The Word That is God

“One attains samadhi by piercing nada (the sound barrier). The nada is pierced through
repetition of Om and one attains samadhi.” (Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, The Gospel of Sri
Ramakrishna, Majumdar translation: 3.4.2)
“Sound is very easy for the mind to concentrate upon. As soon as the mind is absorbed in
it, we rise higher into a state of superconsciousness. It is said in the scriptures that Brahman
revealed Itself originally as sound and the first sound was Om. Therefore Om is the nearest
symbol of God for helping the concentration of the mind and leading to the realization of
Brahman. Om is the Shabda-Brahman [Brahman as Sound], the Brahman Which is beyond
sound, but Which can be attained through sound.” (Swami Ramdas)
Om transforms us into divinity
“This is the udgitha [Om], highest and best. This is endless. He who, knowing this,
meditates on udgitha, the highest and best, becomes the highest and best 109 and obtains the
highest and best worlds. When Atidhanvan Shunaka taught this udgitha to Udara Shandilya, he
also said: ‘As long as they shall know this udgitha among your descendants, so long their life
in this world will be the highest and best.’ And so will their state in that other world be. One
who thus knows and meditates–his life in this world becomes the highest and best, and so his
state in that other world, yea, in that other world.’” (Chandogya Upanishad 1.9.2-4)
“This knower of Om in this manner becomes the transcendent Isha or Shiva Who alone is
exclusively worthy of being meditated upon, and also becomes one who brings about the
well-being of all his devotees. Hence one should give up all things apart from Brahman That is
without a support, and devote himself entirely unto the attainment of Brahman [through
Om].” (Atharvashikha Upanishad 3:4c)
“That man is no other than the god Vishnu incarnate on earth who fully understands the
mystery of the mantra Om.” (Agni Purana)
“The yogi who identifies himself with Omkara shall merge himself in imperishable Being.
He shall thus himself become imperishable.” (Linga Purana 91:45)
“The yogi that becomes identical with Om becomes identical with the imperishable Being.
Pranava is the bow, the atman is the arrow, and Brahman is the target. It [Brahman] should be
pierced [entered into] by one who does not err. He shall be concentrated therein as in regard
to the arrow.” (Linga Purana 91:49a)
“A mahayogi who performs japa and bhavanam perpetually of Shiva in the form of the
Pranava, certainly becomes Shiva Himself.” (Shiva Purana, Vidyeshwarasamhita 17:26)
“The yogi who is filled with Omkara becomes imperishable in the Imperishable Being.”
(Vayu Purana I.20.4-)
“Just as light is the property of a lighted lamp, so the sound of Om is the intrinsic property
of the stage of samadhi.” (Lahiri Mahasaya in his commentary on the Yoga Sutras)
Om japa and meditation is the sum and substance of yoga
In the second section of the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali says: “Kriya Yoga is comprised of
spiritual practice [tapasya], self-study [swadhyaya], and the offering of one’s life to God
[Ishwarapranidhana].” Commenting on this, Yogiraj Sri Sri Shyama Charan Lahiri Mahasaya
wrote: “Constant japa of the Pranava, Omkar, Which is self-revealing, and constant focus on It
as the form of Ishvara, and dedicating all actions to It as if you are not the doer yourself; is
109 “Highest and best” is an upanishadic title for God.
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