| Tibetan Om or Aum is of great importance in | | | | movement of the rest. If this sound should be |
| Hinduism. This sacred syllable is used to | | | | repeated with correct intonation, it can |
| represent the Brahman, the impersonal | | | | resonate throughout the body and thus |
| Absolute - omnipotent, omnipresent and the | | | | penetrating the soul or the centre of one's |
| source of all existence. In its essence, the | | | | being. |
| Brahman is incomprehensible and therefore a | | | | |
| symbol is required to help us realize the | | | | The Om is a mantra, a syllable or a phrase |
| Unknowable. The Tibetan Om is used to | | | | that has spiritual significance and is |
| represent both aspects of God, the manifest | | | | repeated over and over again. The word mantra |
| and the un-manifest. | | | | comes from the Sanskrit "man" that means to |
| | | | think. The use of mantras is as a meditative |
| The Tibetan Om is used daily, even though it | | | | tool for developing concentration, though it |
| consists of the most profound of Hindu | | | | often has devotional significance. Even the |
| beliefs. Every day, work or journey in the | | | | word "Buddha" can be used as a mantra in |
| lives of the Hindus is started by uttering | | | | order to keep the mind concentrated and ward |
| the Tibetan Om sound. This symbol is very | | | | off distracting thoughts. The syllable Om can |
| common even at the head of the letters or at | | | | also be found in Tibetan tradition in more |
| the beginning of an examination paper. The | | | | complex formulas, the most popular of them |
| symbol is also worn by many Hindus in the | | | | being "Om Mani Padme Hum" (This formula, |
| form of an Om pendant, as an expression of | | | | translated word per word, means "Hail to the |
| spiritual perfection. In every Hindu temple | | | | Jewel of the Lotus." As a rule, the Jewel of |
| and family shrine you will find this symbol | | | | the Lotus is Buddha). |
| enshrined in one way or another. Also, many | | | | |
| family members choose to wear an Om pendant | | | | In meditation, the chanting of Om creates a |
| that can offer them protection and peace of | | | | vibration that attunes sympathy with the |
| mind. | | | | cosmic vibration. This is the moment when we |
| | | | start thinking universally. The mind moves |
| The importance of this sign is so great for | | | | between the opposites of sound and silence |
| the Hindus that every child in ushered into | | | | until the absolute silence overcomes us and |
| this world with it. After the child is born, | | | | we are then in a state of trance when the |
| it is cleansed and this sacred syllable is | | | | intellect and the mind are transcended and |
| written on his tongue with honey. In this | | | | worldly affairs are lost in the desire for |
| manner, the syllable Om is initiated into the | | | | the universal. This is the immeasurable power |
| life of a Hindu and remains with him as a | | | | of the Om. |
| symbol of devoutness. | | | | |
| | | | The sign used to represent the Om is called |
| The Tibetan Om is rather an intonation than a | | | | "omkar" and it contains three curves, one |
| word, which, like music, transcends the | | | | semicircle and a dot. These are meant to |
| barriers of age, race, culture or species. | | | | symbolize the states of human awareness. The |
| The sound Aum or Om is made up of three | | | | waking state is symbolized by the large lower |
| Sanskrit letters aa, au and ma. The general | | | | curve, the deep sleep state is represented by |
| belief is that the Om is the basic sound of | | | | the upper curve and the dream state is |
| the world and also contains all other sounds. | | | | symbolized by the lower curve that lies |
| A sound is a frequency and the universe is | | | | between the deep sleep and the awakening |
| basically consistent of frequencies. | | | | state. |
| Pronouncing the Om helps create the sound and | | | | |