BENEFITS OF JAPA

Japa is a marvellous divine soap for the mind. Japa gives a nice refreshing, exhilarating spiritual bath. It wonderfully washes the subtle body or Linga Sarira or astral body. It cleanses it of its various kinds of impurities. Japa purifies the heart. Japa steadies the mind. It destroys the Shad Ripus. It destroys births and death. Japa burns the sins. Japa scorches the Samskaras. Japa annihilates attachment and induces Vairagya. Japa roots out all desires and makes one fearless. Japa removes delusion and gives supreme peace. Japa develops Prema and unites the devotee with the Lord. Japa gives health, wealth, strength and long life. Japa brings God-consciousness. Japa awakens Kundalini and bestows eternal bliss.

Santosha (contentment), Santi (peace of mind), balance of mind, inner spiritual strength, fearlessness, absence of irritability of mind are some of the signs of spiritual progress. These are the fruits of practice of Japa of any Mantra.


When Allopathy, Homeopathy, Chromopathy, Naturopathy, Ayurveda and other ‘pathies’ fail to cure a disease, the Divine Namapathy alone can save you. Name of the Lord is a sovereign specific, a sheet anchor, an infallible panacea and a cure-all for all diseases. It is an ideal or supreme ‘pick-me-up’ in gloom and despair, in depression and sorrow, in the daily battle or the struggle for existence.

Name of the Lord is the seed of the tree of spirituality. It is the destroyer of the impurities of
the mind. It bestows supreme peace, eternal Bliss and infinite Knowledge. It infuses divine love in the hearts of the reciters. It is the fountain-head of all happiness. May that Name, the giver of
Immortality, remove all your fears and bring solace and supreme joy to all!

Name of Sri Rama is sweeter than the sweetest of objects. It is a haven of peace. It is the very
life of pure souls. It is the purifier of all purifying agencies. It quenches the consuming fire of
worldly desires. It awakens the knowledge of God which is dormant in our hearts. It bathes the
aspirant in the ocean of divine bliss. Glory to Sri Rama and His Name!

The most heinous sins of men disappear immediately if they remember the Lord even for a
moment. (Vishnu Purana VI, 8-10).

There is a mysterious power in the Name. There is an inscrutable Sakti in God’s Name. All
the divine potencies are hidden in Lord’s Name. It is a cream or quintessence of Chyavanaprash,
Makaradhvaja, almonds, Vasantakusumakara or Svarna Bhasma or gold oxide. It is a mysterious ineffable divine injection ‘1910194’.

There is no true happiness for him or her here and hereafter who has forgotten the Lord.
There is no real peace for him who leads a selfish life and who separates himself from others on
account of pride and egoism. Constant remembrance of the Lord will eradicate all miseries and
sorrows and will confer immortality, bliss and peace on the devotee. Self-sacrifice will destroy
selfishness and egoism. Self-sacrifice is the only shortest route to divine union.

The divine Name will eradicate the disease of birth and death and bestow on you Moksha,
liberation or Immortality.

Name of the Lord is a potent unfailing antidote for those who are bitten by the serpent of
Samsara. It is a nectar (Amrita) that can confer Immortality and perennial peace. Yama is terribly afraid of those who repeat the Name of the Lord. He cannot approach them. Markandeya, son of Mrikandu, attained eternal life through repeating the Name of Lord Siva. He realised the Supreme and fearless state.

A Bhakta repeats the Mantra of the Lord during Puja, worship, and touches his heart, his
head, tuft of hair, arms and hands. There is Chaitanya in every letter of the Mantra. Through
repetition of the Mantra and touching the parts of the body with repetition of the parts of the Mantra, the aspirant is gradually divinised. There is spiritual awakening. Spiritual currents are generated. Tamas and Rajas are destroyed. He is filled with pure Sattva. He becomes identical with the object of worship. He attains the same world of, or proximity with, or the same form of or absorption into, the Lord.

MANTRAS FOR JAPA

In this iron age or the Kali Yuga, Name of the Lord is the support for a man to cross this
ocean of Samsara. There is an indescribable power (Achintya Sakti) in the Name. This Sakti takes man to the Lord.

Of the various kinds of penances, in the form of action or austerity, the constant
remembrance of Krishna is the best. (Vishnu Purana II-Chap. VI verses 134-135).

Those who meditate on the form of Lord Krishna may repeat mentally the Mantra: Om
Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya. Vasudeva is another name for Lord Krishna. It means:
“All-pervading intelligence.”

