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The Aum Mantra: meditation from India
Who doesn't know the Indian mantra 'aum' - and use it when they want to make fun of new age spirituality?
Aum is actually a sacred mantra for all Indian religions that I know of (Sikhism, Hinduism, Buddhism etc.). It is a symbol for the most sacred, the highest, the ideal, the source of all being. It can be used as a symbol for human spiritual growth, but also for the cause of all being. Learn more about the place of Aum (or Ohm, or Om) in Hinduism and Buddhism.
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Aum in pictures - a top ten
10 Om images
So - what's a mantra?
Many mantra's in India are very difficult to translate and their meaning probably has more to do with the sound, and the name of a deity being in there.
Chanting a mantra is a spiritual practice that has its roots in the East. Still, even in the West there are spiritual practices that are remarkably similar. Praying can be like saying a mantra, if it involves repeating the same text over and over.
With the rise of interest in Eastern Religions (various types of Buddhism and Hinduism) saying mantras has become a part of the spiritual practice of many westerners as well.
On the spiritual meaning of mantras - how they work...
- Mantrams explained, by H.P. Blavatsky
- On the occult meaning of using mantras.
- Using a mantra for healing?
- Can you use mantras for healing? Blavatsky gives her view.
Chanting Aum is healthy!
I got this straight off Dr. Oz at Oprah. Chanting OM (or just humming anything really) is good for your blood because it releases nitrogen or something.
So OMMMM to you too!
Aum Mani Padme Hum on video - vote for your favorite youtube vid
Examples of mantras with Aum (or Om)
Mantras with om, ohm or aum in them
Aum Bhur Bhuvah Swah Tat Savitur Varenyam
The famous Hindu Gayatri Mantra.1 point
Aum Mani Padme Hum
= I honor the pearl in the lotus flower. freely tr more...0 points
Om Tat Sat Om
= Aum That Is Aum. This Hindu mantra points to the more...0 points
Bid on products with Aum
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So Aum, or Ohm, or OM - which is it?
How to spell the Indian Mantra
The real spelling of the Indian Mantra is A-U-M. That's also the way it's spelled (in devanagari) in the pictures one sees everywhere, including on this lens.
The pronunciation is also better, the closer it gets to A-U-M (the M can be as long as you want though).
Make the A round as in 'talk'.
The U is pronounced like 'ou' in 'your'.
Om links
Links about the meaning and history of the Aum mantra
- Aum or Om, The sacred Indian Syllable
- I used to be a math teacher in Middle School. My students would invariably find out about this website, and when they wanted to be cool - would sit with crossed legs on a table and chant 'aum'. As a teacher I was not amused, but it does go to show how famous this Indian sound is. The mantra Aum is the sacred syllable in Indian religions. Hinduism, Buddhism, and most other Indian religions share a respect for this sound.
- Om, Aum, Ohm
- The word is Sanskrit. It is pronounced at the beginning and end of every lesson in the "Veda" and it is also the introductory word of the "Puranas." It is said in the "Katha-Upanishad": "Whoever knows this syllable obtains whatever he wishes." This is because all words are said to be but various forms of the one sound, "om", according to the "Upanishads." It represents the divine and the power of God. It is the sound-symbol for the ultimate reality.
- OM Mantra and 7 Levels of Consciousness
- The OM Mantra is a roadmap for sadhana, spiritual practices (written as either AUM or OM). It is not for the person who seeks only the shallow waters of spiritual life, but rather for those who strive to realize in direct experience the depth of the Absolute Reality. There are four main levels of consciousness outlined in the OM Mantra, along with three transition levels, which is a total of seven levels. Each of these is experienced on the inner journey of meditation and contemplation.
Aum on clothes
Spiritual t-shirts, baby clothes and more
Om on video: other mantras
Gayatri Mantra
om bhur bhuva sva
om bhur bhuva svah
tát savitúr váreniyam
bhárgo devásya dhemahi
dhíyo yó nah prachodáyat
Here's a translation:
"May we attain that excellent glory of Savitr the God:"
"So may he stimulate our prayers."
For chanting purposes I also include a phonetic transcription; pronounce as if it were English:
om bhoor bhuva suvah
tat savitur vareNyam
bhargo devasya dheemahi
dhiyo yo nah prachodayaat
Your Aum Links
Please add your own favorite Aum links or rate the ones already there.
Dalai Lama on Om Mani Padme Hum
It is very good to recite the mantra Om mani padme more...1 point
Article on interreligious aspects of AUM - OM - OHM | One Sound
Article about interreligious aspects of the Om.0 points
Aum Scrolls.
Various articles (scrolls) about the meaning of Au more...0 points
Aum decorations: on your cups, refrigerator and head
What do you think about the OM mantra?
Anything missing from this lens?
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kab
Great Info! I am lensrolling this to Ghau Pendants. Posted August 13, 2008 |
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clouda9
Excellent...loved your mix of humor and the serious! Thank you for sharing. Posted June 29, 2008 |
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Comfortdoc
Thank you for joining the Imagine Peace Group. Thank you for explaining the meaning of aum, om. Posted June 21, 2008 |
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askafriend
Om yeah - you are right on with this one! Posted June 09, 2008 |
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EverythingMouse
Glad that I found your lens. An interesting topic which I knew nothing about until now. I love the jewelry. Posted April 21, 2008 |
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