<p>There is no OM or AUM in Theravada to my knowledge. It's found only in Mahayana and Vajrayana.</p>

<p>The 14th Dalai Lama explained <a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/tib/omph.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a> the meaning of OM in "OM MANI PADME HUM" as:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The first, OM, is composed of three pure letters, A, U, and M. These
  symbolize the practitioner's impure body, speech, and mind; they also
  symbolize the pure exalted body, speech and mind of a Buddha.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-22T00:35:38.083Z
In Thailand, although the majority of Buddhists there are Theravada, there are many verse invocations or 'thai kathas' for various protective verses, amulets and occult practices which adopts the 'Om' as its beginning or in the middle mixed with verses from the Pali Suttas.
https://www.buddhismwithoutboundaries.com/archive/index.php/t-1114.html

Hence atleast in thai theravada, I could find very prevalent usage of Om. So your assumption is wrong in thai theravada. But I do not know about Srilankan brand of theravada though.
zaxebo1
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-22T06:27:24.257Z
@zaxebo1 OM is a Hindu thing. In Sri Lanka we are usually clear about what is Buddhist and what is Hindu. Even in Thailand, I doubt if OM is used by any serious Theravada monk.
Sankha Kulathantille
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-21T02:00:49.287Z
@zaxebo1 I am a thai. I confirm that om/aum is **not** theravāda. There is no pali-grammar support to  om/aum.
Bonn
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-21T23:16:09.970Z
2018-03-21T23:16:09.970Z
ruben2020
<p>Many buddhist mantras have Om/Aum in starting of it. In buddhism, esp. theravada, what is the meaning and "significance" of "Om"?</p>

<p>(note:although I am open to mahayana,vajrayana interpretations too as an "additional" input)</p>

<theravada><vajrayana><mantra>
Om - meaning and "significance" of it in Buddhism - esp. in theravada?
# Om - meaning and "significance" of it in Buddhism - esp. in theravada?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-03-21)

Many buddhist mantras have Om/Aum in starting of it. In buddhism, esp. theravada, what is the meaning and "significance" of "Om"?

(note:although I am open to mahayana,vajrayana interpretations too as an "additional" input)

**Tags:** theravada, vajrayana, mantra


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-03-21. Score: 2

There is no OM or AUM in Theravada to my knowledge. It's found only in Mahayana and Vajrayana.

The 14th Dalai Lama explained [here](http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/tib/omph.htm) the meaning of OM in "OM MANI PADME HUM" as:

> The first, OM, is composed of three pure letters, A, U, and M. These
> symbolize the practitioner's impure body, speech, and mind; they also
> symbolize the pure exalted body, speech and mind of a Buddha.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: In Thailand, although the majority of Buddhists there are Theravada, there are many verse invocations or 'thai kathas' for various protective verses, amulets and occult practices which adopts the 'Om' as its beginning or in the middle mixed with verses from the Pali Suttas. https://www.buddhismwithoutboundaries.com/archive/index.php/t-1114.html  Hence atleast in thai theravada, I could find very prevalent usage of Om. So your assumption is wrong in thai theravada. But I do not know about Srilankan brand of theravada though.  
> **username_2**: @username_0 OM is a Hindu thing. In Sri Lanka we are usually clear about what is Buddhist and what is Hindu. Even in Thailand, I doubt if OM is used by any serious Theravada monk.  
> **username_3**: @username_0 I am a thai. I confirm that om/aum is **not** theravāda. There is no pali-grammar support to  om/aum.  

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