Bow down to Lord Narayana and utter the words ‘Jaya Narayana.’ Do mentally Japa of
“Om Namo Narayanaya.” Do eight lakhs of this sacred Mantra. This will form one Purascharana.
Then do Haven. Feed the Brahmins and the poor people. You will have wonderful spiritual
experiences.

Japa of OM and Mahavakyas such as ‘Aham Brahma Asmi’ will strengthen Vedantic
Samskaras, purify the Chitta and eventually lead to the attainment of knowledge of Self.

Every Mantra should be preceded by Pranava or OM.Omkara gives full life to the Mantra.

All Mantras have equal potency or Power. It is quite incorrect if you say one Mantra is
superior to another. You can attain God-realisation by doing Japa of any Mantra. Valmiki attained God-consciousness by repeating even Mara-Mara. Some people think that OM or Soham is superior to Om Namassivaya or Om Namo Narayanaya. This is also wrong. The state gained by doing Japa of OM or Soham can be attained by doing Japa of Sri Rama or Radheyshyam also.

Rama or OMis a veritable sword for destroying the Rakshas-mind. It is a true boat to cross
this vast ocean of Samsara. It is a strong weapon for conquering this world. It is a fire (Jnana-Agni or the fire of wisdom) to burn ignorance, this body, the Samskaras and the Vasanas. It is the incantation or Mantra for awakening the Soul. It is amagic band to soothe the shattering nerves. It is the “open sesame” to open the infinite realms of eternal Bliss and supreme peace. Hold this mysterious sword, break all links with the world and destroy the bonds of Karma and mind, annihilate ignorance, crush the tendencies and enter boldly the vast domain of illimitable joy and eternal sunshine.

JAPA YOGA...... Japa, The Easy Sadhana

Name and Nami are inseparable. Remember His Name. Chant His Name. Sing His Name.
Glory to His Name. Victory to His Name, which blesses us for ever and confers immortality,
supreme peace and eternal bliss.

Constant repetition of the Names of the Lord (Japa, Smarana) is an easy means for crossing the ocean of mortal Samsara or earthly existence. This is more suitable for the householders.

Meditation is different from Japa. Japa is the repetition of any Mantra. When the mind is
made to dwell on the form of your Ishta Devata as well as on the Divine attributes, such as
Omnipotence, Omniscience, etc., it is called meditation.

You should cultivate Bhakti or devotion if you want to attain success in Mantra Yoga.
Bhakti Yoga and Mantra Yoga are interblended. They are inseparable.

That man who does not repeat the Lord’s Name lives in vain. It is better to die than to live
without His Name.

He who does Japa of any Mantra must lead a virtuous life. Then he will realise the maximum
benefits of the Mantra.

Japa and Dhyana are more important than Asana and Pranayama.

You should not doubt the teachings of the scriptures. Flickering faith will lead to downfall.
Aman of weak will, who has no faith in Japa, cannot expect to have progress in the spiritual path. If he says: “I am practising ‘Who am I? enquiry,” this is all wild imagination. Few are fit for the ‘Who am I?’ enquiry.

Repeat any Mantra of a Devata you like best and feel its influence on the mind and the body
and its revelations. This is better than mere study of books. Books, doubtless, will help you and
throw much light. But what is wanted is real Sadhana or practice. Observance of Brahmacharya,
truthfulness, Ahimsa, right conduct, recourse to Sattvic diet are necessary during the practice.
There is rhythm in the repetition of a Mantra. Rhythm is metre. Rhythm is flowing motion.
Rhythm is harmony of pronunciation and proportion. Rhythm is recurrence of accents. This rhythm causes harmony in the practitioner. The hypnotic rhythm of Mantra repetition causes stillness in the mind.

If you feel very weak, you can stop the practice of Asanas for some time. But Japa should be
continued at all times. It is a mental and physical tonic, besides a purifier and giver of Moksha.

Karmas have to be purged out. An eager aspirant gets all sorts of diseases, because he is hurrying up for union with the Lord. Many evil Karmas have to be exhausted or worked out. Aspirants should be absolutely fearless. Disease is a messenger from God. Disease is a guest of this house, body. Diseases are tests to try the sincerity of the aspirant. Seekers after Truth should have unshakable, unflinching, unswerving faith at all times, in all conditions of life. They should not be discouraged. Regular study of the Ramayana, Japa with Dhyana, morning and evening walks, should be regularly practised.

