Mandukya Upanishad
Mandukya Upanishad
Oṁ. May we hear what is auspicious with our ears, Deities. May we see what is auspicious with our eyes, Revered Ones. May we enjoy a long life, allotted by the gods, while singing their praises.Oṁ. Peace; peace; peace.
The word “Oṁ” is all this. The explanation of that statement is this: clearly, everything in the past, present, and future is the syllable Oṁ; and whatever else is beyond those three periods is also, clearly, the syllable Oṁ.
The first quarter is the universal consciousness (vaiśvānara) the wakeful state of external perception having seven limbs and nineteen mouths that enjoy gross objects.
The second quarter is the bright (taijasa) the dream state of inner perception having seven limbs and nineteen mouths that enjoy subtle objects.
The third quarter is consciousness (prājña) deep sleep, where there are no objects to desire nor any dreams to see. In the sleep state experience is only one thick mass of consciousness, full of bliss and truly enjoying bliss. It is the gateway to knowledge.
This is the Lord of all. This is All-knowing. This is the controller within. This is the source of all and, surely, That which is the beginning and end of all living beings.
It is not the knower of the inner (dream state) nor the outer (wakeful state) nor the knower of both; it is not a mass of consciousness and it is not conscious or unconscious. It is the One Self, the essence of consciousness, unseen, unassociated, inconceivable, incomprehensible, indescribable, and without characteristics. It is the cessation of phenomena, peaceful, blissful, and non-dual. That is known as the fourth state and That is to be realized.
The Self is described in quarters and the syllable Oṁ is described in letters. The quarters represent the aspects (of the Self) and the letters (of Oṁ) represent the quarters. The letters are: “A,” “U,” and “M.”
The letter “A” is the wakeful state of universal consciousness (vaiśvānara). It is the premier aspect due to its being pervasive or from being the first.
The letter “U” is the bright dream state (taijasa). It is the second aspect due to its being elevated or from being in the middle. Whoever knows AUM in this manner, his knowledge increases continuously, he attains equanimity, and all in his family become knowers of Brahman.
The letter “M” is the state of deep sleep, the consciousness (prājña). It is the third aspect due to its being the measure or from becoming one. Whoever knows AUM in this manner, also measures all this and becomes one with Brahman.