The Word That is God
The Word That is God
The Word That is God
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means for the attainment of Brahman.” (Shankara, Commentary on the Mandukya Upan<strong>is</strong>had)<br />
Om <strong>is</strong> the source of creation and evolution<br />
“All the three worlds, with everything, animate and inanimate therein, take their origin<br />
from Om.” (Dhyanabindu Upan<strong>is</strong>had 16)<br />
“At the center of the wheel of creation <strong>is</strong> the Deliverer, the Syllable Om.” (Narasingha<br />
Purva-Tapiniya Upan<strong>is</strong>had)<br />
“Like Brahman, Om encompasses everything. Om <strong>is</strong> particularly the glory of the Vedas.<br />
Everything, movable and immovable, has ar<strong>is</strong>en from Om.” (Pranava Upan<strong>is</strong>had)<br />
“Om, the Pranava, <strong>is</strong> the image of Brahman. It <strong>is</strong> the <strong>Word</strong> of Power. From Om th<strong>is</strong> world<br />
<strong>is</strong> projected, in Om it ex<strong>is</strong>ts, and in Om it <strong>is</strong> involved during the cosmic Pralaya. Om <strong>is</strong> the<br />
essence of the four Vedas.” (Shiva-Jnanamrita Upan<strong>is</strong>had 6)<br />
“Pranava <strong>is</strong> of the nature of Prakriti [all creation], as <strong>is</strong> borne out by the scriptural<br />
statement, ‘knowers of Brahman say that the Pranava ar<strong>is</strong>es out of the Supreme Being as<br />
Prakriti.’ <strong>The</strong> Pranava <strong>is</strong> that by means of which the universe <strong>is</strong> sustained.” (Yogashikha<br />
Upan<strong>is</strong>had 2:13,14)<br />
“<strong>That</strong> transcendent radiance <strong>is</strong> Om in Which there stand all the worlds and Brahma,<br />
V<strong>is</strong>hnu, and Shiva, all the worlds, all speech, and the Vedas.” (Yogashikha Upan<strong>is</strong>had 6:56,57)<br />
“<strong>The</strong> Cosmic Spirit utters Om and by pure will creates the various objects.” (Yoga Vash<strong>is</strong>htha<br />
3:67)<br />
“All things are created by Om.” (Kabir)<br />
“From the word Om the Creation sprang.” (Kabir)<br />
“<strong>The</strong> goal of the universe <strong>is</strong> to realize oneness with the ‘Om’ or One Ex<strong>is</strong>tence.” (Swami<br />
Vivekananda, Jnana Yoga, section III)<br />
“In the universe, Brahma or Hiranyagarbha or the cosmic Mahat first manifested himself<br />
as name, and then as form, i.e. as th<strong>is</strong> universe. All th<strong>is</strong> expressed sensible universe <strong>is</strong> the<br />
form, behind which stands the eternal inexpressible Sphota, the manifester as Logos or <strong>Word</strong>.<br />
Th<strong>is</strong> eternal Sphota, the essential eternal material of all ideas or names, <strong>is</strong> the power through<br />
which the Lord creates the universe; nay, the Lord first becomes conditioned as the Sphota,<br />
and then evolves Himself out as the yet more concrete sensible universe. Th<strong>is</strong> Sphota has one<br />
word as its only possible symbol, and th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> the Om. And as by no possible means of analys<strong>is</strong><br />
can we separate the word from the idea, th<strong>is</strong> Om and the eternal Sphota are inseparable; and<br />
therefore, it <strong>is</strong> out of th<strong>is</strong> holiest of all holy words, the mother of all names and forms, the<br />
eternal Om, that the whole universe may be supposed to have been created.” (Swami Vivekananda,<br />
Bhakti Yoga, <strong>The</strong> Mantra: Om: <strong>Word</strong> and W<strong>is</strong>dom)<br />
“<strong>The</strong> one Eternal <strong>Word</strong> <strong>is</strong> the prime cause of the universe; with the evolution of that<br />
ever-abiding <strong>Word</strong>, the progress of the material life of creation goes on in parallel lines.” 90 (Sri<br />
Anandamayi Ma) <strong>The</strong> entire evolving cosmos <strong>is</strong> Om Itself evolving Itself.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> creation of the universe has come from the sound Om.” (Swami Premeshananda, Go<br />
Forward, p. 233)<br />
“Om <strong>is</strong> All: the creator of the universe…. Let your devotion be steady in th<strong>is</strong> creator.”<br />
(Avadhuta Nityananda Paramhansa, Nitya Sutra 120)<br />
Om <strong>is</strong> the essence of the evolutionary solar energies<br />
90 From the Chapter entitled “Thought Power” in Matri Darshan by J.C. Roy<br />
102