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The goal which all the Vedas declare, which all austerities aim at, and which men desire when they lead the life of continence, I will tell you briefly: it is OM. This syllable OM is indeed Brahman. This syllable is the Highest. Whosoever knows this syllable obtains all that he desires. This is the best support; this is the highest support.
---- Katha Upanishad I, ii, 15-17
Om according to the Mandukya Upanishad is shown in the figure below.Fire is not perceived in its source, the fire-stick, till it is ignited by percussion.
The subtle essence of fire, nevertheless, is not absent in the stick; for fire can be
obtained from the source, the fire-stick, by striking again.. By meditating on the Pranava(OM), the Atman is perceived manifestly in the body, (but it was there in a latent state even before realization).Making one’s own body the lower piece of wood, and the Pranava the upper piece of wood, and practising churning in the form of meditation, one should realize
God as one would find out something hidden.
----Svetasvatara Upanishad
The Great name"Om" is the bow, the atman is the arrow, and the Brahman is said to be the mark. It is to be hit by a man whose thoughts are concentrated, for then he enters the target (atman merges with brahman).--Rudra Hridaya Upanishad
Yogis who focus on the breath will eventually hear the subtle whispering form of Om being produced deep within them with each breath. This is called ajapa japa(Ham-Sa) by the yogis-spontaneous, automatic japa that is innate in each of us. Since our soul is always breathing Om, by intoning Om we put ourselves in tune with the very wellspring of our existence, linking up with our inmost consciousness.The striking of the gong is like the falling of a heavy weight into a big ocean. Waves begin to rise: the Relative rises from the Absolute; the causal, subtle, and gross bodies appear out of the Great Cause; from Turiya emerge the states of deep sleep, dream, and waking. These waves arising from the Great Ocean merge again in the Great Ocean. From the Absolute to the Relative, and from the Relative to the Absolute.
----The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna
should we chant "OM" while exhaling or inhaling while in meditation?
It was held in the highest honor among the Hindus, and whoever beheld it floating in the air was struck with amazement, whether he was a Musulman or an infidel.
I like this one: