According to Osho, rishis uphold Omkar because it is the anahata—the unstruck, ever-present sound that constitutes the very fabric of the cosmos. Omkar is not produced by chanting; it is discovered by becoming utterly silent and hearing the inner resonance already flowing within. Sages support it as the direct doorway to the source of consciousness, where bliss, beauty, truth—the divine—are realized.
Because Omkar is the natural inner hum of existence; you don’t make it by chanting—you hear it when you become truly quiet.
From the Discourses
Passages where Osho speaks to this question — each links to the complete discourse.
Om is the fundamental sound of Sanskrit. In Om, all the sounds of Sanskrit are included. Om is made of A, U, and M—the joining of three sounds: A, U, M. These are the three primal vowels; the rest of language is born from them. All words are then constructed of these. Om is the root; A, U, M are its three branches; and from these three branches the whole web of sound and the birth of all words happens. The Jews would call Om the Logos; Christians would call it the Word. This sutra concerns this Om. Understand this sutra well. For those who would enter within can very easily do so with the support of this sound—because it is resonating within. Every moment this sound is echoing inside. This sound is your very life-breath. If this sound disappears within, you disappear.
Osho, why was Om chosen as a symbol? What are its special features?
There are two reasons Om was chosen. First, the search was for a word that has no meaning, to which you cannot attach meaning; because if you do, it falls on this side of the fifth. A word was needed that, in one sense, is meaningless. Or say: beyond meaning. Both are the same. All our words are meaningful. We coin words precisely so they bear meaning. If there is no meaning, what need is there for a word? We make words to speak, and the purpose of speaking is that I may convey something to you; when I speak, there should be a hint of meaning for you. When people returned from the seventh—or went to the seventh—they felt: whatever word we make, if it carries meaning, it will immediately fall before the fifth body. The dictionary will write out its meaning; people will read and think they have…
Osho, you opposed Omkar; this hurt the mind. Please explain why the rishis and sages have always supported Omkar?
Who opposed Omkar? I did? You are here, yet not present. You hear me, yet you ruminate your own notions. I said that nothing will happen by chanting Om-Om, and you concluded I was against Omkar! I said, “Don’t chant Om-Om,” precisely because the one who chants Om-Om will never have Omkar arise within. I am a partisan of Omkar—that is why I said it. Now this is the difficulty. Neither Muslims will understand me nor Hindus. I am a partisan of Muhammad; that is why I opposed the Kaaba. And I am a partisan of Omkar; that is why I opposed the chanting of Om. But when will you understand? Will you understand or not? When you chant Om-Om you are imposing Om-Om upon yourself from the surface mind. You do not know that within you a continuous stream of Omkar is already flowing. It has to be heard,…
Omkar means the basic reality — the fundamental truth that abides forever. Upon it forms rise and fall, aggregates are made and scattered, organizations stand and collapse — but it remains. It simply remains. The sound of that which remains forever, the music of that — its name is Omkar. It is the ultimate of human experience. It is the supreme experience. Therefore do not think that by sitting and chanting Om, Om you will come to know Omkar. The Om you utter is only an utterance. It is a sound produced by you. Hence gradually the lips must be closed — do not use the lips. Then chant Om within without lips. But even that is not the real Omkar. For still inner muscles and bones are being used. They too must be left. Do not even chant in the mind.
Verse (Sanskrit): सबदै बंध्या सब रहै, सबदै सब ही जाय। सबदै ही सब उपजै, सबदै सबै समाय।। दादू सबदै ही सचु पाइए, सबदै ही संतोष। सबदै ही स्थिर भया, सबदै ही भागा सोक।। दादू सबदै ही मुक्ता भया, सबदै समझै प्राण। सबदै ही सूझै सबै, सबदै सुरझै जाण।। पहली किया आप थैं उतपत्ती ओंकार। ओंकार थैं उपजैं, पंच तत्त आकार।। दादू सबद बाण गुरु साध के, दूरि दिसंतर जाइ। जेहि लागै सो ऊबरै, सूते लिए जगाइ।। सबद सरोवर सूभर भरया, हरिजल निर्मल नीर। दादू पीवै प्रीति सौं, तिनकै अखिल सरीर।। Transliteration: sabadai baṃdhyā saba rahai, sabadai saba hī jāya| sabadai hī saba upajai, sabadai sabai samāya|| dādū sabadai hī sacu pāie, sabadai hī saṃtoṣa| sabadai hī sthira bhayā, sabadai hī bhāgā soka|| dādū sabadai hī muktā bhayā, sabadai samajhai prāṇa| sabadai hī sūjhai sabai, sabadai surajhai jāṇa|| pahalī kiyā āpa thaiṃ utapattī oṃkāra| oṃkāra thaiṃ upajaiṃ, paṃca tatta ākāra|| dādū…