The Greatest Mantra: Soham Meditation

Everyone knows the opening verses of the Bible, telling us that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. But science tells us that in the beginning there actually were no words, and people and animals didn't even exist yet. So if the Word existed in the beginning, even before mankind existed, what was that Word? This mystery has been a source of scholarly and religious debate for centuries, but the answer has always been close at hand. The answer is Soham.

Soham is a type of meditation that is known as the "Mahamantra," or the Greatest Mantra. Alongside Ohm, Soham is considered to be one of the most powerful meditation techniques ever used. Soham was the first of all meditations, both in the history of man and in our own lives today. Ancient cavemen, before inventing fire or language, would sit in dark caves with nothing to focus on except the sound of their own breathing and their heartbeats.

By the same token, the first sound children hear, even when they are in their mother's womb, is the sound of her breathing. This sound lives with each person since drawing their very first breath. Breathing completely negates the need for anyone to rely on words, languages, or chants of any kind in order to have a mantra to focus on. This is the essence of Soham. It transcends worldly limitations or requirements, because it is always there. This mantra is a great gift, because it exists in reality, in the present, and it can be done even while working, while driving, while doing any act of daily life. Thereby it offers an ongoing, continuous experience for meditating while still being in the present, in the here and now.

In the Bible, in the verse telling where God was asked what His name is, God's response was "I am that I am." The most ancient language, Sanskrit, gives the name "So" to the sound of inhaling breath, and the term assigned to exhaling is "Ham." Those two terms together form "Soham," which is translated to be "I am He." So, in essence, when you are engaging in the Soham meditation technique, you are actually calling on God. With each breath you take, you are praying and showing your adoration for God.

The Soham meditation begins in the same way most meditations begin. Go to the place where you are the most comfortable, and arrange your body in the position that you have determined to be the most successful for meditating. Cose your eyes and close your ears either by using earplugs of putting your fingers in your ears. Shutting off your outside hearing ability will intensify the sound of your breathing, as well as reducing the distractions of outside noises. Focus on making your mind silent, keeping your emotions still, and keeping your body relaxed. Simply focus on the sound of each inhalation and associate it in your mind with the word "So." Listen to your exhalations, and with each one associate it with the word "Ham." Listen to the word "Soham" as you breathe in and out (one complete respiration), and continue this meditation for 12 respirations.

For beginners of the Soham meditation, it may be useful to say the word "So" silently with every inhalation, and say "Ham" silently with every exhalation. After you have become totally focused on your meditations, you will slip into simply saying "Soham" with every breath inward and outward. No matter how you have lived your life or reacted to outward situations, with each cleansing breath you are forgiven for your sins and given the reward of still another breath, another beat of your heart, and another moment of your life to cherish. The gift of life is given from a power greater than ourselves, and our breath comes from that power, not from our own actions. Every living creature has a healing energy that fills every cell with each breath, and the Soham meditation gives you the power to stop the world and pay attention that healing power filling your body.

Soham is available to all living creatures without demanding any effort at all, yet it is the most deep, spiritual meditation possible because it gives you the chance to meditate, undistracted, on the great mystery of life and the nature of the giver of life. As you become more and more adept at merging yourself with Soham, you will be able to surrender your reactions to thoughts, emotions, impressions from the outside world, and all earthbound limitations that cause only suffering. The energy of Soham is a divine, limitless love and light from Heaven. Witness the light, surrender all earthly effort and struggle, and fill your mind and soul with the most precious gift from the creator, the gift of grace.