Stillness · “Stillness Reveals”
So Hum Mantra Meditation
Quiet the mind and rest in awareness by silently coordinating the mantra ‘So Hum’ with the breath, settling toward the silent gap between thoughts (the ‘field of pure potentiality’).
In 5 lines: Sit comfortably, eyes closed, and follow your natural breath. Silently think “So” on the inhale, “Hum” on the exhale. Repeat effortlessly; when you drift, gently return. Allow the mind to settle toward the silence between thoughts. Continue ~20 minutes, then rest before opening your eyes.
What it is
Deepak Chopra’s accessible mantra meditation. Sitting comfortably with eyes closed, you silently repeat the mantra “So” on the in-breath and “Hum” on the out-breath, letting the syllables ride the breath effortlessly.
“So Hum” is traditionally rendered “I am That” — an affirmation of unity with the whole. The practice settles the mind toward the silent space between thoughts, which Chopra (in the Law of Pure Potentiality) calls the field of pure potentiality / pure consciousness.
It is the entry-level form of his Primordial Sound Meditation, which otherwise assigns each practitioner a personalized Vedic mantra.
The Method
Chopra teaches So Hum across his books and Chopra Center courses:
- Sit comfortably and close the eyes. Settle into a comfortable seat, eyes closed, and take a few moments simply to be aware of the breath.
- Follow the natural breath. Don’t force or control it — just notice the easy, natural rhythm of breathing in and out.
- Add the mantra to the breath. On the slow inhale through the nose, silently think “So.” On the slow exhale through the nose, silently think “Hum.” “So” in, “Hum” out — a gentle, easy flow.
- Repeat it effortlessly. Let “So… Hum…” continue silently and without strain, coordinated with the breath, allowing the mind to relax into the phrase.
- Return gently when the mind wanders. When you notice you’ve drifted into thoughts, simply come back to the breath and the mantra — innocently, without judgement. Chopra teaches that even the drifting is part of the process.
- Allow the settling toward silence. As the practice deepens, the mantra may grow faint and you may rest in the quiet gaps between thoughts — the still field of awareness. Don’t chase it; allow it.
- Continue ~20–30 minutes, then rest. After the meditation period, stop repeating the mantra and sit quietly for 2–3 minutes with eyes closed before opening them. Ideally practice twice daily. (Sourcing note: short quoted phrases above are attributed to Chopra’s teaching. The numbered protocol is a faithful description of the consistently-taught So Hum method, not a reproduction of his books or course materials. The fully personalized Primordial Sound mantra is taught only through the Chopra Center course.)
Source & Lineage
Deepak Chopra (b. 1947) and David Simon co-founded the Chopra Center and adapted classical Vedic mantra meditation — historically transmitted through Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s TM, which Chopra taught earlier in his career — into Primordial Sound Meditation, with So Hum as the public, teachable form.
So Hum / Soham (“I am That”) is an ancient ajapa (spontaneous, breath-linked) mantra. This entry is distinct from the trademarked TM technique and from the generic japa entry; it is Chopra’s specific breath-coordinated So Hum practice.
Common refinements
Forcing the breath or the mantra. Effortlessness is the point. Let the breath be natural and the syllables light.
- Fighting thoughts. Drifting is expected; the practice is the gentle, repeated return — not a thought-free mind.
- Judging the session as “bad.” A “busy” sit still trains the return. There is no failing at it.
- Gripping for the silence / experiences. Chasing the gap pushes it away. Allow, don’t pursue.
- Too short or irregular. Benefits build with ~20 minutes and, ideally, a twice-daily habit.
- Skipping the settle at the end. The couple of minutes of quiet before opening the eyes helps the transition.