The power of this sacred chant may just lie in the silence after the AUM

First there was AUM. It has been said that the sound of AUM (or OM as it is often written) was the initiation of the Universe. In Hindu and other Eastern spiritual traditions, AUM is the embodiment of the cycle of creation. It is actually a four part sound, complex and rich with symbolism and spirituality. 

AUM is as eternal and enveloping as the universe. It is a sound as vast as it is concise, linking the vibration of sound in the material world to  human consciousness and to the very root of all existence. When chanted during persistent and deep meditative practice, the sound of AUM can have transformational effects on both the mind and the body. 

From a purely physical perspective, chanting AUM produces an autonomic nervous system response of parasympathetic activation. This sort of activation is associated with deeply relaxed states. Electroencephalogram or EEG studies have revealed that meditative practice accompanied by repetitive chanting of AUM causes a shift in brain wave activity from active and alert Beta waves to the more relaxed Alpha or Theta waves associated with calm, focus and relaxation. 

Generating the structured vocalization of AUM is a physical practice that regulates breath, creates a resonating vibration throughout the chest, vocal tract, and face and focuses awareness on the internal world. For many, this chant is a prescription to counteract the depleting effects of stress and anxiety on the body. By producing this chant you are creating measurable, physiological vibrations. These vibrations are generated by the coordinated interaction of breath, vocal cords and the nervous system. Once air moves through the larynx the sound waves generated will travel outward and into the environment where they will be perceived by others. Thus an impulse that is generated from within is made manifest in another person and a small connection is formed. 

Traditionally, AUM is articulated in four distinct parts. A-U-M-and the silence after the AUM. Each of these parts is imbued with sacred significance and physiological relevance. 

That first “Ah” sound is preceded by a deliberate and deep inhalation. This Ah sound represents initiation and grounding and it is the embodiment of the first phase of our waking state. With that first utterance of Ah we recall the very beginning of experience and existence. It is a connection to all other bodies that have uttered this chant before us. 

From a purely physiological perspective, uttering the initial Ah requires a fuller than normal inhalation. It is an open vowel sound that is activated in the abdomen and back of the throat and comes alive in the chest. This portion of the sound is what establishes our intention in the chant and anchors our focus to within the body. 

Gradually, the chant progresses to the “U” or “Oo” sound. This phase of the chant is an expression of both transition from one state to another and continuity between states. The U sound is a flow representing an elevation from earthly concerns to an ethereal dimension. In spiritual traditions the U sound represents the state of dreaming while asleep. 

Physiologically, that Ah sound generated at the back of the throat moves forward into the oral cavity. A sustained U sound requires a slow and controlled exhalation of breath. In producing this deliberate Oo sound the vagus nerve is activated and the parasympathetic nervous system shifts the body into a more relaxed state. Prolonged exhalation is an effective way to slow heart and respiratory rates and calm the body. Mentally, this U sound directs our attention to the present moment. 

The next phase of the chant comes as the lips close and the M or Mmm sound is produced. This closing motion contains the sound within the body and manifests an inward awareness that evokes a state of deep sleep where there is no wanting, no dreaming and no suffering. In Vedic texts this phase of the AUM chant is said to represent dissolution of the earthly realm and preparation for unity with the Universal Life Force. In closing our lips and uttering the Mm sound, we are embodying the culmination of the cycle of life. 

Physically the sound Mm requires a closed mouth humming action. This produces vibration in the palate, throat and skull. Some researchers assert that this expels nitric oxide from the sinuses and enhances vagus nerve stimulation. This humming also produces profound sensory feedback to the brain which has the effect of deepening awareness and grounding attention to the present moment. 

The final stage of the AUM chant is that beautiful, resonating silence that unfolds after the sound is complete. Within that silence there is a sense of wholeness, made more profound by the sounds that preceded it. This silence is a realization of pure consciousness, stillness and unity. Basking in this silence shifts the purpose of the chant from actively doing to silently observing. It cultivates awareness of oneness with the universal truth. This phase symbolizes a mental state that is beyond waking, dreaming and deep sleep. It is an essential phase of stillness. 

To exist in the moment of stillness, the body is required to pause after prolonged exhalation. This allows the nervous system time to settle and integrate input from the body about this relaxed state. The quiet stillness is an exercise in interoceptive awareness, of experiencing the world within. From a yoga teaching perspective this silent space gives students a moment for observation rather than production. It is letting the fertile soil of the mind lie dormant in preparation for what is to come. 

This silent space is the rarest of all gems in a highly stimulating, chaotic world. It is a glimpse into the world beyond the veil of our capacity to perceive with our five human senses. In this quiet we connect with our purpose, our Dharma. That is the power of the silence after the AUM. That is the point of it all.