Hello,
In deep meditation, doing repetitions of mantra…
When it comes to the mantra AYAM,
Is it valid enough to pronounce it like: AY - EYE YAM - EM as in saying the letter “M”? like HAM
And about the Mantra OM/AUM, I noticed that many pronounce it in a different way like:
AUM - Emphases on the AU as in ROOM, and the m is just nasal. here is an audio: http://upload.wikime…9/94/Om_pro.ogg
OM - as in the word “Report”
Which is correct?
Not talking about the long chanting version of this mantra like:
AAHHHHH - UUUUUUUU - MMMMMMM
Thanks…
Hi Ichigo
I would just say the mantra in a way that is the most easiest for you.
AYAM is said slightly differently with my ‘spiffing’ British accent to the American accent. If I tried to say AYAM the American way I would find it awkward.
With regards to OM I just say it OM. Like you would say ‘an’ or ‘in’. Short - no hanging on to the M or anything else. As you go deeper into your session the mantra will change slightly anyway. Just go with it.
I don’t think you need to look into so much detail about the pronunciation. Just say it in a way that comes naturally to you, and above all else is easy!
Maybe I’m wrong with what I have just said, but it’s been working for me. Maybe someone else will give their opinion.
All the best!
Hi Ichigo,
If you want the Sanskrit pronunciation, then AYAM is AY like the English I (first person singular), and AM like the English word am. OM is the same as Om in Omlet.
As Woosa says, it will change anyway as you use it and it becomes more subtle, so it is really no big deal.
Christi
When I say OM…sounds like hOMe…just makes sense to me…
…don’t really think it matters though…different individuals resonate to different sounds/religions/foods…etc
Hehehe we’ve created some work for ourselves here.
I’m trying to think of words that have OM in them that would sound the same with American/Canadian/British accent. But I’m pretty stuck. OMinous !?
I would swear in frustration, but I’d better not. Instead I will put a and !@?*
(I think this is the reason that Yogani didn’t go into details about the pronunciation)
Just found this site http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=om
Move your cursor over OM and it is pronounced both ways (by a man who sounds like he has a cold). If you click on it it goes all crazy and turns into a techno remix.
Hi Woosa,
That site is really useful because it gives the correct pronunciation of omlet: http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=omlet
I couldn’t make the techno remix thing work.
Hi all,
Just to elaborate a little on the pronunciation of the word Om, it is a Sanskrit mantra which is also the sound of the creation of the universe. It is often referred to as Omkara, or Aumkara, the syllable of Om.
In deep states of meditation the sound can be heard emanating from everywhere in the universe as creation is happening. It is a continuous sound, without end which sounds like a thousand people all chanting Om at the same time. This is why there are sometimes disputes as to how the mantra is to be pronounced, some saying that it has one syllable, others saying it has three: A-U-M.
As a continuous sound it cannot have either three syllables or one, so the dispute can never be resolved.
The Sanskrit in this youtube video is fine and Om is the first word: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0IaCbOUXWI&feature=fvst
This one really does take off into a techno remix (well, nearly) - the future of yoga.
Christi
Hi,
i write from Italy, i started today my practice. I read some topics abaout pronunciation, i understand it’s not very important, but still if i say I Am like in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCGpbBt7vx0
I feel and see the two words separate and more “masculine”.
If instead i use this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njGnVWnU5Ws&feature=related
It’s more like one word and i feel it more “famale”, more relaxing.
The first one is the english I AM? the secondo one the Sanskrit AYAM?
Should i see and feel I and Am separate?
Thank, Grazie^^
Go with what feels natural now and be open to let it change as you keep going. It will change a lot over time.
And it’s OK to think about all this after practices, but try not to analyze how the mantra sounds during your practice…allow the mantra to lead you… not you lead the mantra. http://www.aypsite.org/355.html
Q2 (2nd practitioner): The mantra disappears during practice for sure, but it is the refining of the mantra that I think I may be lacking. Is the refining a process of clear mental pronunciation to a more subtle sound? Is it like going from a low note to a high note?
A2: Yes, during deep meditation the mantra naturally goes from clear pronunciation to subtle sound in the mind. It is not a matter of pitch (high or low), but degree of clarity. Pitch can be anything, whether the mantra is clear or fuzzy. This is not something we can regulate. We can only allow it. “Letting” versus “controlling.” Then this creeps out into our daily living, making life more harmonious and fluid. We may or may not notice effects in our daily life right away, but they are there. Not to fret much over it. Just let it happen. The more we are able to allow that natural refinement during deep meditation, the more we will be able to allow it in daily living. It is the habit of rising inner silence. There is a direct relationship.
In deep meditation practice, disappearing mantra is good. Then when we realize we have gone off the mantra, we ease back to it. We may be experiencing thoughts very clearly in the mind. In that case, the mantra will be a clear pronunciation. Or we may be very floaty and fuzzy. In that case, we ease back to the mantra in that mode of floaty fuzziness. Or we may be in stillness, barely aware we have gone off the mantra. In that case we favor the mantra as stillness itself. That last one may seem to be a paradox – favoring something in nothing. But that is what it is. This is all we have to do – come back to the mantra wherever we are, rather than forcing pronunciation to be somewhere else, either clearer or fuzzier. Letting it go will usually lead to more fuzziness, but not always. Purification occurring in the nervous system can lead anywhere. We just allow whatever happens, and ride it wherever it goes, easing back to the mantra wherever we find ourselves. Nothing more for us to do.
Thank you Shanti,
ok, i’ll go with what i feel more natural^^
anyway, can you tell me if in the first video is the english pronunciation of I am? because in italy we read letters in a different way, so i was curious^^ and even if i can write in english i never speak it
Yes… the first one sounds good…it was powerful - though don’t get used to listening to it (not saying you will, but this is for others who may be reading along)… else you will find yourself singing the mantra like that in meditation as well… we want to let the mantra change over time… so we don’t sing or chant “i am”.
Also check this:
Say I Am You by Jalaluddin Rumi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_m7TRvUhnQ
and
Desire (Rumi): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m4dxur_DPg (around time stamp 1:11, 2:28, 3:03, etc…)
Hi again^^
one more question: i find my breath sincronyzed with the mantra, and because of the repetition, the breath is fast and superficial. What i should do? I would prefere profound breath, keeping the the mantra repetition short (without saying “IIIIIII…” “AMMMMMM…”, fast and separete. It will change with time? Btw i dont pay attention to the breath, simple sometimes i notice it, and find it sincronyzed.
Thank you
Rinaldo
… and when you do… just favor the mantra.
The idea is to no consciously do "i’ in breath "am’ out breath… so any time you become aware of it, favor the mantra. http://www.aypsite.org/106.html
If the mantra follows the breath, we don’t favor or push the breath out. We just follow the procedure of easily favoring the mantra on whatever level of stillness we are at in the mind. Then we will be going to more stillness and purifying the entire nervous system from deep within with the rise of pure bliss consciousness.
and !@?*
