Om Mantra

When hearing about or discussing mantras many people have the vision of 'new age hippies' on drugs, sitting in a circle, chanting OMmmmmmmmm... Yes, people do sometimes sit in a circle with others and chant, finding the experience very enriching. It is not necessarily 'new age' (chanting and Mantras have been used for centuries), but people from many walks of life and cultures.

With the increasing acceptability of alternative therapies, the balance and influence between mind and body, and universal 'oneness', a greater awareness or enlightenment is growing in the populance.

The Om Mantra also called AUM, is also known as the "Universal Mantra". It can be used by anyone and has many health benefits to mind, body and spirit, when used regularly.

It is very easy to learn and has four parts. Firstly, is the sound like "Ah," then "Uuuu," then "Mmmm," and finally the silence beyond the mantra. It is easiest to begin by remembering the mantra very slowly, allowing time to be aware of each of the four levels separately (though forming a continuous sound), something like this:

AaaaaaUuuuuuMmmmmm.....Silence..... hence the mantra being written as AUM as well as OM

The three sounds, and the silence have the following meanings:

• The "A" sound refers to the conscious level of the mind (the materialistic world)

• The "U" part refers to the unconscious level of the mind (the subtle realm)

• The "M" refers to the subconscious level, the stillness from where the materialistic and subtle emerge.

• The Silence after these three, refers to the absolute reality, our connection to all things, our oneness with the Universe.

When practising, take a slow, deep breath and feel the vibration commencing in your lower diaphrahm, allow the sound to resonate upwards though your chest, throat and softly up and through the top of your heard. Use a pace which suits you and gradually lengthen the time you take to complete the mantra: Imagine it sounding somewhat like one of these vibrations:

• OMmmOMmmOMmm...

• OMmmmmOMmmmmOMmmmm...

• OMmmmmmmmOMmmmmmmmOMmmmmmmm...

In the early stages, you may find it easier to use the mantra verbally, where the process is more externally focused. Later you may use it internally, where listening or paying attention is more inwardly focused.

A good way to understand the difference between speaking your mantra and using it internally, is to think of a song you have heard and remember. The sounds remain in your mind and arise automatically, without any effort. With practise, the mantra becomes integrated into your thoughts and you are able to use it to settle and still your mind, gently and effortlessly.

It is fine to allow thoughts to come into and drift away from your mind, without either engaging them or pushing them away. Using Om is not for suppressing thoughts and emotions - with regular use you learn to become detached and passively observe them as you would if you watched debris floating by in a river.

You will find that you are able to break the habit of allowing thoughts to engage and disturb your mind. Solutions to problems will emerge more easily as blocks created by anxieties release. You become more in tune with your spiritual and psychic mind. Your decision making will be more focused as you become more positive and confident.