“Yoga forum” is a misnomer. Something that is to be experienced and self-realized cannot be discussed. We can discuss the process, the variables and input, to some extent. But, discussing the meaning and the result/ outcome is an open invitation to word-play and ‘six blind men’ syndrome. Ambition to win the game, makes it worse.
But until the enlightenment, we ARE ‘six blind men’ and have got to debate.
In my view, AUM does not have any (specific) meaning, because it is a sound, and not a word. Moreover it is a basic human sound and primordial. This has a special significance in Yoga framework. The five basic elements, the five senses and sense organs, the five sheaths that compose a being and three gunas, form a gross (physical) to subtle (spiritual) hierarchy in the Universe. This hierarchy, we are told, continuously expands when gross manifests from the subtle and continuously contracts when gross merges back into the subtle.
Thus, akash first manifests from the Universal Mind and then fire, air, water and earth emerge in succession making infinite objects through their permutations. Sense associated with akash is sound and it is understandable that when akash is born, it is with the most basic sound of AUM. But, sound is what is sensed, in reality it is a vibration.
This vibration is at an extremely high frequency that any grosser substance can’t sustain it. This gives AUM its manifold interpretations. Some prefer to recite it aloud with full force, while some prefer to listen to it intently, emanating from each atom of our body. Some prefer a repeated chanting, while some make that a silent target of deep meditation. And, I guess each one is valid in a way, such is the potency of AUM.
