism in many ways. Scholars believe AUM became Amen and, as such, was later incorporated into Christianity. The word AMEN used in almost all popular religions, was fast incorporated in prayers, hymns. Amen is said to mean “so be it”, "let is be". Amen is widely mentioned in the Bible. It is used during worship as an expression of benediction, for expressing one’s Love of God, or as sign of gratitude.
Christian Orthodox religion uses Amin instead of Amen. In Muslim religion the word Amin is also used, and the meaning of the word is truthful, faithful, trustworthy. In Hebrew, the meaning of Amin is honest and trustworthy.

Interesting to mention that if in Hindu religion prayers to Gods start with OM, in Christianity, prayers end with Amen/ Amin, a very subtle interchange to Alpha and Omega as stating letters of both OM and Amen.

AUM /OM as mantra

A mantra is mystical energy encased in a sound structure. Every mantra contains within its vibrations, a certain power of penetrating all kind of structures. OM mantra called also "Pranava" from the sanskrit "prana" . Pranava means "humming". "Prana" means life, energy, prayer, and "Va" is possitive receptive sylable. Pranava is a bija mantra (seed mantra), because it contains the seed for all other mantras within itself. There are so many references to AUM in this Upanisad. One of them, referred to as the pranava mantra, is given below:
pranavo dhanu sharo hyaatmaa brahm tallakshya muchyate.
apramatten vedadhavyam sharavattanmayo bhavet..
The Sacred Word (AUM) is called the bow, the arrow is the soul and Brahman is its target; He shall be pierced by him whose attention does not swerve. Then he will become one with Him as the arrow becomes one with the target whence it has pierced it. (Mundakopanisad II.ii.4)
Chanting OM is called Omkaaram. The Upanisads mention that the word OM represents the inter-breath, the gap between the inner-breath and the outer-breath. It is said the Gods hidden the letter OM in this gap so that their enemies would not think of looking for it in their location. From Brahma Himself, to Manu the first man and lawgiver, all the great spiritual Masters have done japa on AUM.

Daily chanting or listening OM mantra invites positive energy , prana in your life.

AUM/OM Symbol

For thousands of years Indian rishis and sages have been meditating on AUM. When you look at AUM symbol, your brain waves calm down from beta levels to alpha level and
eventually further down to gamma and delta levels.
Trataka Meditation on OM symbol is one of the easiest meditation to get clarity of mind and to purify your nerves. Below is its technique:

Place an AUM symbol on the wall at eye level. Sit in cross-legged or padmasana (lotus pose) with the head, neck, and trunk in a straight line. Look at AUM symbol for a few seconds without blinking the eyes. Do not strain the eyes. When tired, gently close the eyes and visualize AUM or the after image of AUM mentally. Eventually, increase the duration of Trataka to 1 minute, and then to a maximum
of 3 minutes.
This simply technique, practiced daily will give unexpected results in a good sense, inviting for positive energies into your mind, body and life.

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Updates to playlist: meditation

Moonlight Shadow — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:54:43 -0000

Things aren't always what they seem

Moonlight Shadow — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:13:55 -0000

Have firm faith! Trust that every outcome is always to your
advantage. You just might not know it immediately.

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a
wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels
stay in the mansion's guest room. Instead, the angels were given a
small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard
floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When
the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, "Things aren't
always what they seem".

The next night, the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor,
but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little
food they had, the couple let the angels sleep in their bed, where
they could have a good night's rest. The next morning, the angels
found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk
had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel
was infuriated and asked the older angel - "How could you have let
this happen? The first man had everything, yet you helped him", she
accused further, "The second family had little, but was willing to
share everything and you let the cow die".

"Things aren't always what they seem", the older angel replied. "When
we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed that there was
gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed
with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall
so that he wouldn't find it. But last night, as we slept in the
farmer's bed, the angel of death came for his wife; I gave him the
cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem".

Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the
way we expected. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every
outcome is always to your advantage. You just might not know it until
some time later.

Yesterday is history; tomorrow a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why
it's called the present!

Live and enjoy every moment.

Updates to playlist: Chants of India

Moonlight Shadow — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 20:19:48 -0000

15.Prabhujee.mp3

Moonlight Shadow — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 20:12:59 -0000

13.Svara Mantra.mp3

Moonlight Shadow — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 20:12:58 -0000

12.Hari Om.mp3

Moonlight Shadow — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 20:12:57 -0000

8.Mahaa Mrityunjaya.mp3

Moonlight Shadow — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 20:12:57 -0000

10.Geetaa.mp3

Moonlight Shadow — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 20:12:57 -0000

7.Gaayatri.mp3

Moonlight Shadow — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 20:12:57 -0000