Analysis and benefits of chant-less Sohum/Humsa mantra meditation

Abstract

The meaning of Sohum is “I am He” or “I am ‘That’ ”. What is ‘That’? ‘That’ means Brahman, the Universal Soul, God Almighty Himself. The inhalation of breath makes the subtle sound of ‘So’, and the exhalation of breath makes the subtle sound of ‘Hum’, hence ‘Sohum’. This mantra is the natural inhalation and the exhalation of the breath, happening in every human being and in all other living creatures with different frequencies. We just have to sit still and pay our attention to this breathing process within us. Humsa mantra is just reverse of the Sohum mantra. To do the Humsa meditation, as you inhale, breathe in “Hum” and as you exhale breathe out “So”. Sohum/Humsa mantra is Ajapa-Japa. What does it mean? When any mantra or any other word is uttered repeatedly audibly or even with a whispering sound, it is called japa (chanting); when it is just thought mentally from the heart, it is called ajapa (without chanting or chant-less). Sohum/Humsa is thus ajapa-japa, the most natural, the most effortless and hence the most effective mantra to take us to the pilgrimage of enlightenment. There are innumerable benefits to sadhakas of this ajapa-japa mantra, which will be explained in this paper.