Deeper Meanings – The Buddhist Symbol of Om

Posted on Jul 22, 2009 in parallels


There is a small but growing number of Filipinos that believe that the symbols of the baybayin writing system have deeper meanings. It is not uncommon for letters, pictographs and symbols to have deep hidden meanings—even magical power, for cultures around the world have rich histories and stories connected to symbols, letters and written words. Other countries and cultures too have symbols and writing systems that were multi-dimensional, that is, their writing systems in application could not only be read as words and every day messages or chronicles, but also could convey that meanings that were profound, sacred or even used as divination. Norse, Druidic, Tibetan, Hindu and Hebrew many other samples will be shared at this website. For more examples go to Parallels.
 
Example 1
The Buddhist Symbol of Om
Om
The hindus believe that Om or Aum is the most sacred sound and that it’s symbol is sacred too.

Hindus Buddhists believe that Om mystically embodies the essence of the entire universe. Indian philosophical beliefs are that God first created sound and then the universe arose from it. Om is the most sacred sound, the first sound uttered by God, and thus the root of the universe and everything that exists and it continues to hold everything together.
The syllable is discussed in a number of the ancient Upanishads, which are the texts of philosophical speculation, the oldest of which date to the late Brahmana period (middle of the first millennium BCE).

page 18. The Body, Mind, Spirit Miscellany: The Ultimate Collection of Fascinations, Facts, Truths, and Insights. by Jane Alexander

The symbol of AUM consists of three curves. one semicircle (5), and a dot (4).
The large lower curve 1 symbolizes the waking state (jagrat), in this state the consciousness is turned outwards through the gates of the senses. The larger size signifies that this is the most common (‘majority’) state of the human consciousness. The upper curve 3 denotes the state of deep sleep (sushupti) or the unconscious state. This is a state where the sleeper desires nothing nor beholds any dream.
The middle curve 2 (which lies between deep sleep and the waking state) signifies the dream state (swapna). In this state the consciousness of the individual is turned inwards, and the dreaming self beholds an enthralling view of the world behind the lids of the eyes.”
(Source: ReligionFacts.com http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/symbols/aum.htm)

For more examples go to Parallels.

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