I decided to celebrate the May Full Moon by attending a Yoga in Daily Life session, thinking it was a regular yoga class. To my pleasant surprise, it turned out to be a yogic meditation centered around chanting Aum 108 times

Chanting Aum, also known as Om, is a significant aspect of ancient yogic and meditative traditions. It holds deep spiritual meaning and is considered a sacred syllable or mantra that symbolizes the essence of the universe and the supreme reality.

The number 108 is considered highly symbolic in many spiritual traditions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It carries profound spiritual connotations and is believed to represent the entirety of existence. There are several explanations for its significance.

Firstly, 108 is a product of 1, 2, and 3, representing the divine trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva—the creator, preserver, and destroyer respectively. In astronomy and astrology, interesting cosmic relationships are associated with this number. For instance, the distance between the Earth and the Sun is roughly 108 times the Sun’s diameter. Similarly, the Moon’s diameter is believed to be about 108 times its distance from Earth. These celestial connections have led to the association of 108 with the cosmic bodies and their influence on our consciousness.

In yogic philosophy, it is believed that there are 108 energy channels, or nadis, converging to form the heart chakra. Chanting Aum 108 times is believed to cleanse and balance these energy centers, enabling a deeper state of meditation and fostering spiritual growth.

Chanting Aum is a form of mantra meditation that helps calm the mind, focus our awareness, and establish a connection with the universal consciousness.

It’s worth noting that different yogic traditions may have variations in their practices and interpretations. The Yoga in Daily Life session I attended emphasised chanting Aum 108 times as a means of meditation and energetic alignment during the Full Moon.

After the 108th Aum, we chanted Aum Shanti which means Universal Peace. Derived from Sanskrit, “shanti” translates to “peace” in English. Chanting “Aum Shanti” at the conclusion of a meditation or spiritual practice is a way to invoke and cultivate a state of inner and outer peace.

The syllable “Aum” represents the universal sound and encompasses the essence of all existence. By combining it with “shanti,” the intention is to bring about a state of tranquility, harmony, and inner calm. It is a gentle reminder to seek and embody peace in our thoughts, actions, and interactions with the world.