Hindus only: Meditation with Om or Aum

[sheru]

I am about to start meditation for mental peace ,clarity and focus. I don't know where to start with. I am more of a scientific approach person rather than bhakti or devotion. (Will this work)?
I tried to start with OM meditation and after watching many videos I am confused between it's correct pronounciation. Sadhguru says it's AAAUUUMMM whereas Swami Sarvapriyananda says it's OM. Now where to go?
Are there any other kind of meditations which can help me develop focus and get peace?
As far as devotion is concerned I just believe that it is just a way to tackle with randomness of life. No matter how good a person is anything bad can happen with them also. Devotion is something which keeps us sane in these moments.
Kindly guide me which meditation is best for me. Is yoga also meditation?

 

[sayak83]

I am about to start meditation for mental peace ,clarity and focus. I don't know where to start with. I am more of a scientific approach person rather than bhakti or devotion. (Will this work)?
I tried to start with OM meditation and after watching many videos I am confused between it's correct pronounciation. Sadhguru says it's AAAUUUMMM whereas Swami Sarvapriyananda says it's OM. Now where to go?
Are there any other kind of meditations which can help me develop focus and get peace?
As far as devotion is concerned I just believe that it is just a way to tackle with randomness of life. No matter how good a person is anything bad can happen with them also. Devotion is something which keeps us sane in these moments.
Kindly guide me which meditation is best for me. Is yoga also meditation?

If you are just starting, it's better to start with a audio or video that is repeating Aum/Om constantly that you can use to guide your meditative concentration. Neither spelling gives the proper pronunciation. So just go with what the audio is like and use it.
If by yoga, you mean the various poses, then no it is not meditation. They are meant to keep the body flexible and healthy so that long duration meditation without movement can be done without adverse physical effects. But you will start with 10-15 minute meditation at most. So do not worry about that.

 

[sheru]

If going by pronounciation what is the right pronounciation then AAAUUUMMM or OM?
Let's say I am a beginner or just think of myself as your beloved child. What would you tell me for meditation.
Which is the meditation that I can perform easily? For how much time should I perform that?
Is bhakti bhaav important for meditation?

 

[SalixIncendium]

I am about to start meditation for mental peace ,clarity and focus. I don't know where to start with. I am more of a scientific approach person rather than bhakti or devotion. (Will this work)?

Absolutely. There are many who practice meditation who are not bhakti or devotees. Bhakti and devotion are not required for effective meditation.

I tried to start with OM meditation and after watching many videos I am confused between it's correct pronounciation. Sadhguru says it's AAAUUUMMM whereas Swami Sarvapriyananda says it's OM. Now where to go?

I wouldn't concern myself too much about the spelling. As @sayak83 alluded, there is no English spelling that accurately represents ॐ. As far as pronunciation goes, there are varying opinions. Based on my experiences in chanting the sound, the pronunciation falls somewhere between what the two you mention...probably a bit closer to Swami Sarvapriyananda's pronunciation. But I'm probably wrong, too. . What is useful is recognizing that there are three distinct sounds in ॐ. An association I found useful is the first sound which is 'uh' (similar to the 'u' sound in 'up') representing the waking state, 'oo' (as in 'tool') representing the dream state, and 'm' (like the Campbell's Soup commercial) representing the deep sleep state. So uh-oo-mm. Personally, I think Sadhguru exaggerates the sounds to show the distinction of these sounds.

Are there any other kind of meditations which can help me develop focus and get peace?

There are some apps that have guided meditations that can be quite useful to the beginner. I've used a few on Insight Timer in the past, but there are others as well.

Is yoga also meditation?

In the west, as has been mentioned, people use the term 'yoga' in reference to the practice of hatha yoga, which are various poses. Yoga, in Hinduism, simply refers to a practice or a path, as in the three main yogas of Hinduism: bhakti (devotion), karma (action), and jnana (knowledge).

