The infinitely esoteric answer:
Actually, it really doesn’t matter how you
spell OM, or how you chant it, because
the audible OM is an only an echo of the
inaudible sound. The true OM cannot be
perceived by the ordinary senses; the
ability to hear it is available only through
the internal, spiritual, subtle senses.
It also cannot be expressed in such a
limited sense by one person’s voice,
because in fact, the true expression of OM
is pulsing in all life itself.
If you listen to any sound deeply enough,
and trace it back to its source in silence,
you can hear OM within that sound,
whether it be the wind in the trees, a
rushing river, a speeding train, or dinner
conversation in a restaurant.
We chant OM as a mantra meditation
practice not to “make the perfect OM
sound,” but to focus our minds,
experience the power of sound vibrations
internally, and tune ourselves into the
listening for the inaudible sound.
The final answer:
In my view, you’re chanting OM
correctly (regardless of how you spell it
and how protracted each sound is) if by
the mere thought of OM, without even
opening your mouth, you become
absorbed in the bliss of fullness and love.
If chanting audibly is required in that
moment, either to serve your own
internal focus during your own
meditation, or to serve an audience of
listeners to join you in chanting, the
sound will be saturated with that love.
It should come from the heart of sound,
and touch the hearts of all around you.
Just like love, the experience of OM is
beyond words.
Anandra teaches Sanskrit mantra and the yoga
of sound to empower students to affect lasting
transformation and find consistently deep inner
peace. She has been practicing yoga and
meditation for more than 20 years, and has
been teaching and helping clients
internationally since 1999. She is known for a
teaching style that integrates esoteric
philosophy with practical, daily life applications
in a fresh,modern way.
Y O G I C
H E R A L D
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