Mantras of Soul

Mantras of soul — ancient names for God

Widely known as mantra of soul and central to Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, etc. is the sacred syllable Ōṃ / Aum ॐ. As sacred sound, syllable, mantra, or invocation, Om represents the essence of consciousness or of the cosmic world. As sonic representation of the divine, it is a basic tool for meditation in the yogic path to liberation. As sacred spiritual incantation you often find it before and during the recitation of spiritual texts, during puja and private prayers. It is part of the iconography in ancient and medieval era manuscripts, temples, monasteries, and spiritual retreats in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. As sacred syllable, practitioners of spiritual paths may chant it independently, before a recitation, or during meditation.

Less wide spread is the ancient name of God HU (pronounced “hiou” like the English word “hue”). It can also be found in various religions and spiritual traditions. An example of this from the Buddhist tradition is the mantra Auṃ maṇi padme hūṃ. Or also the sacred syllable Hung that accents many an anchor point in the medicine Buddha ritual and other prayers.

Listening to, singing, and chanting Ōṃ / Aum and HU as mantra of soul throughout my life has brought inexpressibly much to me. It helped me over countless hurdles. It has opened and continues to open up my eyes and ears to the flow and harmony of life, the divine sound, light, and love that sustains everyone and everything.

What determines the value of a mantra is one’s personal experience with it. I found from my own experience that by chanting Ōṃ / Aum and HU along with other, personal mantras in meditation or contemplation for some ten to twenty minutes once or twice each day, one can indeed achieve spiritual freedom individually. We have to make do with what we have. It is all in the present moment. That is where we are who we are. Mantras of soul help me every day to focus on this: We are and exist because of divine love. We are eternal spiritually, always in the here and now. And we can find refuge in the divine, the harmony of life, and our community of heart. Chanting mantras has brought and keeps bringing balance and harmony into my life. Ōṃ / Aum and HU help my heart, ears, and eyes to remain open to the divine love in everyone and all.

“A blessing of Ōṃ / Aum ॐ” — with love for all sentient beings

“Tears of joy” — mantra of soul