The three elements of OM Yoga meditation, Japa and meditation of OM

The three elements of OM Yoga meditation

There are three components of OM Yoga meditation: 1) sitting with the eyes  turned up and then closed; 2) being aware of our breath as it moves in and out, and 3) mentally intoning OM in time with the breathing and listening to those mental intonations. They are the essential ingredients of OM Yoga meditation, and we should confine our attention to them. If in meditation we feel unsure as to whether things are going right, we need only check to see if these three things are being done and our attention is centered in them. If so, all is well. If not, it is a simple matter to return to them and make everything right.

Of  the  three,  listening  to  the mental  intonations of OM  is  the major key  to  success  in meditation. It is essential that we become centered in the etheric levels of our being, from which sound arises, and this is done by inwardly intoning OM and listening to those intonations.  During meditation, whatever happens, whatever comes or goes, relax and keep listening to your inner intonations of OM.?  It is the sound of OM that accomplishes everything. And by listening to it you become totally receptive and responsive to it so it can work its transforming Purpose to the maximum degree.

Japa and meditation of OM

Japa and meditation of OM support each other. Continual japa of OM during your daily routine will increase the effectiveness of your practice of meditation, and daily meditation practice will deepen the effect of your japa outside meditation. By the two wings of japa and meditation we ascend through OM to the Highest that is OM.

Commenting on the Yoga Sutras, Vyasa tells the OM yogi: “It has been said:  ‘After OM japa, let him set himself in meditation, after meditation, let him set himself to japa. When OM japa and meditation come to perfection the Supreme Self [Paramatman] shines forth.’” And Shankara, commenting on Vyasa’s commentary, says: “Meditation is setting the heart on the Lord Who is designated by OM and brought into the mind by It.

Yogis who are engaged in both japa and meditation attain one-pointedness of mind. After japa, this causes his mind to bow before the Lord, let him engage in meditation. When his mind becomes unwavering from meditation on the Lord, let him do japa of OM, for japa leads to meditation. When japa and meditation of OM come to perfection then the Supreme Lord [Parameshwara], the Supreme Self [Paramatman] Who stands in the highest place, shines forth for the yogi.”

When doing japa as we are engaged in other activities there is a profound effect, but we are  not  able  to  experience  the  effects  of OM  nearly  as much  as we  can while  sitting  in meditation. The meditation experience is absolutely essential for spiritual progress, just as japa is essential to ensure that meditation will be effective to the maximum degree.