AUM magazine was first published August 27th, 1965 in Brooklyn, NY. Sub-titled "A monthly journal of spiritual philosophy and Yoga" The editor's preface mentioned:
"AUM is a monthly journal devoted exclusively to the spiritual writings of Chinmoy Kumar Ghose. It will deal with the spiritual life and its problems from the point of view of Indian philosophy and yoga.
AUM is intended to help aspirants of the West in their search for a true inner life by acquainting them with the realisations of a seeker of the Supreme." (AUM Dec 1965)
AUM magazine was published, just 16 months after Sri Chinmoy arrived in the West (April 13th 1964), whilst Sri Chinmoy still worked at the Indian Consulate. The publication of AUM magazine was a significant moment in Sri Chinmoy's manifestation in the West.
Over the next 16 years, there would be 149 editions of the magazine, finishing in February 1981. AUM magazine would often be the first place Sri Chinmoy's talks, question and answers, stories and poems were published. Later books often used AUM magazines as a source of material.
On November 10th 1965, the President of India, Dr. Radhakrishnan, sent a letter praising the first issue of AUM Magazine. Sri Chinmoy remembers this as a very significant moment, writing many years later in "My Consulate Years" he wrote
"Nowadays we talk about manifestation at every second, but my dearest friend Mr. Ramamoorthy started it in September 1965. He sent a copy of the first AUM Magazine to Dr. Radhakrishnan, the President of India, and he received a very nice reply from Dr. Radhakrishnan praising the magazine." (My Consulate Years)
The first article, in the first edition was entitled "AUM"
AUM is the soundless sound. It is the vibration of the Supreme. When one hears the soundless sound within, when one identifies oneself with it, when one lives within it, one can be freed from the fetters of ignorance and realise the Supreme within and without. (continue reading)
During interview in Puerto Rico
[On that table is a display of the magazine that Sri Chinmoy is publishing. It is his way of spreading the Truth. When we finish here, you have the opportunity of looking at it and deciding if you are interested.]
What is the name of your magazine?
Sri Chinmoy: The name is AUM. You know A represents Brahma, the Creator, U represents Vishnu, the Preserver, M represent Lord Siva, the Destroyer. So what happens is that when we say AUM, we are invoking the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. I beg to be excused, but in my philosophy, I feel that there is no destruction. It is all transformation. As a matter of fact, we can’t destroy anything. First we create something, then we preserve it. Then what do we do? Transform the thing. So: Creation, Preservation and Transformation. Brahma is the Creator, Vishnu is the Preserver and Shiva is the Transformer. If it is destruction, who is destroying whom? God only transforms us. In our creation, we enter into ignorance and we do many things wrong. For that He has to transform us and again take us back into His bosom of infinite Light.
Sri Chinmoy, Earth’s Cry Meets Heaven’s Smile, part 3, Aum Press, Puerto Rico, 1978