Kamal got a severe scolding from his father Kabir for prescribing Ram Nam for a merchant,
to be repeated twice for curing leprosy. Kamal asked the merchant to repeat Ram Nam twice and yet he was not cured of this disease. Kamal reported to his father about the incident. Kabir was very much annoyed and told Kamal: “You have brought disgrace on my family by asking the merchant to repeat Ram Nam twice. Repetition of Ram Nam once is quite sufficient. Now ask the merchant to stand in the Ganga and repeat Ram Nam once from the bottom of the heart.” Kamal followed the instructions of his father.

The merchant repeated Ram Nam once only with Bhava from the bottom of his heart. He
was completely cured of leprosy. Kabir sent Kamal to Tulasidas. Tulasidas wrote Ram Nam on a
Tulasi leaf and sprinkled the juice over 500 lepers. All were cured. Kamal was quite astonished.
Then Kabir sent Kamal to bring the corpse that was floating in the river. Sur Das repeated Ram Nam only once in one ear of the corpse, and it came back to life. Kamal’s heart was filled with awe and wonder. Such is the power of God’s Name. My dear friends, my educated college youths, my dear barristers, professors, doctors and judges! Repeat the name of the Lord with Bhava and Prema from the bottom of your heart and realise supreme bliss and immortality this very second.

Benefits of Meditation

God is immanent in this world. He has hidden Himself and is seated in the cavity of the lotus of your heart. You will have to seek Him through concentration and meditation with a pure mind. This is a real play of hide-and-seek. If you do not practise meditation, the supreme splendour and unrivalled glories of Atma will remain hidden from you. The wise cut asunder the knot of egoism by that sharp sword of constant meditation. Then dawns the supreme Knowledge of the Self, and the full inner Illumination, Self-realisation. Meditation is the only real, royal road to attain godhead - the only road which takes the aspirant direct to the destination of divine consciousness. Meditation is the pathway to Divinity. It is a mysterious ladder which reaches from darkness to Light, from ignorance to Knowledge from pain to Bliss, from restlessness to Peace, from mortality to Immortality.

The more you meditate, the more the spiritual strength you will have wherein you are cleansed of impurities. Be silent. You will be very close to the source, the Atman. Know thy Self. Know That. Melt the mind in That. The Divine energy freely flows from the feet of the Lord to the hearts of sadhakas. This is the action of Grace of the Lord upon the soul in meditation. In that inflowing Grace, there forthwith arises that light. You will enjoy the waves of Bliss and Peace. You will develop a new mode of thinking and acting, and a new view of the universe as God in manifestation.

Meditation acts as a powerful tonic. The holy vibrations penetrate all the cells of the body and cure diseases of the body through the powerful soothing waves that arise during the meditation exercise. Just as you require food for the body, so also you require food for the soul in the shape of prayers, japa, kirtan, meditation, etc. If you are not regular in your japa and meditation, the subtle body will become weak, and your power of resisting the evil thoughts, vasanas and samskaras will be less. Meditation develops strong and pure thoughts and increases sattvic qualities. When the mind becomes pure, it attains the state of steadiness and becomes one-pointed.

Meditation gives peculiar spiritual ananda (bliss), peace, contentment, fearlessness, an unruffled state of the mind in worldly difficulties, steadiness, inspiration, intuitive perception, sattvic qualities, and absence of anger, egoism and raga-dwesha (likes and dislikes). Those who practise concentration can do any work with scientific accuracy and great efficiency. It purifies and calms the surging emotions, strengthens the thought current and clarifies the ideas.

The more the mind is fixed on God, the more the strength you will acquire. It opens the inner chambers of love, the realm of Eternity, etc. It is the sole key for opening the chamber of Knowledge. You cannot compare the Ananda (Bliss) from meditation with transitory sensual pleasure.

Cultivate the flowers of peaceful thoughts of love, mercy, kindness, purity, etc. in the vast garden of your antahkarana (inner being); through introspection; water this garden of mind with meditation and sublime thinking.

Swami Sivananda Saraswati

How To Meditate?

Guru Maharaj :

Meditate regularly in the early morning, which is very favourable time for spiritual contemplation. The mind is calm, pure and quite refreshed. The mind is like a blank sheet of paper and comparatively free from worldly samskaras (mental impressions). It could be moulded very easily then. The atmosphere is charged with more sattva (purity) at this particular time.

Have a separate meditation room under lock and key. Do not allow anyone to enter the room. Or convert by means of screens, a corner of a room into a meditation chamber. Spread a fourfold blanket and over this spread a piece of soft white cloth. Face east or north. Keep the head, neck and back in one straight line. Sit on padma/siddha/swastika or any such asana. Burn incense there in the morning and evening.

