Om liberates us at the time of death

India’s most sacred text The Bhagavad Gita teaches us “Having confined the mind in the heart and…engaged in the practice of concentration, uttering the one-syllabled Om–the Brahman–and remembering Me, he who departs, leaving the body, attains to the Supreme Goal.” “If he meditates on the Supreme Being with the Syllable Om, he becomes one with the Light, the Sun. He is led to the world of Brahman.” (Prashna Upanishad)

Om Yoga – Its Theory and Practice: Om liberates us at the time of death

by Swami Nirmalananda Giri

Om liberates us at the time of death

“At the time of departure from this world, remember Om.” (Yajur Veda 40:15)

“Then Satyakama, son of Shibi, asked him [the Rishi Pippalada]: ‘Venerable Sir, what world does he who meditates on Om until the end of his life, win by That?’ To him, he said: ‘If he meditates on the Supreme Being [Parampurusha] with the Syllable Om, he becomes one with the Light, the Sun. He is led to the world of Brahman. He sees the Person that dwells in the body, Who is higher than the highest life. …That the wise one attains, even by the mere sound Om as support, That Which is tranquil, unaging, immortal, fearless, and supreme.” (Prashna Upanishad 5:1,5,7)

“Having confined the mind in the heart and…engaged in the practice of concentration, uttering the one-syllabled Om–the Brahman–and remembering Me, he who departs, leaving the body, attains to the Supreme Goal.” (Bhagavad Gita 8:12-14)

“The soul, when it departs from the body, goes upward by meditating on the Self with the help of Om as he did while living.” (Shankara, Commentary on the Chandogya Upanishad)

Om delivers us from rebirth (samsara)

“Om is the Supreme Brahman…. The knowers of Brahman by knowing what is therein [in the all-containing Om] become merged in Brahman, intent thereon [i.e., on Om] and freed from birth.” (Svetasvatara Upanishad 1:7)

“The knower of the real nature of Brahman that is identical with the Pranava, should cross all the formidable streams [of samsara] with the ferryboat of the Pranava.” (Svetasvatara Upanishad 2:8)

“By means of the boat of Om that is Brahman one crosses over [samsara, the ocean of birth and death]. The idea is that by controlling the senses through Om the enlightened person should cross over the currents of the river of transmigration with the help of that Om.” (Shankara, Commentary on the Svetasvatara Upanishad)

Source: http://www.atmajyoti.org/pdfs/om_yoga_book.pdf

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Tags: Bhagavad Gita, Brahman, Chandogya Upanishad, death, OM, samsara, Shankara, sun, Svetasvatara Upanishad, Upanishad