OMKARA: THE UNMANIFEST REALITY
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ABOUT THE TECHNIQUE
There are two ways to dissolve the mind. When the mind enters totally into one single form, all other forms are forgotten and the mind is filled with that one vibration. It loses its individuality and merges with that one form or vibration. Or, when the mind goes beyond all forms, it realizes itself as the formless Absolute. Here again the individual mind loses its identity and becomes one with the formless.
When the mind loses itself in the form of the Divine (saguna Brahman or the manifest reality) it is known as bhakti yoga, the path of devotion. When the mind realizes itself as the formless Absolute (nirguna Brahman or the unmanifest reality), it is known as gnana yoga, the path of wisdom.
Depending on the way it is chanted, the mantra Om can be used to connect with both the manifest and unmanifest reality. When we focus on the sound of the mantra, we experience the manifest Divine, the primary vibration of the manifested universe. When we focus on the silence between the intonations of the mantra, we enter into the unmanifested reality or Consciousness that underlies all manifestation.
In the previous technique, we used Omkara to experience saguna Brahman (manifest aspect of reality). In this technique, we use Omkara to experience nirguna Brahman (the unmanifest aspect of reality).