The Misuse of 'Om' As a Mantra for Householders
Excerpt from a talk by His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1955
Published in the book Beacon Light of the Himalayas
If the mind is proceeding through sound, the field of anoraniyan is the
field which transcends the field of subtlest sound, which is the field of
"no sound" ("ni-shabdam"); and Upanishads call it "paramam padam".
"Nishabdam paramam padam". This paramam padam is sat-chit
ananda, in its essential nature. The man experiencing it rises to eter-
nal life - a life of eternal bliss and absolute consciousness.
For training the mind through sound we can take any word. Even the
word "mic" [microphone] can be taken. By reducing the sound of the
word "mic" to its subtler and still subtler stages and allowing the mind
to go on experiencing all the stages one by one, the mind can be
trained to be so sharp as to enter into the subtlest stage of the sound
'mic', transcending which it will automatically get into the realm of sat-
chit-ananda and experience it. Thus we find that any sound can serve
our purpose of training the mind to become sharp. But we do not
select the sound at random. We do not select any sound like 'mic',
'flower', 'table', 'pen', 'wall', etc., because such ordinary sounds can do
nothing more than merely sharpening the mind; whereas there are
some special sounds which have the additional efficacy of producing
vibrations whose effects are found to be congenial to our way of life.
This is the scientific reason why we do not select any word at random.
For our practice, we select only the suitable mantras of personal gods
[fundamental laws of nature]. Such mantras fetch to us the grace of
personal gods and make us happier in every walk of life.
While making a reference to the mantras, in this manner, I feel like
touching a very vital aspect of sadhana, which things are blurred in the
present atmosphere of too much talk of vedanta.
Obviously enough there are two ways of life, the way of life of a san-
yasi [recluse] and the way of life of a householder. One is quite op-
posed to the other. A sanyasi renounces every thing of the world,
whereas a householder needs and accumulates everything. Shastras
[vedic scriptures] declare both the ways of life to be the paths of eman-
cipation. Both are said to be the moksha-marga [path of liberation] -
nivarthi marga and privathi marga. The one realizes through renun-
ciation and detachment, while the other goes through all attachments
and accumulation of all that is needed for physical life.
We have two different sets of mantras to suit the two ways of life.
Mantras for the sanyasis have the effect of increasing the sense of
detachment & renunciation, and also have the power of destroying
the objects of worldly affections, if there should survive any such
objects for him. Quite contrary to this are the mantras suitable for
the householder, which have the efficacy of harmonizing and enrich-
ing the material aspect of life also.
The mantras of the sanyasi have a destructive effect in the material
field of life, whereas the mantras suited to the householder envisage
constructive values also.
'Om' is the mantra for the sanyasi. The sanyasi repeats 'om', 'om', om'.
It is given to him at the time of 'sanyas-diksha', at the time when he
has completely renounced attachment to the world. Renunciation and
detachment increase with the repetition of 'om'; 'om' is chanted aloud
by a sanyasi to put on end to his desires. Desire are destroyed by
loudly chanting the mantra 'om'. And if there is any desire deeply
rooted in the mind of the sanyasi, the chanting of 'om' will result in
destruction of the object of such desire in order to make the sanyasi
wholly desireless. The sanyasi attains peace through the renunciation
and destruction of desires, whereas the peace comes to the house-
holder when his needs are satisfied, when his desires are fulfilled.
The mantras for the householders have the effect of fulfilling the de-
sires.
If, unfortunately, the householder begins to repeat the pranava mantra
'om', 'om', 'om', he experiences destructive effects in his material life.
The effect starts with monetary loss & then goes on to destroy objects
of affection, one by one. Such a man, when he finds loss of money
and separation from the dear ones, he is reduced to utter peaceless-
ness and frustration. Where is the chance of spiritual development or
experience of peace and happiness for such a dejected soul?
The path of peacelessness and misery in the world cannot lead to
eternal happiness. If the man is proceeding towards eternal happi-
ness, every day he should feel the increase of peace and happiness,
and this alone will assure him that he is proceeding towards abiding
peace and eternal happiness. If you walk towards the light you
should be able to feel the increase of light at every step.
