The Enigmatic Aum!
Aditi Someshwar
Aurangabad
(July’2018)
Hari Aum!
Every visit to SISS is great nourishment for the soul, Sree Guru Purnima workshop of 2018 on “The Enigmatic Aum!”
still has the mind and senses reverberating with the sacred learnings.
It was a perfect start to the workshop on the auspicious day of Sree Guru Purnima, with “Sree Guru Paduka Pooja”,
offering our reverence to Sree Guru Parampara, and praying that we be the fit recipients of the Knowledge that
was about to be imparted - The Knowledge about the Mahamantra “AUM”, blessed we felt.
We devotees were blessed by an offering to Sree Guru Parampara - Digital
Release on Talks in English: 1) Harnessing & Harmonizing 2) Mind Your Mind
Param Poojya Gurudev conveyed His message to us through our beloved revered Mataji to start the day:
“Let the helms man; bethy Shraddha, and keep the boat steadily towards
the Pole-star, the Maha-Vakya.”
Prompt came a thought in my mind: “Was the Pole-star “AUM”? This question was answered through Mataji’s
“thought stirring” words that followed. Though I feel a misfit in trying to put down a miniscule part of
the vast knowledge from the discourses, here is a sincere try:
What came first – Mantras or human beings? Mantras are always there as vibrations in the subtle space.
The mind needs to hold on to Japa, the chanting of Mantras to channelize it. This will help one inculcate
“spiritual wealth”, which is the only wealth that one will carry forward here after.
A selected verse from Skandh Puraan, Sree Guru Geeta, “Sree Guru Stotram” carried us through the workshop.
It was chanted in the beginning and the end of each session. The three words “Bindu Naad Kalaatitah” symbolizes
the Reality by means of the single sacred syllable AUM, and the Guru is the embodiment of the Reality.
“Chaitanyah Shaashvatah Shaan to Vyomaatee to Niranjanah
Bindu Naad Kalaateetah Tasmai Sree Gurave Namah.”
In the Institute of Subjective Sciences, the Vedaantic teachings imparted to us were logical and scientific:
Object of Space is sound. When one wants to transcend Space, one needs to take the help of an object,
that is sound. “AUM” is “Shabd Brahm”, the Sound of Silence. This makes it “Enigmatic”. To comprehend this,
the meditator will have to realize that the “Space” is in him and move his mind’s focus away from the objects
and shift it to the Supreme.
“AUM” – “Akaar”, “Ukaar” and “Mkaar”- correlating to the three States - Waking, Dream, and Deep Sleep state,
as well as the three Bodies – Gross, Subtle and Causal. “Akaar” helps to push one beyond multiplicity,
“Ukaar” helps to transcend from the dream state, and “Mkaar” helps to transcend the deep-sleep state.
The silence in between two AUMkaars is the most important as it represents the Tureeya state, the state of
Awakening.
We learnt two important verses from Sreemad Bhagawad Geeta: Verses 12 & 13 from Chapter 8, where
Lord Krishna explains how to meditate on AUM, and Verse 23 from Chapter 17, where Lord explains the
significance of “AUM TAT SAT”.
The Guru Parampara was bestowing blessings on us. Mataji took up the verse from Atharv Ved,
Mundak Upanishad, given to householder disciple Shaunak by the Guru,Rishi Angira”
“Pranavo Dhanuh….”
This verse depicts the analogy of Pranav / AUMkaar being the bow, Jeevatma the arrow and Brahm the Target.
The arrow should be shot with sustained steadiness and conviction. Just as one has to pull the string towards
oneself, similarly one needs to refrain from the world to move ahead in one’s Saadhna.
With each visit to SISS, we gain more clarity. After this treasured trip, I feel aware of the importance of
meditation as told in our scriptures, and the role of “The Enigmatic AUM” to proceed towards the Goal.
The other activities during the workshop, that is, a documentary on “Kailash Mansarovar Yatra”, group discussion session, Bhajan session,
Sree Guru Paad Pooja, offering the assigned Sevaas – all only added to the treasure of experiences, and
with Guru’s blessings, bring out the “Saatvik” component in us.
Pranaam to Gurumaa, thankyou Manishji, and all at SISS.
