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