Mandukya Upanishad and Yoga:

Meditating on OM Mantra

 

The pinnacle of the wisdom and practices of the ancient sages of Yoga is contained in the terse twelve verses of the Mandukya Upanishad, which outlines the philosophy and practices of the OM mantra.

 

It has been said that the juice of the Vedas is in the Upanishads, and the juice of the Upanishads is in the Mandukya Upanishad. OM Mantra is also suggested as a direct route to samadhi in the Yoga Sutras. The teachings of the Mandukya Upanishad are well worth deep study, discussion, reflection and contemplation. By faithfully and intently engaging these twelve verses, all of the other written and oral teachings can be explored as expansions of the foundation principles and practices encapsulated in this succinct summary. 

It is not only a most insightful writing, but also a complete outline for sadhana, enlightenment practices. The OM Mantra is a road-map of the entire process of sadhana and a most practical tool for Self-Realization.

Seven Levels: The OM Mantra as a road map for sadhana, spiritual practices (written as either AUM or OM). It is not for the person who seeks only the shallow waters of spiritual life, but rather for those who strive to realize in direct experience the depth of the Absolute Reality. 

 There are four main levels of consciousness outlined in the OM Mantra, along with three transition levels, which is a total of seven levels. Each of these is experienced on the inner journey of meditation and contemplation.

Universal Realities: It is important to be aware of the fact that these levels of consciousness are realities that exist universally, regardless of whether or not one uses the OM Mantra or the visual OM symbol in any way. In either case, the underlying principles are extremely useful for all seekers in purifying or clearing the mind, and seeking the direct experience of deeper truths. 


 

  Verses of Mandukya Upanishad:

  Verses 1-2 describe the Self and the Absolute.

Verses 3-7 explain the four levels of consciousness.

Verses 8-12 outline the four aspects of AUM.

	1)	All is OM	7)	Fourth - Turiya
	2)	Self - Atman - Brahman	8)	A, U, and M
	3)	Waking - Vaishvanara	9)	A of AUM
	4)	Dreaming - Taijasa	10)	U of AUM
	5)	Deep Sleep - Prajna	11)	M of AUM
	6)	Experiencer of the three	12)	Silence after AUM

All is OM: The whole universe is the syllable Om. Following is the exposition of Om. Everything that was, is, or will be is, in truth Om. All else which transcends time, space, and causation is also Om.

Atman has Four Aspects: All of this, everywhere, is in truth Brahman, the Absolute Reality. This very Self itself, Atman, is also Brahman, the Absolute Reality. This Atman or Self has four aspects through which it operates.

First is Waking / Gross: The first aspect of Atman is the Self in the Waking state, Vaishvanara. In this first state, consciousness is turned outward to the external world. Through its seven instruments* and nineteen channels* it experiences the gross objects of the phenomenal world.

Second is Dreaming / Subtle: The second aspect of Atman is the Self in the Dreaming state, Taijasa. In this second state, consciousness is turned towards the inner world. It also operates through seven instruments and nineteen channels, which engage the subtle objects of the mental realm.

Third is Deep Sleep / Causal: The third aspect of Atman is the Self operating in the Deep Sleep state, Prajna. In this third state, there is neither the desire for any gross or subtle object, nor any dream sequences. In deep sleep, all such experiences have receded or merged into the ground of undifferentiated consciousness. Here, one is filled with the experience of bliss, and can also find the way to clearer knowledge of the two preceding states.

The Fourth Aspect is Turiya: The fourth aspect of Atman or Self is Turiya, literally the fourth. In this fourth state, consciousness is neither turned outward nor inward. Nor is it both outward and inward; it is beyond both cognition and the absence of cognition. This fourth state of Turiya cannot be experienced through the senses or known by comparison, deductive reasoning or inference; it is indescribable, incomprehensible, and unthinkable with the mind. This is Pure Consciousness itself. This is the real Self. It is within the cessation of all phenomena. It is serene, tranquil, filled with bliss, and is one without second. This is the real or true Self that is to be realized.

Twenty-Six Principles

The seven instruments are the more macrocosmic instruments, while the nineteen channels relate more to the microcosmic, individual person.

Seven Instruments: First, Consciousness manifests outward as space, air, fire, water, and earth, along with the individuation from the whole and the flow of energy (which we know as the pulsing impulse towards breath).

Nineteen Channels: Then, the individual operates through the four functions of mind (aspects of Antakarana, the inner instrument), which are manas, chitta, ahamkara, and buddhi. Those four operate through the five pranas (prana, apana, samana, udana, and vyana), the five active senses or indriyas (karmendriyas of eliminating, procreating, moving, grasping, and speaking), and the five cognitive senses (jnanendriyas of smelling, tasting, seeing, touching, and hearing)

Practicing the OM Mantra

The OM Mantra (AUM Mantra; Pranava) is a widely recognized mantra. While the OM Mantra has a variety of meanings, one of its most significant uses is for Meditation and Contemplation in Yoga and Vedanta. The OM Mantra is recommended in the Yoga Sutras and the Mandukya Upanishad, as well as in many other teachings.

Four major levels: When used in this way, the OM Mantra (AUM) has four major levels of meaning and experience to the Yogi.

  Waking: First, is the Waking state, represented by the sound of "A" of the  AUM Mantra.

Dreaming: Second, is the Dreaming state, represented by the sound of "U" of the AUM Mantra.

Deep Sleep: Third, is the Deep Sleep state, represented by the sound of "M" of the AUM Mantra.

