Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Book I · 28 of 51 · tr. Charles Johnston
Sutra 28
Let there be soundless repetition of OM and meditation thereon. This has many meanings, in ascending degrees. There is, first, the potency of the word itself, as of all words. Then there is the manifold significance of the symbol, as suggested above. Lastly, there is the spiritual realization of the high essences thus symbolized. Thus we rise step by step to the Eternal.
§ Ask Guru about this passage →Themes
Inner Silencepraxis
The practice of stilling the mind and speech to open receptivity to divine knowledge or presence.
The instruction for soundless repetition emphasizes stilling the mind and speech to open receptivity to divine knowledge.
All passages →Meditationpraxis
Disciplined inward attention — sitting, focused, or open-awareness practice — as a stand-alone term that umbrellas active_contemplation, inner_silence, and dhyana-style sitting.
The passage centrally instructs 'soundless repetition of OM and meditation thereon' as the primary practice.
All passages →Sacred Namestheology
Divine names or formulas that carry ontological power, used in prayer, liturgy, or magical practice.
Reassigned from gnosis_direct_knowledge
All passages →Spiritual Ascentpraxis
A staged journey of the soul upward through heavenly realms or levels of being toward the divine source.
The text explicitly describes a 'step by step' progression from word potency to symbol significance to spiritual realization of the Eternal.
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