The sound ‘AUM’ (or Aumkar) serves as a primary vehicle for enlightenment in the Satcharita by acting as the mystical symbol and vibration of the Supreme Spirit (Brahman).
According to the sources, ‘AUM’ facilitates the spiritual path in the following ways:
The Essence of Divine Nature
- Connotation of the Divine: Baba revealed that the symbol ‘AUM’ expresses His true nature and that He is the only connotation of it. He identified Himself as “the sacred letter ‘AUM’” and the “Truth”.
- Representation of Brahman: The entire nature of Brahman is seen in the representation of ‘AUM’. It is the sign and symbol for both the unmanifest (Parabrahma) and the manifest (Apar Brahma), and it is intended to be meditated upon and worshipped forever.
- Primeval Sound: It is described as the “primeval sound” upon which the eternal and ancient soul rests.
The Core of Spiritual Practice
- Essence of Tapas: ‘AUM’ is described as a word, a sentence, and a letter that constitutes the essence of all tapas (austerities and spiritual practices).
- Source of Enlightenment: The text states that while the very utterance of ‘AUM’ reveals its meaning, constant repetition of the sound gives enlightenment.
- Essence of Knowledge: It is considered the “thought behind all knowledge” and the core essence of the four Vedas.
Facilitating Oneness
- Modes of Speech: In the yogic tradition, ‘AUM’ symbolises para, the highest of the four modes of speech, which is practised by yogis to transcend physical articulation.
- Meditation and Death: The sources suggest that meditating upon ‘Aumkar–Brahman’ is so powerful that a person who dies while in this state of meditation, remembering the Lord, is considered truly blessed.
- Bridge from Unmanifest to Manifest: ‘AUM’ is the spoken word from which the unseen form of Brahman manifests into the world; by meditating on it, a seeker can transition from material involvement back to a state of oneness with the Supreme.
Ultimately, ‘AUM’ facilitates enlightenment by helping the seeker introvert the senses, move from gross to subtle perceptions, and eventually reach a state of unity consciousness where the distinction between the meditator and the divine disappears.
Source Book: Shree Sai Samartha SatCharita