When you are a neophyte in meditation, start repeating some sublime slokas or stotras (hymns) for 10 minutes. This will elevate the mind. You must have a mental image (concrete or abstract) of God or Brahman before you begin to meditate.

Swamiji Maharaj :

You should not only have a regular timing but you should also have a fixed place and asana (posture). If the place is kept very pleasant by keeping fresh flowers and burning incense, it will put your mind into a meditative mood. There will not be any distraction. The mind becomes indrawn. Sit in your meditation posture; keep the body erect and straight. Sit steadily without any movement. But always be relaxed. You must be totally at ease.
When you sit for meditation, in the beginning you just sit quiet; get into a mood of calmness. Then try to bring about a sort of channelisation of the thought-flow. Any elevating chant may help you. It should be the same for all days. Mantra-japa produces wonderful spiritual vibrations and is a great help to concentration. It lifts the mind up into a state of subtle awareness of the Divine.

The mind runs from one object to another in a continuous succession. As long as the mind exists, thoughts will be there. You cannot suppress it by force. On the contrary, the thoughts will grow even more persistent and stronger. Instead of meditation, you will be diverting your attention towards these thoughts. You must just ignore them, and should gently once again bring your mind back to the focal point. Carry on this process in a non-violent manner. Gradually make (its) area smaller and smaller till the mind is left with only a single vritti (modification or thought), to the exclusion of other vrittis. Ultimately, when you reach the stage of nirvikalpa samadhi even this single vritti will subside..

You should prepare your mind for meditation by filling it with divine bhava - with a feeling or attitude of spiritual affection. Let the thoughts subside, and then gently lift the mind up, out of the self-awareness, out of the consciousness of its union with its immediate surroundings and body. The spiritual concentration is based on the denial of the individualistic personality by affirming: "I am not this body, I do not belong to this perishable world. I am ever-free, ever-present, ever-perfect spiritual entity." Try to tell yourself and feel that there is no universe. Efface the universe from your thought. Now slowly begin to negate your personality. Then what is there? When you feel that there is absolutely nothing, slowly bring in the thought: "The Lord alone IS." Fill the mind with your particular conception of God. These two things - (a) negating the entire world and even your personality, and (b) asserting positively only the presence of the Supreme Being-are powerful helps.

If you are a vedantin, feel that there is only one vast expanse of limitless Existence, unfathomable Peace and infinite Bliss. There is nothing else. Feel strongly the Divine Principle in the innermost centre. Now assert to yourself: "I am ever united with the Being. Om, Om, Om".

Concentration is one percent a question of theory and ninety-nine percent a question of practice, abhyasa. Daily practice alone will help you. Keep up a link of meditation even while a certain portion of the mind goes on doing ordinary work. This method is called Brahma-chintan or Brahma-abhyasa.

The Techniques of Meditation

An Introduction to the techniques of Meditation

Meditation is an experience that cannot be described, just as colors cannot be described to a blind man. All ordinary experience is limited by Time, Space and Causation. Our normal awareness and understanding do not transcend these bounds.

Finite experience, which is measured in terms of past, present and future, cannot be transcendental. Concepts of time are illusory, for they have no permanence. The present, immeasurably small and fleeting, cannot be grasped. Past and future are non-existent in the present. We live in illusion.

The meditative state transcends all such limitations. In it there is neither past nor future, but only the consciousness of "I am" in the eternal NOW. It is only possible when all mental modifications are stilled.

The closest analogous state that we can experience is deep sleep, in which there is neither time, nor space, nor causation. Meditation, however, differs from deep sleep, for it works profound changes in the psyche. By curbing and stilling the oscillations of the mind, meditation brings mental peace.

On the physical level, meditation helps to prolong the body's anabolic process of growth and repair, and to reduce the catabolic or decaying process. Ordinarily the anabolic process predominates until the age of 18. From 18 to 35 there is balance between the two, and after 35 the catabolic process dominates. Meditation can significantly reduce the catabolic decline. This is because of the innate receptivity of the body cells.

Each of our body cells is governed by the instinctive subconscious mind. They have both an individual and a collective conciousness. When the thoughts and desires pour into the body, the cells are activated; the body always obeys the group demand. It has been scientifically proven that positive thoughts bring positive result to cells. As meditation brings about a prolonged positive state of mind, it rejuvenates body cells and retards decay.

One cannot learn to meditate, anymore than one can learn to sleep. one falls into both states. There are certain points to remember regarding the techniques and stages of meditation.