Turiya: Fourth, is the entire domain of that consciousness that permeates all of the other levels within which awareness does its dance, called Turiya (literally the "fourth"), represented by the Silence after the "A," "U," and "M".

Remember the four parts one after the other: Thus, in the use of the AUM Mantra, there are four levels of awareness that the Yogi wants to cultivate.

The Yogi wants to remember the four parts of the AUM Mantra internally, one after the other, through the levels of consciousness. (The other three stages are also there, but these four are the main focus of the Yogi in using the OM Mantra).

Remain aware of the meanings:

With practice, it gradually becomes easier for one to maintain awareness of these meanings as attention moves through the parts of the AUM Mantra (The A, U, M, and Silence of OM Mantra). Over time, that awareness brings increasing insight of the true nature of these levels of consciousness. Eventually one moves to the direct experience of the Absolute Reality, that consciousness which permeates All (Silence after A, U, and M of OM Mantra).  

This is the state of Self-realization.

Three functions are at the same level: One of the profound insights that one begins to get is the way in which

1) The levels of personal consciousness,

2) The stages of the mental process, and

                       3) The levels of the universe parallel one another. One comes to see that these three are functioning at the same levels of reality, which are none other than the levels of consciousness themselves.

It is approximately like this:

Waking = Conscious = Gross = Vaishvaanara (A of OM Mantra)

Dreaming = Unconscious = Subtle = Taijasa (U of OM Mantra)

Deep Sleep = Subconscious = Causal = Prajna (M of OM Mantra)

Turiya = Consciousness Itself, permeating and being All (Silence of OM Mantra)

In the actual practice with AUM Mantra (OM Mantra):

When awareness is on the "A" of the OM Mantra, you cultivate and train yourself to have a simultaneous awareness of:

The Waking state,

The Conscious level of mental processing, and

The Gross realm of the universe

(Waking, Conscious, and gross are all at the same level, symbolized by "A" of the OM Mantra).

When awareness is on the "U" of the OM mantra, you cultivate and train yourself to have a simultaneous awareness of:

The Dreaming state,

The Active Unconscious processing level of the mind, and

The Subtle realm of the universe

(Dreaming, Unconscious, and Subtle are all at the same level, symbolized by U of the OM Mantra).

When awareness is on "M" of the OM Mantra, you cultivate and train yourself to have a simultaneous awareness of:

the Deep Sleep state,

the Subconscious (latent, dormant, inactive, storage) aspects of mind (the Samskaras from where the impetus for Karma, or action springs forth), and

the Causal realm, out of which arises the Subtle and Gross universe

(Deep Sleep, Subconscious, and Causal are all at the same level, symbolized by 

M of the OM Mantra).

When awareness is on the Silence after the A, the U, and the M of the OM Mantra, you cultivate and train yourself to have an awareness of the consciousness:

that permeates all of the three personal levels (Waking, Dreaming, and Deep Sleep),

that permeates all of the Subtle realm, and

that also permeates the entire Causal realm

(Consciousness permeates, is the foundation of, and in fact, "is" the whole of the levels of the A, the U, and the M levels of the OM Mantra).

One of the other elegant and awesome insights is the way in which our own personality, mental and emotional processes operate:

Latent impressions begin to stir: We come to see, in direct experience of Yoga Meditation and Contemplation, how it is that there are latent impressions in the deep unconscious (the place of Deep Sleep; M of OM Mantra), and how it is that consciousness drifts over these latent impressions, causing them to stir from the Causal level (M of OM Mantra).

These impressions arise into internal action: Then we see the way these impressions then arise into action internally in the Unconscious (the Active Unconscious associated with unseen mental processes and the Dreaming Sleep level; U of OM Mantra), forming many invisible thought processes, normally only experienced in dreams (this is similar to what psychology calls "primary process").

These stirrings come forward into the conscious: Then we see the intriguing way in which those stirrings in the Unconscious (U of OM Mantra) come forward into the Conscious, Waking state of reality (A of OM Mantra), along with the way in which the indriyas, the senses (jnanendriyas of smelling, tasting, seeing, touching, and hearing) and means of expression (karmendriyas of eliminating, procreating, moving, grasping, and speaking) come into play so as to relate to the external world (A of OM Mantra).

We can observe the four functions of mind: We come to see how the four functions of mind interact within these levels (A, U, and M of OM Mantra), including Manas (sensory-motor mind), Chitta (storehouse of impressions), Ahamkara (I-maker or ego), and Buddhi (which knows, decides, judges, and discriminates).

Going beyond the three levels: Through practice, one gradually attains the ability to go beyond, or deeper than the various levels and thinking processes, to the direct experience of the source of the consciousness, symbolized by the Silence after the "A," "U,"  "M," of the OM Mantra.

The practice begins simply, is practiced sincerely and faithfully, and expands over time, with ever increasing insights about the underlying truths contained in, and suggested by the OM Mantra.

Meditation on OM (AUM) as an object of concentration, and Contemplation on its meaning work together in guiding one towards Self-realization

Tripura: Tri means three, and pura means city. Tripura is the consciousness that operates in the three cities of Waking (A of OM Mantra), Dreaming (U of OM Mantra), and Deep Sleep (M of OM Mantra), as well as the Conscious (A of OM Mantra), Unconscious (U of OM Mantra), and Subconscious (M of OM Mantra) aspects of mind.

Sometimes conceptualized as the divine feminine (Shakti), compared to the divine masculine (Shiva), she permeates the three cities of the Gross world (A of OM Mantra), the Subtle plane (U of OM Mantra), and the Causal reality (M of OM Mantra). Tripura also permeates the many other trinities such as the beingness inherent in past, present and future.