Om Mantra Pendants

In Tibet, many people are praying during the day. They pray in a special way by saying short prayers which are called mantras. The Tibetans, among many other Buddhists, believe the power of the mantra lays in its repetitive character.

When you visit Tibet you'll constantly hear the Om mantra being recited. People walking on the streets, Monks monotonously singing the mantra while trumpets are blown, shop owners mumbling the 'om' sound while servicing a customer.

This mantra is also engraved on the typical Tibetan prayer wheels. (The bronze cylinders that can be turned to send the mantra into the world repeatedly)

The first syllable of most mantras is 'Om' (Aum or Ohm) which is considered the strongest and most beautiful sound because it is a mystic / holy syllable in Dharmic faiths. The mantra is said to encompass all Buddha's teachings.

Photo of the Om symbol by: william.neuheisel | Creative Commons

• The Christian "Amen" and the Judaism 'Shalom' are considered equivalents of 'Om'. (the word shalom is related to the Hebrew word for wholeness)

The Om Mantra consists of three basic sounds: A, U and M. These three sounds are the root of all sounds which have evolved from these three. That's why the greatest mantra, Om, symbolizes the whole universe, the whole existence, connectedness, all being one.

The vibration of the Om sound not only has a deep spiritual meaning but the vibration are found to be relaxing and balancing. Recent scientific theories (quantum physics) state that everything consists of vibrations. The so called String Theory is an example of this concept. Although these scientific insights are not directly related to Om they do correspond with the general idea. (Aum is said to be "the universe's hum")

Aum is commonly pronounced as a long or over-long nasalized close-mid back rounded vowel. It is placed at the beginning of most Hindu texts as a sacred exclamation to be uttered at the beginning and end of a reading of the Vedas or previously to any prayer or mantra.

photo by: CptAhab | Creative Commons

The Mandukya Upanishad is entirely devoted to the explanation of this universal sound. The syllable is taken to consist of three phonemes, a, u and m, variously symbolizing the Three Vedas or the Hindu Trimurti or three stages in life ( birth, life and death ). Source: Wikipedia

There are three ("letters", syllabic instants in prosody) in the word aum : 'a', 'u' and 'm'. The 'a' stands for the state of wakefulness, where we experience externally through our mind and sense organs. The 'u' stands for the dream state, in which inward experiences are available. In the state of deep sleep, represented by the sound 'm', there is no desire and consciousness is gathered in upon itself. Source: Wikipedia

"Om" is also said to represent body, spirit and the speech of Buddha. Aum is also said to refer to A = Brahma, U = Vishnu, and M = Shiva where Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the maintainer or preserver, and Shiva is the destroyer or transformer

The letters A, U and M also are said to symbolize the meditating person's impure body, speech and mind where at the same time they refer to the pure exalted body, speech and mind of Buddha.

Aum is referred to as the 'Primordial Vibration', 'The First Word', 'The Original Sound' containing all other sounds, words and mantras. This vibration / sound is thought to be the present at the creation of the universe. In this sense, Aum might be 'the word':

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1)

This might also be why music is called "the most divine and spiritual of the arts" and why many ancient legends ascribe magic power to music. The notion that music is a gift and science "coming straight from the gods." also matches with the concept of Aum.

The mantra (prayer) Om Mani Padme Hum

Has multiple meanings. The jewel in the lotus and the truth in the heart of the lessons. "Om mani padme hum" means: "even a beautiful lotus flower can flourish in the mud" (even though you have many problems, you always have the opportunity to blossom like a lotus flower).

picture: Wikimedia Commons

Its exact meaning is disputed so there are several different explanations. Mani means jewel
A common analysis of the meaning of the mantra is "Jewel in the Lotus" or "Praise to the pearl in the lotus blossom" and: "Hail to the Jewel of The Lotus Flower"

This and more great Tibetan pendants here (They have some of the most beautiful and exclusive Buddhist and Tibetan jewelry items on the internet.)

Once I heard a story about a man who sailed in his little boat around the world. Heavy storms drifted him off course so he got lost and could do nothing but wait until the bad weather calmed down. When finally the storm was over he was lying down in his boat looking at the stars and he started contemplating about life, the world, the universe.

Years later when he was being interviewed in a TV show the reporter asked 'didn't you feel alone?' To which he replied: 'That moment felt so happy, watching the stars, so far away from society and at the same time so connected with everything. It made me realize that we are all one, everything is connected. The word alone says it itself, all one'.