The 14 Points of Meditation

1. Regularity of time, place and practice are important. Regularity conditions the mind to slow down its activities with a minimum of delay.

2. The most effective times are early dawn and dusk, when the atmosphere is charged with special spiritual force. If it is not feasible to sit for meditation at these times, choose an hour when you are not involved with daily activities, and a time when the mind is apt to be calm.

3. Try to have a separate room for meditation. As meditation is repeated, the powerful vibrations set up will be lodged in the area; an atmosphere of peace and purity will be felt.

4. When sitting, face North or East in order to take advantage of favorable magnetic vibrations. Sit in a steady, comfortable, cross-legged position with spine and neck erect but not tense.

5. Before beginning, command the mind to be quiet for a specific length of time. Forget the past, present and future.

6. Consciously regulate the breath. Begin with five minutes of deep abdominal breathing to bring oxygen to the brain. Then slow it down to an imperceptible rate.

7. Keep the breathing, rhythmic, inhale for three seconds and exhale for three seconds. Regulation of breath also regulates the flow of prana, the vital energy.

8. Allow the mind to wander at first. It will jump around, but will eventually become concentrated, along with the concentration of prana.

9. Don't force the mind to be still, as this will set in motion additional brain waves, hindering meditation.

10. Select a focal point on which the mind may rest. For people who are intellectual by nature, this may be the Ajna Chakra., the point between the eyebrows. For more emotional people, use the Anahata or Heart Chakra. Never change this focal point.

11. Focus on a neutral or uplifting object, holding the image in the place of concentration. If using a Mantra, repeat it mentally, and co-ordinate repetition with the breath. If you dont have a personalized Manta, use Om. Although mental repetition is stronger, the mantra may be repeted aloud if one becomes drowsy. Never change the Mantra.

12. Repetition will lead to pure thought, in which sound vibration merges with thought vibration, without awareness of meaning. Vocal repetition progresses through mental repetition to telepathic language, and from there to pure thought.

13. With practice, duality disappears and Samadhi, or the superconscious state, is reached. Do not become impatient, as this takes a long time.

14. In Samadhi one rests in the state of bliss in which the Knower, the Knowledge, and the Known become one. This is the superconcious state reached by mystics of all faiths and persuasions.

If you meditate for half an hour daily, you will be able to face life with peace and spiritual strength. Meditation is the most powerful mental and nerve tonic. Divine energy freely flows to the adept during meditation, and exerts a benign influence on the mind, nerves, sense organs and body. It opens the door to intuitive knowledge and realms of eternal bliss. The mind becomes calm and steady.

Swami Sivananda Saraswati

DISCIPLINE OF THE SENSES

Control the indriyas (senses), through introspection. Destroy the thirst for objects and senseenjoyments then you will be established in supreme peace. Speak the truth and talk little. Observe silence for two hours daily. Speak only sweet, loving, soft words. Do not go to cinemas; do not look at ladies with a lustful look. When you move in the street look at the tip of the nose;do not look hither and thither. This is discipline of the eye, the organ of sight.

Do not attend dancing parties and do not listen to vulgar music. Give up musical entertainments and listening to worldly conversation. This is the discipline of the ear, the organ of hearing. Do not use scents. This is the discipline of the nose, the organ of smell. Give up salt and sugar for a week. Live on simple food. Fast on ekadasi (eleventh day of the lunar fortnight) or live on milk. This is the discipline of the tongue, the organ of taste.

Observe brahmacarya. Sleep on a hard mat. Walk barefooted. Do not use umbrellas. This is the discipline of the skin, the organ of touch.

To check the wandering mind and to develop concentration, fix your mind on your ista devata (ideal). Bring the mind back again when it wanders and fix it on the image.

You may think or falsely conjecture that the senses are under your control. You may be duped. All of a sudden you will become their victim. You must have supreme control of all the senses. The senses may become turbulent at any time. Reaction may set in. Beware!


Master the senses, the mind and the intellect, ruthlessly. Do this through enquiry, discrimination, dispassion, devotion and meditation. Anger is born of rajas (restlessness). When desire is not gratified then anger manifests itself. Anger is a form of desire only. Slay this anger through vicara (enquiry), discrimination, patience, love, meditation, and identification with the ever serene Atman.

Swami Sivananda Saraswati

Thought For The Day

Even after years and decades of sadhana, we still continueto remain what we were, because, together with our outer sadhana,inner transformation has never been attempted,inner transformation has never been seriously pursued and effected.

Swami Chidananda Saraswati.