Spiritual Calendar | Glossary | Contact Us | Site Map | FAQ

Home About Us Divine Life Paths of Yoga Yogasanas Pranayama Meditation Store Whats New Gallery

Go

E-mail this to a friend Font Size

Home >Divine Life >Sadhana > Types of Yoga Sadhanas >Other Sadhanas >Japa Yoga Sadhana

What's New
Japa Yoga Sadhana
Spiritual Life... by Swami Sivananda
a perspective...
INTRODUCTORY

Sadhana is purifying and steadying the mind and xing it on the Lord. Without Sadhana you
cannot attain the Sadhya or the object of meditation i.e., the Supreme Being, the abode of
Immortality and Bliss.

Japa is an important Sadhana. Make a resolve "I will do ten Malas of Japa today" and do not get
up from your Asana or seat till you nish the required number of Malas. This will strengthen your
will and enable you to control the mind easily.

Another important point is that there should not be any break in your Sadhana till you nish the
required number of Malas. Entry of worldly thoughts, planning etc., constitute break. If there is
any break after nishing two Malas of Japa, you should not include the two Malas of Japa. You
must again start the Japa and try to nish ten Malas. If there is any break after nishing four
Malas, do not include the four Malas. Again try to nish ten Malas. This will be trying discipline
indeed. But the fruit of such a Sadhana is immortality or eternal blissful life in the Atman. You will
have to practise it if you wish to attain this highest end or supreme Goal.

If a boy commits a mistake, the teacher asks him to catch hold of his ears and do 'Baitaks' ten
times continuously as a sort of punishment. If he makes a break after doing four 'Baitaks,' he
again asks him to do ten more 'Baitaks' without any break. Similar is the case with this Japa
Sadhana. Similar is the punishment you will have to inict on the mind when you do Japa Sadhana.
You should not give leniency to the mind. Spare the rod, you will spoil the child. Be lenient, the
mind will jump upon you.

The moment you sit on the Asana in a closed room, feel that you a mental Sannyasin. You have
nothing to do with the world or family members. Forget everything. If anybody taps at your door,
do not be perturbed. Do not open the door. Tell your family people not to disturb you on any score
till you nish your Sadhana.

When you come out of the room try to keep up the same Sattvic Bhava. Recite the Mantra or Name
of the Lord always. If there is any break again keep up the remembrance. Gradually meditation and
recitation of Japa will become habitual or Sahaja. The subconscious or the subjective mind will be
ever repeating the Name, though the conscious or objective mind may forget it occasionally.

The Samskaras or impressions you have created during your Sadhana period within a closed room
will be wiped out if you are not careful or vigilant during the period of activity in the world. You
must be careful about the company you keep, about worldly talks, the food you take, the dress you
wear, the objects at which you look, the words that you hear etc.

You must not speak vulgar or harsh words. You must take Sattvic food and wear simple dress. You
must not visit cinemas. You must make the mind ever dwell on the form of the Lord and put a
stamp of it on any form you see. You must not visit clubs. You must not read newspapers and
novels. Novels, newspapers, cinemas constitute evil Sanga. They generate worldly thoughts and
disturb the peace of mind. You do not gain anything.

There are many obstacles and diculties in the world. But if you want to attain Immortality you
will have to observe the Rules of Yoga. Where there is a will, there is a way. If there is strong
aspiration and burning Mumukshutva, strength will come from within and you will be able to
observe all the rules even though you remain in the world only. Pandit Madanmohan Malavya,
Gandhiji and many others have evolved while remaining in the world. Do not bring lame excuses.
The world is not a hindrance in your spiritual path. The world is your Guru. The world is a training
school. World is Virat or Isvara.

Spend your holidays and privilege leave in solitary places like Rishikesh and do intense Sadhana.
Come alone and lead the life of a Sannyasin during that period.
May you all be freed from the cycle of births and deaths. May you all rejoice in the innermost
Atman alone, the ocean of bliss, the fountain of joy, the pool of wisdom, the sea of peace, the
spring of eternal satisfaction!

PRACTICAL AIDS TO JAPA SADHANA

You have a thorough knowledge of Japa Yoga and the glory of the Name. Now you can start real
Sadhana from this minute. I have given below a number of practical hints of great use for your
daily Sadhana. Kindly note and follow them carefully.

1. Fixed hours: Most eective time for Japa is early dawn Brahmamuhurta and dusk, when Sattva
is predominant. Regularity in Japa is very essential.

2. Denite place: It is highly advantageous to sit in the same place every day. Do not change it
now and then. When you sit there you will have automatically the mood to do Japa. Just as you
have a mood to study books when you enter a library or pray when you enter a temple so also you
will get the mood to do Japa when you sit in your usual Asana.

