What this mantra is
Om is treated as the seed sound of speech and awareness. It is chanted not as a request but as a way of resting attention in one continuous sound.
How to practise
- Sit comfortably with the spine easy and the jaw unclenched.
- Take one natural breath, then chant a long, soft "oṃ" on the exhale.
- Let the sound fade before the next inhale arrives; never force the tail of the sound.
- Continue for a comfortable count, then sit quietly and listen to the silence that follows.
Notes
- Volume does not matter. A whisper or a silent mental repetition counts fully.
- If the throat tires, switch to mental repetition (manasika japa).
Cautions
- Stop if the throat becomes sore or the breath feels short.
- Chant seated or still, never while driving, swimming or operating equipment.
Practise gently
Shoonyaka offers educational wellbeing guidance, not medical advice or treatment. Practise seated or lying safely, never while driving, in water, or operating equipment. Stop immediately and return to natural breathing if you feel dizzy, faint, breathless, numb, panicked, painful, or unwell. If you are pregnant, under 18, have a heart, blood-pressure, neurological or respiratory condition, or are recovering from illness or surgery, seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional before breath retention or unfamiliar breathwork.