Adi Shankara said that if you can only study one Upanishad, it should be the Mandukya, which is fortunate because it happens to be the shortest and is devoted entirely to OM.

Adi Shankara said that if you can only study one Upanishad, it should be the Mandukya, which is fortunate because it happens to be the shortest and is devoted entirely to OM. It opens by declaring, "AUM, this syllable is this whole world, all past, present, future, and whatever exists beyond time is AUM.” In other words, everything that exists in manifest creation is contained within AUM. The Mandukya Upanishad then talks about four states of consciousness:

1-The “waking state,” where the senses are turned outward, is represented by the letter “A” and by knowing this, we become masters of our senses, leading to the fulfillment of all desires and the attainment of greatness.

2-The “dream state,” where the senses are directed inward, is represented by “U” and by knowing this we master our dreams, become established in wisdom, and everyone born into our family is more deeply Brahman (highly evolved).

“3-Deep sleep,” where consciousness enjoys peace with no perception of external or internal objects, is represented by the letter “M.” The Mandukya says that by knowing this we know all, and everything merges into ourselves. In his Yoga Sutras, Patanjali says that Mmmm is the name of God, and in Psalms it says, “God gives Truth to His beloved in sleep.”

4-The fourth state described in the Mandukya Upanishad is Turiya, which we know as Transcendental Consciousness, Atman, the soundless aspect of AUM, or the “gap” between thoughts. Turiya is represented by “AUM.” Though it is indivisible, it is the combination of three sounds. The Mandukya tells us that AUM is the very Self, beyond birth and death, the symbol of everlasting Joy. He who knows it as such, enters the Self with his self. Those who know the Truth become the Truth. ✨🕉🍃🌲💫🎨🙏🏻

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti ~ Hari Om Namah Shivaya! 🌀👁🌀
Shubh Prabhat 🕉🙏🕉