 

[sheru]

I tried Insights Timer but there is so much of content over there which is so confusing.
Can you guide me with your own wisdom.
Is there any method which I can practise at any time of the day?
I am more concerned with effectiveness. Just name the best 3 types of meditation.
I tried naam Japa in the past but couldn't keep up with it due to some moral conflicts. Now I think Karma yoga is better.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I tried Insights Timer but there is so much of content over there which is so confusing.
Can you guide me with your own wisdom.
Is there any method which I can practise at any time of the day?
I am more concerned with effectiveness. Just name the best 3 types of meditation.
I tried naam Japa in the past but couldn't keep up with it due to some moral conflicts. Now I think Karma yoga is better.

When it comes to what meditation is effective, meditation is not a one-size-fits-all. What is effective for me might not be effective for you. No one here can rattle off the 3 best types of meditation, because it varies from person to person. I would suggest you experiment with different guided meditations and use the one that speaks to you.

You've expressed interest in ॐ meditation. There are several on Insight Timer:

Insight Timer - #1 Free Meditation App for Sleep, Relax & More

insighttimer.com

It's also important to note that most people in the beginning can't just sit down and enter a meditative state. For most, it takes years of practice. Slow down, take your time, and experiment with different guided meditations...or just sit and be.

As for time of day, I don't think it's really that important. What's more important in the beginning is site and setting. Whatever time of day where you can be alone in a quiet setting and take 10-20 minutes to yourself.

Personally I meditate each day for 30 minutes during brahmamuhurta.

 

[sayak83]

If going by pronounciation what is the right pronounciation then AAAUUUMMM or OM?
Let's say I am a beginner or just think of myself as your beloved child. What would you tell me for meditation.
Which is the meditation that I can perform easily? For how much time should I perform that?
Is bhakti bhaav important for meditation?

Try this one. Looks good. (You tube video)

 

[Martin]

I am about to start meditation for mental peace ,clarity and focus. I don't know where to start with. I am more of a scientific approach person rather than bhakti or devotion. (Will this work)?
I tried to start with OM meditation and after watching many videos I am confused between it's correct pronounciation. Sadhguru says it's AAAUUUMMM whereas Swami Sarvapriyananda says it's OM. Now where to go?
Are there any other kind of meditations which can help me develop focus and get peace?
As far as devotion is concerned I just believe that it is just a way to tackle with randomness of life. No matter how good a person is anything bad can happen with them also. Devotion is something which keeps us sane in these moments.
Kindly guide me which meditation is best for me. Is yoga also meditation?

When I chant it sounds more like "Aum" than "Om". I think the important thing with japa is to be fully present, and connect with the sound (assuming you are doing it out loud).

 

[Vinayaka]

I am about to start meditation for mental peace ,clarity and focus. I don't know where to start with. I am more of a scientific approach person rather than bhakti or devotion. (Will this work)?
I tried to start with OM meditation and after watching many videos I am confused between it's correct pronounciation. Sadhguru says it's AAAUUUMMM whereas Swami Sarvapriyananda says it's OM. Now where to go?
Are there any other kind of meditations which can help me develop focus and get peace?
As far as devotion is concerned I just believe that it is just a way to tackle with randomness of life. No matter how good a person is anything bad can happen with them also. Devotion is something which keeps us sane in these moments.
Kindly guide me which meditation is best for me. Is yoga also meditation?

Welcome to the vast world of Sanatana Dharma. Adventure awaits you. As to the AUM versus OM, my Guru taught that it was actually AAAA UUUUU MMMM , but when blended all together it sounds like OM, most especially when you say it quickly. A long extracted AUM will let you see the 3 components separately. A key is to touch your teeth together with the MMM part so that it vibrates the entire cranium, stimulating the inner brain, and the consequent results.

Meditation itself has many takes. The term has expanded into many variations, and now includes several practices that were previously understood as something else.

Yoga, as well, has several meanings, from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, to the descriptions of 4 varying and somewhat separate ideas that Vivekananda made, and was later popularized.

Bottom line is you get to decide what works for you. It's vast. I wish you luck in finding what works for you. Aum Namasivaya

 

[Vinayaka]

When I chant it sounds more like "Aum" than "Om". I think the important thing with japa is to be fully present, and connect with the sound (assuming you are doing it out loud).

On cannot underestimate the 'fully present' bit, and it applies to all kinds of areas of life.