The Word That is God
The Word That is God
The Word That is God
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(Mandalabrahman Upan<strong>is</strong>had 2:4)<br />
“Om <strong>is</strong> Brahman. Know that the mantra of the one-syllabled Om <strong>is</strong> Pranava. …It <strong>is</strong> saguna<br />
[with qualities] and nirguna [beyond all qualities].” (Narada Parivrajaka Upan<strong>is</strong>had, Upadesha<br />
VIII)<br />
“<strong>That</strong> which <strong>is</strong> the sound Om, O Satyakama, <strong>is</strong> verily the higher and the lower Brahman.<br />
<strong>The</strong>refore, with th<strong>is</strong> support alone does the w<strong>is</strong>e man reach the one or the other.” (Prashna<br />
Upan<strong>is</strong>had 5:2. Also Maitrayana Upan<strong>is</strong>had 6:5)<br />
“Whether the unconditioned Brahman or the conditioned Brahman, the Syllable Om becomes<br />
a means of realizing It. For another scripture has it, ‘<strong>The</strong> Syllable Om <strong>is</strong> the higher and lower<br />
Brahman.’” 85 (Shankara, Commentary on the Brihadaranyaka Upan<strong>is</strong>had)<br />
“Om <strong>is</strong> both the higher and the lesser Brahman.” (Shankara, Commentary on the Mandukya<br />
Karika)<br />
“Om <strong>is</strong> both Saguna and Nirguna [with attributes and without attributes], Sakara and<br />
Nirakara [with form and without form].” (Sivananda, Meditation On Om)<br />
Om <strong>is</strong> the True Name of <strong>God</strong><br />
“<strong>The</strong> transcendent Brahman <strong>is</strong> indicated by Om.” (Kundika Upan<strong>is</strong>had)<br />
“Brahman <strong>is</strong> indicated by Om alone.” (Yajnavalkya Upan<strong>is</strong>had)<br />
“Om <strong>is</strong> the Name of the Supreme Lord.” (Shankara, Commentary on the Yoga Sutras)<br />
“Ishwara <strong>is</strong> the Atman as seen or grasped by mind. H<strong>is</strong> highest name <strong>is</strong> Om.” (Swami<br />
Vivekananda, Inspired Talks, Sunday, July 21)<br />
“Om <strong>is</strong> the highest Name of <strong>God</strong>, and compr<strong>is</strong>es many other Names of <strong>God</strong>. It should be<br />
borne in mind that Om <strong>is</strong> the Name of <strong>God</strong> exclusively–and of no other object material or<br />
spiritual–while the others are but descriptive titles and not exactly proper names.” (Mahar<strong>is</strong>hi<br />
Dayananda Saraswati, Satyartha Prakash)<br />
“<strong>The</strong> One Omkar <strong>is</strong> the True Name [of <strong>God</strong>].” (Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh religion.<br />
Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> the opening line of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of the Sikhs.)<br />
“Om–th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> the sound that comes at the beginning of creation. <strong>The</strong> r<strong>is</strong>h<strong>is</strong> were able to<br />
hear that sound. Even today, yog<strong>is</strong> hear it at the inner core of creation. <strong>The</strong>re <strong>is</strong> no sound as<br />
pure as th<strong>is</strong> in the whole world. It <strong>is</strong> the primordial Name of <strong>God</strong>. …Fix your mind on the<br />
sound Om, feeling that it <strong>is</strong> <strong>God</strong> Himself.” (Swami Premeshananda, Go Forward, pp. 245,246)<br />
Om bestows the v<strong>is</strong>ion of <strong>God</strong><br />
“Having made oneself the lower arani, and the Pranava the upper arani and rubbing them<br />
together through the practice of meditation, see the Lord in H<strong>is</strong> hidden reality.” (Brahma<br />
Upan<strong>is</strong>had 4)<br />
“Though not seeing Him [Brahman], you should see Him through the word Om. Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong><br />
the truth, <strong>is</strong> the atman, <strong>is</strong> Brahman, for Brahman <strong>is</strong> the atman. Indeed th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> not to be<br />
doubted: Om <strong>is</strong> the Reality. <strong>That</strong> <strong>is</strong> what the w<strong>is</strong>e see.” (Narasingha Uttara-Tapiniya Upan<strong>is</strong>had)<br />
“As the form of fire when latent in its source <strong>is</strong> not seen and yet its seed <strong>is</strong> not destroyed,<br />
but may be seized again and again in its source by means of the drill [a pointed stick whirled<br />
to produce fire for the Vedic sacrifices], so it <strong>is</strong> in both cases. <strong>The</strong> Self has to be seized in the<br />
body by means of the Syllable Om. By making one’s body the lower friction stick and the<br />
Syllable Om the upper friction stick, by practicing the friction of meditation one may see the<br />
85 Prashna Upan<strong>is</strong>had 5:2<br />
93