Mindful Monday: So Hum meditation

A popular mantra meditation

So Hum is one of my favorite mantra meditations, I prefer to use it at the beginning and the end of my yoga classes because it tunes you into your breath. It is the sounds you make when you inhale & exhale but has a deep meaning as well

The simple, yet profound, So Hum Meditation technique is probably one of the most popular Mantra Meditations.  It emerges from the Yoga school of Hindu Philosophy and belongs in the category of Japa Meditations (Meditations that require the chanting of Mantras). 

The So Hum (aka So Ham, Soham, or Sohum) Mantra Meditation, done sincerely, is very effective in bringing about a complete transformation of individual consciousness.  So Hum literally means “I am That” (So = “That” or “Thou” or “Divinity”; Hum = “I am”) and the mantra aims to bring about this union (yoga) between your individual consciousness and Divine Consciousness.  Another way to interpret this purpose is that the meditation brings about the realization that all that you see is yourself — The Observer is the Observed.

---

Benefits of So Hum Mantra Meditation Technique:

Primary Benefits: 

• Realization of your Divine Nature.

• Realization of the non-dual Nature of Reality.

• Stress Reduction, Relaxation, Peace and Tranquility.

• Spontaneous Joy and Happiness.

Secondary Benefits: 

• Promotes Self-Healing.

• Builds mental focus and concentration.

So Hum Mantra Meditation Technique Tips:

• Another way to practice the So Hum Mantra Meditation is to visualize life, light, and Divine energy flowing into you when you inhale and mentally say “Soooooo” and to feel your ego-centric limited consciousness flow out and evaporate into the atmosphere as you exhale and mentally say “Hum”.  This variation is also consistent with the meaning of the Mantra.

• At you develop this practice increase the exhalation phase such that it grows to about two times the inhalation phase.

---

An audio recording of a So Hum Meditation ( for paid subscribers)