Everything you want to know about Japa Yoga. What is the purpose? When should it be practiced? What are the pitfalls?
Is it an independent Path to Perfection?
Swami Chinmayananda says,
" Japa is a training by which the ever dancing rays of the mind
are compelled to behave in some order and rhythm, and
bring out of their cooperative effort, a single melody of
repeated mantra chanting ".
00:28
Japa is a pre mediation training to make the mind single
pointed. A japa conditioned mind, in a short period
of meditation, can take it to unimaginable heights in an
impossibly short time. Japa fixes the mind in a single
line of thinking. A name has a connection with a thought
form and vice versa. The principle of japa is a technique used
for enhancing this connection between the thought and name.
01:03
Japa is a means of developing bhakti, which is love for the Lord.
Continuous thought increases the love and attachment for the
Lord. Japa intensely performed or the name of the Lord repeated
again and again, develops bhakti. The supreme Reality is
experienced through meditation but the practice of devotion
is the means. Japa helps in meditation where mind is fixed in
one line of thought, to the exclusion of all other thoughts.
01:41
In a quiet place sit in front of the picture of your lord fixed at
height where the Lord's feet shall be in level of your eyes. Start
japa with a mala of 108 beads. Sitting is a comfortable place
slowly lift your gaze to the face of the Lord. Close your eyes
feel the presence of the lord within you. Repeat the name of
your lord with all the love you are capable of, turning one bead
with each chant and complete one round of 108 and then turn
back avoiding the use of the pointing finger. Do 20 malas.
02:27
A mantra is a word symbol representing a particular view of
the God. Different forms of worship are provided to suit the
needs of the different types of devotees at different stages.
While chanting, it is the feeling with which one chants which
is important than a mere rolling of the beads or repeated
muttering in the mouth. It is the ' mental chanting " with
emotion which brings the visualization of the Lord's form in
the heart.
03:05
During japa thought wanderings into unwanted fields have to
be avoided. The number of malas have to be increased slowly.
Mind has to be trained to withstand attack of temper or sleep.
Temper comes due to fatigue or suppression of tendencies.
Each one has to discover a rhythm and harmony for himself.
Attempt is always to keep mind in one line of thinking, till with
regularity and sincerity, through single pointed contemplation
meditation becomes natural.
03:44
For best results, guard the mind against all excesses and make
it immune to selfishness and passion. Japa activity should not
be muddled with profit motive, other wise there will be no spiritual
effulgence. It should be like a yagna. We have to surrender and
this will connect bhakti to jnana. You are to surrender your ego
to Narayana. With the help of OM, the symbol of the infinite, you are
lifted to the Perfect. This is the Supreme Sadhana - The Japa-yoga.