Yoga Music For Meditation Series – OM The Word
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009OM, LOGOS And The WORD
In Christianity we call the primal vibration, from which everything comes from, the word. In Hinduism the equivalent is the sound word or mantra OM. OM and the word express the universal principle, a cosmic sound or vibration, which is the original source for everything that exists.
This idea is touched upon by Pythagoras in his famous idea about the “Music of the Spheres”. In this idea physical sound is but a mere reflection of the cosmic sound or LOGOS (as it is called in Greek).
About Christianity And The Word
The Christian tradition speaks of the power of the word. God speaks words and creates universes. “God said: Let there be light. And light came” (book of Moses). God utters words and the universe is created.
This is symbolically a form of sound emanation from a higher reality, which we in our physical reality call a word. The symbolism is clear, and is the same in different spiritual and religious traditions; reality is created by sound or vibration.
The Atom And OM
Thought the Upanishads from ancient India and modern physics are completely different in terminology and in the organization of knowledge there are some striking similarities. Both support the idea that OM is the original cosmic vibration or that the universe has its seat in vibration.
All matter is in fact in a state of vibration as a closer inspection of the atom reveals. These vibrations can be poetically compared with music as physicist Dr. Donald Hatch states: “The universe is not made of matter but music”.
Sound And Matter
We know that the solidity of matter is an illusion and that all matter consists of atoms, separated in enormous distances compared to their size. And that the atoms themselves are not at all solid, but consist of energy in movement.
In the vision of Donald Andrews the atoms emit a main tone. Atoms join in clusters of atoms to form molecules or “cosmic chords” as he calls them. All matter can be seen as complex chords. The universe is in fact a giant symphony of vibration.
OM And Everyday Life
The creation myths might not only be the story of how the world once was created, but could also be a symbolic description about the process of creation that is ongoing, and which each one of us is a part of. It is the creation and maintenance of each and every little atom and the realities we are creating with our minds and emotions. And it is going on right now, not in the eternal remote past! If we manage to be in accordance with life, we will be harmonious and happy.
Matter is created by cosmic sound, Matter is cosmic sound. Matter is OM, crystallized and made physical. The universe, the earth and we only exist because the Word is continuously brought forth. Remove the Word, and only the pure empty space ” ananda (the creative void as described by the ancient yogis of India) – will be left. This is the original state of the universe before the creation.
OM As A Spiritual Practice
For a yogi OM is just as real as the air he breaths. Christian mystics have felt the power of the Word inside and around them and known that the whole creation is neither complete nor ended, but is an ongoing process.
Seen in this way we are all co-creators of the manifestation in each and every minute, by sending out the Word in the form of thoughts, wishes, emotions and speech. We make our own symphony and we are responsible to make this symphony harmonize with the cosmic symphony!
So be ever mindful of what you send out because the universe hears your song!
