Japa Meditation Technique Explained In Japa meditation, there are 3 types of ways in which we repeat the mantra.
1. Vaikhari Japa- Reciting the mantra out loud. This is what you’d witness in chanting or singing (Kirtan). 2. Upamsu Japa- Whispering or humming the mantra. 3. Manasika Japa- Silently remembering the mantra. This the most powerful way, keying our thoughts in on the mantra and letting it reverberate throughout our consciousness. In traditional practice, the beginner would start with Vaikhari Japa; working their way down to more subtle tones, until the mantra becomes silent in their mind. What makes Japa original to other mantra style meditations is its use of mala beads (Japa Malas). You may have seen people from India and other Asian countries dawning these beads on necklaces and bracelets, which at first glance appear to be part of religious or cultural garb. While that could be true, the main purpose of mala beads lies in their utility: to aid in meditation and prayer. Lately, science has been keen on studying meditation. Meanwhile, the verdict’s been out, with documentation that goes back thousands of years. This meditation practice is not an exception: a cornerstone across religious and spiritual traditions; pre-dating modern science and offering up an abundance of mental, physical, and spiritual benefits. Below are some of the reasons why Japa is the ideal meditation practice for meditators at any skill level. • Easy to do- Japa is not a technical meditation. We simply count beads and recite a mantra. There is no wrong way of doing Japa and you can’t mess it up. • Can be practiced anywhere- You can always do Japa informally, on the fly. If you have a mantra, you can practice Japa anywhere. • Reduces stress and calms our mind- Through a combination of breathing, transcending our thoughts, and the sound vibrations of mantra; we train our minds and bodies to be peaceful and calm. • Creates positive emotion- It fosters feelings of positivity including love, happiness, compassion, gratitude, and kindness. • Increased concentration- In meditation we train our brains to focus. It’s like working out a muscle. In this meditation practice, we focus our attention on multiple levels, making Japa one of the most effective practices for concentration. • Builds discipline- By taking up a regular daily practice we train ourselves in discipline. This discipline spills over into the other areas of our life. Knowingly or not, we are cultivating discipline through meditation. • Purifies Heart and Mind- By focusing on a mantra, we push out our negative thoughts and feelings – allowing the divine qualities of our sacred mantra to take over and consume us. • Connects us to our “Higher Self”- By withdrawing our external sense perceptions and turning within to focus on the mantra, we transcend our minds and connect to the deepest aspects of ourselves. Now that we know a little bit about Japa meditation, you may be wondering about the mantras that we use in practice. It’s good to know the meaning of the mantras that we recite, but it’s also important to keep in mind that while reciting them that it’s not the actual meaning that we dwell on, rather the sounds (or vibrations) that the words themselves create. It’s good to know the meaning of the mantras that we recite, but it’s also important to keep in mind that while reciting them that it’s not the actual meaning that we dwell on, rather Aum (Om)- While this mantra has its roots in Hinduism and Yogic traditions, it is chanted by many across the board. Known as the sound of the universe, “Om” is said to be the frequency that is within everything throughout nature.The Aum (Om) mantra is perfect for connecting to this cosmic energy–both internally and externally–to everything and everyone throughout space and time. The “Great Mantra” is a call to connect with and to channel God’s universal energy. • Om Namah Shivaya- With this mantra, we are bowing (“Namah”) and paying respects to Shiva, who represents aligning with our “true Self”, or “Shivaya”. This mantra is said to dissolve the ego and to bring us closer to realization. TIBETAN BUDDSHISM • Om Mani Padme Hum- This mantra has become popular with spiritual practitioners in the west and is also the most widely used mantra in Tibetan Buddhism. Adherents to Buddhism in Tibet chant this mantra to invoke feelings of compassion and blessings. It is believed that the “Om Mani Padme Hum” antra contains in it all the teachings of The Buddha.In breaking down this mantra word-for-word we can see why.“Sa”= birth, “Ta”= life, “Na”= death and transformation, and “Ma”= rebirth. • Om Gum Shreem Maha Lakshmiyei Namaha- A Hindu mantra that calls upon Lakshmi to remove obstacles to wealth, prosperity, and abundance. • Rinharta Ganapati Mantra- This mantra is also known as “The Giver of Wealth Mantra”. Ganapati, also known as Ganesh (Lord Ganesha, the elephant deity) is believed to remove obstacles (both spiritual and physical) that are blocking us from success, wealth, and blessings. The mantra is recited as such: “Om Ganesh Rinam Chindi Varenyam Hoong Namah Phutt”. Once we have gotten ourselves a set of mala beads, we’re ready, to begin with the practice. We practice Japa by withdrawing from external sensory stimuli, going within, and focusing on our chosen mantra. Keep in mind that with Japa there are no concrete rules. These are only instructions to serve as guides to help ensure that we receive the highest benefit from our practice. 1. Find a comfortable place to sit. If available. The wonderful thing about Japa is that it can be practiced anywhere. Ideally, you are going to want to be comfortable so that you can focus on your mantra and not anything else. Sit cross legged with back erect. Concentrate on the awareness of your breath. We do our breath concentration for as long as we feel necessary. 2. Recite your manta. At first, we do this out loud until the mantra becomes softer and then silent in our minds.It is understandable if your environment doesn’t support you in chanting loudly. If you’d like, you can begin with saying the mantra quietly and softly. 3. Count mala beads. We begin at one side of the guru bead (the largest bead), and with either our thumb or our middle finger (depending on which school you ask), we work our way around the mala heading clockwise. It’s important not to pass the guru bead. Instead, if we wish to practice more Japa, we flip the mala around with our fingers making our way back around; touching each bead as we repeat our mantra. We can do this as many times as we please. There is no such thing as too much or too little Japa. Japa meditation is a time-tested effective way to receive the benefits from a serious meditation practice with relative ease. It’s loved by beginners because of its reliance on an external object that keeps us focused – and advanced meditators alike, due to the depths that the practice can take us. This meditation technique is both a great starting point and an ending point. I highly recommend it to anybody considering meditation. KR IRS 25624 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZooj0zHwiLmCePSxC%2BPWdq81VoLOFpAVn4Sd45Yhoog7mA%40mail.gmail.com.
