The Enigmatic 
Sharmistha Pati
Uttar Pradesh
(July’2018)
Hari Aum!
The Retreat in July’18 at SISS, on the ‘Enigmatic Aum’ was an eye opener for the devotees who
were fortunate enough to attend.Gurumaa Purnanandain Her lucid language made us understand the
concept of Aum, which was otherwise beyond our comprehension. She started with Sree Guru
Strotramand touched upon the Shlokas from Bhagawad Geeta chapter-8 and Mantras from Mundaka
Upanishad, which described the techniques of meditation by means of the chanting of Aum.
Gurumaa explained that Aum represents all-pervasive Reality. The three letters A U M represent the three
states of Jivaatmaie. waking dream and deep-sleep states. Bindu represents the Spirit. In our
meditation we have to focus on Bindu which represents Aprakat Brahm which is beyond duality.
While Akaar helps us to push ourshelves beyond multiplicity of the physical world in waking
state, Ukaar helps in transcending the 14 layers of our mind and the dream state. It is Mkaar
which helps to transcend the blissful deep-sleep state. We must focus on divinity beyond sound,
ie the Sound-of-silence – Brahm Naad. Brahm is ‘Vyomaateet, Bindunada and Kalaateet’.
Aum sound is the first in the manifestation and last to transcend the unreal world, it is also
called the Shabd Brahm. Aum depicts the false plurality as well as the transcendental
singular Reality, hence it is enigmatic. On the seat of meditation, mental chant of Aum calms
our mind. Awakening from the falsehood and realising the Self can be achieved through meditation
on Aum.
In the space of our Spiritual Heart, Brahm is seated. In order to give up the notion of falsehood,
it is necessary to put our mind into cessation in the Heart. It is only possible through the
process of Pratyaahaar wherein the individual ego refrains from worldly indulgences and
inculcates Vivek which is the basic requirement for pursuing Self-realization. Self-realization
is, in other words, intuitive Knowledge of the Self; which can not be attained by intellectual
knowledge and surely not by instinctive knowledge. It is not possible to be blessed with intuitive
Knowledge without Shraddha in the unknown Reality. Hence, it is the Wise who Realise the blissful
Immortal Brahm with their intuitive Knowledge.
“Praṇavo Dhanuḥ Sharo Hyaatma, Brahm Tallakshyam Uchchyatey;
Apramattena Veddhavyam Sharavat Tanmayo Bhavet.”
While explain this Mantra from Mundaka Upanishad 2nd chapter, Gurumaa said that Pranavis the bow,
Jeevaatma is the arrow and Brahm is the Goal. The arrow should be hit with sustained steadiness
and conviction. The bow here is the chanting of Aum with its proper understanding. While
chanting Aum the seeker pulls the string to the maximum so that he can relax his firm grip on
the arrow ie. Jeevaatma leaving behind the unreal falsehood. When the arrow hits the Target it
comes to be one with the Brahm. The mind has to be steadily held and focused single-pointedly
on the Target while meditating. While meditation on Aum, it is the silence between the two
chants of Aum which takes us closer to the Goal. We have to be a witness to our thought process.
The meditator has to be fully and constantly aware of The Light of Consciousness while observing
the silence in the intervals between Aum chants.Consciousness is attributed as Sarvagnya,
Sarvavit, Aanandrupam and Amritam. The aim of meditation with the Japa of Aum is the evolution
and ultimately, the Enlightenment of Jeevaatma.
