Aum
The Aum
As developed over five years of daily meditation in a Lahu Village cave.
According to our ancient sages, the vibration which many have tried to translate as God, or some other personification of The Great Vibration, is represented when we carefully pronounce the word A-u-m.
The complete practice massages each of our seven major chakras, and makes our entire body glow with warmth.
Stage 1 - making the sound AUM
We start with our mouth very wide open to form a sharp 'A'. as in Manchester
Then while singing 'A' quietly, we slowly and gradually close our lips until we are singing 'U', having gone through a stage of 'AU'.
Now, with no steps, but in one continual gradual movement, we continue to close our lips, until we are singing 'M', having gone through the 'UM' stage.. We hold on to, and deepen through the nostrils, the 'MM'. The vibration is felt in the upper nostril, and third eye, which will open with sufficient practice.
Stage 2 - putting into practice
By practising very quietly, I can even get away with doing this in very noisy, boring places, with no-one knowing that I am in another more sane world. If I am able to direct my consciousness, then I can also use this technique as a method for keeping warm, or for disposing of pain.
I put together a series of 'AUM's, with careful timing of my breathing.
a)Inhalation
I start with a slow in-breath, lasting a count of eight seconds (one-second, two-second, three-second, four-second, five-second, six-second, seven-second, eight-second).
b)Upper pause
Then with my lungs full, I pause for a count of four (one-second, two-second, three-second, four-second). As I reach the 'four-second' mark, I open my mouth wide ready for the 'A'.
c)Singing while exhaling
Now I proceed with the 'AUM', during a count of sixteen. I aim to be leaving the 'UM', and moving to 'M', at a count of twelve and have closed my lips. If I have unexpired breath at the count of sixteen, then I fully exhale as I finish the 'sixteen-second'.
('A' one-second, two-second three-second, 'AU' four second, five-second, six-second, 'U' seven-second, eight-second, nine-second, 'UM' ten-second, eleven-second, twelve-second, 'M' thirteen-second, fourteen-second, fifteen-second, and sixteen second - blow(to exhale all breath))
d)Lower Pause
Then, with my lungs empty, I pause for a count of four (one-second, two-second, three-second, four-second). As I reach the 'four-second' mark, I push out my diaphragm to initiate my in-breath.
I repeat this for seven cycles, trying to maintain concentration and controlling my mind. I find it best to count on my fingers, so I know where to restart after my mind has wandered. With each practice, the routine becomes more familiar.
Stage three - Auming with colour visualisation
This stage gives balance to our chakras, and gives a general tone up to our body. I AUM for seven cycles of seven. For each cycle I consider the next colour of the rainbow, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet. (Note: When I had never done colour visualisation before, then I needed to be able to picture in my mind some item which I could easily recall, which always appears with the chosen colour ,e.g. the red hat, the oranges at the market stall, the yellow buttercup, the green lawn, the blue light on top of a car, indigo (imagine), the violet flower(or pansy, or your favourite violet coloured item).
ROYGBIV
With regular practice and complete concentration, I was able to complete the full spectrum of the rainbow, with no mistakes. This is a wonderful meditation, and helps to tune up the powers of concentration, which calms the mind. The time taken is about half an hour. This half hour calms our minds, and removes thoughts of pain. It takes practice and will-power to complete the cycle, but on completion, a radiance, and sense of satisfaction is experienced.
Stage three - Auming with colour visualisation
For those musically inclined, the final step is to incorporate the seven notes of the scale, as follows.
While envisaging red, I sing the note doh, but still pronouncing 'AUM'.
While envisaging orange, I sing the note ray.
While envisaging yellow, I sing the note me.
While envisaging green, I sing the note fah.
While envisaging blue, I sing the note soh.
While envisaging indigo, I sing the note lah.
While envisaging violet, I sing the note tee.
And one final enhancement is the use of mudras.
see: http://www.eclecticenergies.com/chakras/open.php
You will also find an excellent explanation of the seven chakras here, and how to open each one.
(Updated for public use December 2019)