Prashnopanishad. Written by Pippalda.

Satyakama, son of Sibi asked what world will a being attain, who meditates on Aum throughout his life.

Pippalda answered:
Aum is both the higher and lower Brahman. He who meditates on Aum, will surely attain one of them. He, who meditates on Aum with a shallow understanding will gain a semblance of enlightenment. The Rik verses will bear him back quickly to be reborn on this earth. If he then continues to observe austerities, celibacy and faith, he will achieve spiritual greatness.

Explanation

The Rik verses explain how different levels of meditation lead to different destinations. Specifically meditating on a single letter (Matra) is said to lead to the human world guided by the Rik verses. The practitioner can then achieve greatness through austerity, chastity and faith. The text also contains a Rik verse to describe the relationship between the moon, the sun and the universe.

An individual, who meditates on Aum with greater understanding gains great illumination, and after death is transported to the sky by the Yajus verses. He enjoys the magnificence of the lunar world before returning to this earth.

When meditating on AUM, the Upanishad describes the effect of meditating on the different letters of Aum.

• One measure (A) leads to the world of humans.
• Two measures (AU) leads to the Yajus mantras to the Antariksha (mid region, the world of the moon). Then after enjoying the greatness, they return to the world of men.
• Three measures (AUM) leads the meditator to the supreme being (Brahman) in the sun, guided by the Sama mantras.

Therefore, the individual, who meditates on the supreme Purusha with the help of AUM is united with the life-giving Sun. Just as the snake sheds his skin, so will his sins melt away and the Sama hymns will transport him to the world of Brahma. He will then become aware of Purusha abiding in all hearts.

Self-realized in AUM

There are three sounds in AUM and the individual who understands these three sounds (waking, dreaming and deep sleep), remains enthralled in the rebirth cycle. He becomes aware and self-realized in AUM and its totality and rises above it.

Lastly the enlightened one knows that the world is attained by the Rik verses, the lunar world by the Yaju verses and the world of Brahman by the Sama verses. The wise one can attain the three worlds through AUM alone.

Dear ones, the lesson is that through sacred power of AUM meditation one can realize the spiritual path leading to the ultimate reality. Then one becomes fearless, deathless and attains the immortal state.

Extracted from The Nine Principal Upanishads, from the teachings of Swami Satyananda Saraswati.

Aim Hrim Klim