The Philosophy of Omkāra and the Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa; Ajourney

Abstract

This work seeks to explore the profound and often overlooked connection between two monumental pillars of Hindu spiritual thought. On one hand stands Omkāra, the sacred monosyllable, a cornerstone of vedic and upanisadic philosophy, particularly as expounded in the māṇdūkya upaniṣad. Om represents not merely a sound, but the entirety of existence, consciousness, and the ultimate reality, brahman. On the other hand is the teaching of Sri Ramakrishna paramahamsa 19 th  century mystic and saint whose life embodied the practical synthesis of diverse spiritual paths.The journey undertaken here is a cultural and philosophical one, aiming to trace how ancient, abstract truths find resonance and a new life in the modern era through the lived experiences and simple, yet profound, teachings of the spiritual master. In a time when Indian philosophies were being overshadowed by western thought, as noted in the introduction, figures like Sri Ramakrishna paramahamsa and his disciple Swāmi Vivekanānda played a crucial role in revitalizing these traditions.  This paper argues that Sri Ramakrishna`s teachings serve as a practical commentary on the highly symbolic and metaphysical concepts of the upaniṣad.