Presence
The Ancient Secret of the Swan
By Kosi
The swan is the famous symbol of Advaita Vedanta (non-dual) teachings. It represents gliding through samsara, the great ocean of suffering, untouched by the ever-changing drama of life as the one presence contained within form and free of all form. The swan also represents the seed letters of OM or a-u-m as described in the ancient text of the Nadbindu Upanishad. The sound of the seed letters correlate to four states of consciousness (a) awakened state, (u) dream state, (m) deep sleep, and the ardha-matra or the formless still silence of the Self or omniscience. The sound of these seed letters is an invisible frequency of light that acts like a laser beam that burns through the illusion of the reflective consciousness of your ego. It is the ancient and extremely potent practice of riding the silent sound of the swan supreme—the path of liberation. What is the secret of the swan? How does it relate to the sublime teaching of Ramana Maharshi?
No words accurately express the innate power of a-u-m. Whether sung silently or out loud the vibratory silence of these seed letters naturally directs your attention to the source of the sound—the vast silence of the Self. Ramana described this ancient teaching as pure devotion or the yogic practice of pranava, which simply means to focus on the source of a-u-m or the half-measure he described as ardha-matra—without element or form—the stateless formless state of Turiya in your heart. The seed letters correlate to the primary states of consciousness as well as the gross (a), subtle (u), and (m) causal bodies, which are veils of ignorance that hide the fourth state of consciousness or the state of Turiya and beyond or Turiyatita—pure bliss.
The mysterious power of a-u-m is described in the ancient text of the Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad, which is so potent that many believe it is the only sacred text necessary for liberation or moksha. The potency of the vibratory silence these letters generate is omnidirectional. In addition, to the four states of consciousness and the three bodies doctrine that describes the sheaths of ignorance or koshas—the gross, subtle, and causal bodies—it also represents past (a), present (u), and future (m) and is simultaneously transcendent of time and space. It opens your mind to the invisible realm of electromagnetism alive in your heart or the invisible light of silence that purifies the mind, body, and cuts through the grand illusion of the reflective nature of ego.
It is a mysterious force of nature described in the Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad as everything in the entire world. The innate power of a-u-m prevents the mind from following the flow of your consciousness through your five senses outward towards the circumstances unfolding in your life and re-directs your attention to the sublime happiness of the Turiya state in your heart. It is a radical shift in consciousness that develops your capacity to recognize the eternal witness of the heart as the one and only presence.
The swan supreme is a-u-m the silent voice of Arunachala Siva. It is the silent sound of Turiya that Ramana described as; maunakshra (silence syllable), ajapa (muttering without muttering) and the Advata-mantra which is the essence of all mantras. It is an energy that grabs the mind and pulls the sense and feeling of you into the vast void of samadhi—the state of supreme bliss. This devotional practice contains the power to destroy the illusion of mind and ego—the root of all suffering.
The secret of the swan is the sound of silence—the unmoving light of the Self. This silent sound is a frequency of light that unveils the vast indescribable stillness of the Self. It transcends time and space. The silent sound of a-u-m stops the mind and opens the inner eye of discernment revealing the one eternal reality alive in your heart.
Ramana says, “In order to get the true significance, one should meditate on pranava (meditation on omkara or a-u-m). This meditation is the nature of devotion consisting of reflection on the truth of the Self. The fruition of this process is samadhi which yields release—unsurpassed bliss.”
The devotional repetition of a-u-m opens your heart to the eternal light of Turiya. It is riding this swan supreme of silence that carries you through the illusion of you into the vast indescribable truth of you—bliss without end.
Ramana illuminates, “Import of AUM, unequalled, unsurpassed, who can understand you, O Arunachala.” AUM is Arunachala—the invisible presence that destroys all that is false.
No words exist for this stateless presence of invisible light—the mantra supreme.
The great secret of the Swan Supreme is AUM.
Tat Sat
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