If you are spending some time in devotion to God, you should feel
peace and happiness in life. If you are not feeling peace and happi-
ness you should be wise enough to doubt the correctness of your
devotion, you should be wise enough to think that your method of de-
votion is wrong, that the mantras that you are repeating do not suit you.
The mantras that suit the sanyasis can never suit the householders.
Hundreds of God-loving & God-fearing families have been ruined due
to the destructive effects of sanyasa mantra 'om'. 'Om' destroys de-
sires and also destroys the objects of desires and therefore it produces
calmness of mind and renunciation and detachment from material life
only to sanyasis when they repeat 'om'; to them it brings the experience
of peace of mind and from this experience they generally recommend
the chanting of 'om' to their followers.
But when a householder repeats 'om', he experiences that as long as
he is repeating 'om' he feels peace of mind, but when he comes out to
indulge in business or household work, he finds that the air is against
his desire and schemes. The silencing effect on the mind and destruc-
tive effects in material life, both are experienced side by side.
Some people say that we should ignore material life in regard to the
devotional practices and mantras. But this is a fool's ideology. Can you
possibly ignore the considerations of material life, when the mantras do
affect it?
Select a path which will make you happier in your material life also. Do
not live in a fool's paradise. Do not think that your sufferings end miseries
of today will work as reservations in the galleries of heaven for tomorrow.
Be peaceful and happy in the present and try to make this state perma-
nent. This is the path of deliverance in life, jivan-mukti [liberation while
living], the most exalted state in human existence, the state of abiding
peace and eternal bliss.
And this you are entitled to have through correct and suitable sadhana
[spiritual practice]. And because the mantras play an important role in
the field of sadhana, you must be very very careful in the selection of the
mantra. The theory of mantras is the theory of sound. It is most scien-
tific and natural.
Ladies should never repeat any mantra beginning with 'om'. The pro-
nunciation of 'om' is like fire to the ladies. This is the practical
experience
of many devoted ladies who repeated 'om namah Shivaya' ['om' is the
name of Shiva] or 'om namo Narayanaya' ['om' is the name of Narayana -
a form of Vishnu] or 'om namo bhagavate Vasudevaya' ['om' is the name
of Lord Vasudeva - a form of Krishna] or any such mantra beginning with
'om'.
It cannot be God's wish that you should suffer in your devotion to him.
Do not cling to the unhelpful mantras. The moment you find you have
got into the wrong train, it is wise to get down from it as soon as possible.
It is foolish to stick on to the wrong train and go wherever it takes you.
I hold that the devotees of the almighty God should not suffer at all.
That is the fundamental condition of the path to eternal bliss. I hold that
bliss or happiness should increase at every step till we get into the realm
of eternal happiness. I hold that the devotees of the God should enjoy
peace and happiness at every stage, because He is the fountainhead of
all peace and happiness. It cannot be that our march toward the light
should at any stage increase the darkness before us. The march
toward the anant anandam must give the experience of increase of
anandam [bliss] at every step and in every walk of life.
The devotee of the Almighty cannot suffer. If he is found to suffer, he
cannot be said to be a devotee of God. It pains me when I find people
suffering in the name of God and devotion. I offer an open invitation to
such aspirants and seekers of God. I invite them to come out of their
miserable devotion, and step into the peaceful, blissful chambers of
sadhana, blessed and illumined by the divine radiance of Shri Guru
Deva. I invite them to put an end to their sufferings & peacelessness
and crown their day-to-day life with success, peace, and joy. Do not
waste time and life. Life is to enjoy. So come on to the field of all joy.
The gates of all glories of life are open for you. "Make hay when the
sun shines." Avail the opportunity in hand and enjoy life to the fullest.
Jai Guru Dev
Michael
Dr. Michael Dean Goodman
• Ph.D. counselor • Relationship coach ("The Relationship Doctor")
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