According to Osho, Om was chosen because a sign was needed that carries no fixed meaning—pointing beyond mind and language to the seventh plane. Formed from the root sounds A‑U‑M, it’s rendered as a pictorial glyph (not letters) whose three parts mirror those phonemes. In thought‑free awareness (the fourth body), their natural confluence is heard as Om, an inner primordial resonance.
Om is a sound made of A, U, and M, shown as a picture so no one fixes a meaning to it, and when your thoughts fall silent you can sense it inside.
From the Discourses
Passages where Osho speaks to this question — each links to the complete discourse.
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…
What are the distinctive characteristics of aum for which it has been chosen to represent the seventh plane?
Now as I said before, each word has a pattern of its own. When we use a certain word a particular pattern forms within the mind. If someone meditates on aum, when it resounds on the fourth plane the corresponding picture will begin to manifest within. This is how all seed mantras were discovered. When the resonance of a particular chakra is caught by a meditator in meditation, the seed mantra of that chakra is revealed. This is how these seed mantras have been formed, and aum is the ultimate seed. It is not the seed of any particular chakra; rather, it is the symbol of the seventh which is the infinite or the eternal. So in this way the word aum was hit upon. And when it tallied with the experiences of thousands of seekers who gave it their approval, this word was accepted. It did not come into…
Osho, yesterday you spoke a little about Om in reference to the seventh body. In that context, a small question is: which chakras are affected by the vibrations of A, U, and M, and how might they be used by a seeker? What is the relation of these chakric effects to the seventh chakra?
Even so, my constant view remains that Om is to be used only as a symbol, not as a practice. Other devices can be found for practice. Such a sacred word as Om should not be profaned by using it as a means. Therefore many misunderstand me. Many people come to me and say, “If we chant Om, why do you forbid it?” Perhaps it seems to them that I am an enemy of Om. But I know that they are the enemies; because such a supremely sacred word should not be used as a means. In truth, it is not a word meant to be spoken by our tongue. In truth, it is not to be uttered by our body. It begins where the tongue loses meaning and the body becomes useless; there is its resonance. And we do not make that resonance—it happens; it is known; it is…
And the second question is: Krishna says that if, in the form of Om, you see me, know me, live me, recognize me, then in the final moment you will attain me. So is this the word Om or not?
No one in the compound will keep their eyes open. Fold both hands, take a resolve! With the Lord as witness, I resolve that I will put my whole energy into the meditation. With the Lord as witness, I resolve that I will put my whole energy into the meditation. With the Lord as witness, I resolve that I will put my whole energy into the meditation. Keep the memory of your resolve; the Lord surely keeps the memory of your resolve. Now for ten minutes, while sitting, take intense breaths. In this, energy will rise very strongly—more strongly than even when standing... Energy will rise; give the shock of breath... electricity will start running inside the body... electricity will begin to be produced within the body... breathe strongly... if the body begins to tremble, let it tremble; if it starts swaying, let it sway; if it starts shaking, let…
In the context of the seventh body, you talked about aum yesterday. There is still a small question on the same subject. Which chakras do a, u and m influence, and how is this helpful to the meditator?
The greater possibility with chantings and mantras is that your mind with its tendency to dream will at once, by its very mechanical process, fall into dreaming. But if you are fully awake and witnessing inside, observing the sound of aum without merging into it, without losing yourself in it, then it could do the same work as repeating "Who am I?" -- which I advocate. Now if you ask "Who am I?" in a sleepy state and are not a witness, the same error can take place here and you will merely be dreaming. But the possibility of this happening with "Who am I?" is less than with the repetition of aum, and there is a reason for it. With aum there is no question asked; it is only a gentle touch. With "Who am I?" there is a question, not a mere pat. There is a question mark…