Acharya Prashant explains that the word 'Om' is neither a mere cultural indicator nor inherently divine in itself; rather, it is a method or a tool. Like any instrument, its effectiveness depends entirely on the user's intention and desire for liberation. He emphasizes that chanting 'Om' throughout one's life is futile if there is no genuine intent to understand or seek freedom. Before using this method, one must examine their mind to see if they truly desire something beyond worldly pleasures or are simply passing time. For those who seek, 'Om' serves as a constant reminder of the reality of the world and the nature of consciousness. The speaker describes 'Om' as a technology representing the different levels of consciousness. The sounds 'A', 'U', and 'M' symbolize the waking state, the dreaming state, and the state of deep sleep, respectively. The silence that follows the chant represents 'Turiya', the fourth state which is the foundation of the other three. Acharya Prashant points out that most people live in the waking state ('A'), identifying strongly with the material world and believing that happiness lies in worldly objects. 'Om' is meant for those who wish to understand these states and eventually transcend them. He warns that for someone who still finds pleasure in ignorance, 'Om' is useless because true understanding dissolves such superficial pleasures. Finally, Acharya Prashant clarifies that 'Om' is a symbol of our consciousness and everything that happens within the mind. It should not be treated as a moral obligation or a casual habit, as doing so is an insult to the method. One should engage with 'Om' only if there is a sincere desire to understand oneself and a will to become free from that which has been understood. Without the intent to be liberated from the understood world, repetitive chanting yields no results.