3. A steady pose: A comfortable Asana helps to make the mind steady also, controls Rajas and
aids concentration. Concentration cannot be acquired by one whose pose is not steady. Keep the
Merudand (spine) always erect. If you droop down like an old man while sitting for Japa and
meditation your mind will always waver and wander. Have a steady pose all throughout the period
of Japa.

4. Face North or East: This exercises a subtle inuence and enhances the ecacy of Japa. Sages
and Rishis of the Himalayas help those who sit facing North for Japa because they come in contact
with them by facing North.

5. A Seat: Deer skin or Kusha-mat or a rug should be used. The Gita says 'Chailajinakusottaram.'
Have a Kusa mat, a deer-skin over that and a clean white cloth above. This is the seat prescribed
by the Gita. Energy is conserved which is otherwise dissipated without a proper seat.

6. Repeat elevating prayers: Invoking the aid of the Ishtam with appropriate prayer induces a
proper Sattvic Bhava. In all spiritual Sadhana divine help is prerequisite. Without it no spiritual
progress can be attained and control of the wandering, mischievous mind becomes impossible.

7. Clear articulation: Start the Japa pronouncing the Mantra distinctly and without mistakes.
Mantra Sakti is quickly awakened, mind is easily elevated and made one-pointed if the
pronunciation is clear and distinct.

8. Vigilance and alertness: This is very important. You will be fresh and alert when you commence.
After a time unconsciously the mind becomes weary, begins to wander and drowsiness
overpowers you. Avoid this state. Some sleep during Japa and meditation and imagine to have
attained spiritual bliss. This is mere hallucination.

9. Japa Mala: Using a Mala helps alertness and acts as an incentive to carry on the Japa
continuously. Resolve to nish a certain number of Malas before leaving the seat. The mind will
deceive you if you do Japa without a Mala. You will imagine that you have done Japa for a long
time and that you have done more than the required number.

10. Variety in Japa: This is necessary to sustain interest, avoid fatigue and counteract monotony.
Repeat aloud for a time, then hum the Mantra and repeat mentally sometimes. When the real bliss
or taste for Japa is acquired then Japa becomes habitual and pleasant. There will be no monotony
at all. The variety of Japa is for beginners only. Mental Japa is the most powerful. It directly
counteracts the evil Vrittis of the mind and makes the mind pure.

11. Meditation: Side by side with Japa think of the Lord as present before you and picture His
entrancing beautiful form. This practice adds tremendously to the ecacy and power of your
Sadhana. The mind is fully engrossed in the form of the Lord by this practice and there is no
chance for the mind to get hold of the objects of senses which are like straw or cha before the
bliss of the presence of God.

12. Concluding prayer and rest: This is important. After Japa is over do not immediately leave the
place, mix with everyone and plunge into worldly activity. Sit very quietly for about 10 minutes at
least humming some prayer, remembering the Lord or reecting upon His innite love. Then after
devout prostration leave the place and commence your work. Spiritual vibrations will be in tact.
You will nd it easy to remember the Lord even while at work. Combine prayer with your daily
routine and occasionally remember Him.

GREATNESS OF DIVINE NAME.

The glory of the Name of God cannot be established through reasoning. It can certainly be
experienced through faith, devotion and constant repetition. Have reverence and faith for the
Name. Do not argue. Every Name is lled with countless powers. Just as re has the natural
property of burning things, so also the Name of God has the power of burning sins and desires.
The power of the Name is ineable. Its Glory is indescribable. The ecacy and inherent Sakti of
the Name of God is unfathomable.

O Man! Take refuge in the Name. Nami and Name are inseparable. Sing the Lord's Name
 incessantly. Remember the Name of the Lord with every incoming and outgoing breath. In this iron
age Namasmarana or Japa is the easiest, quickest, safest and surest way to reach God and attain
immortality and perennial Joy. Glory to the Lord! Glory to His Name.

Just hear the glory of Ram Nam. Mahatma Gandhiji writes "You might ask me why I tell you to use
the word Ram and not one of the many other names of the creator. True, His Names are as many
as and more than the leaves on a tree; and I might, for instance ask you to use the word God. But
what meaning, what associations would it have for you here. In order to enable you to feel
anything when repeating the word God, I should have to teach you some English. I should have to
explain to you the foreign people's thoughts and associations.

"But in telling you to repeat the Name of Ram, I am giving you a Name worshipped since countless
generations by the people of this land-a Name familiar to the very animals and birds, the very
trees and stones of Hindustan through many thousand years. You will learn from Ramayana how a
stone by the roadside sprang to life at the touch of Ram's foot as he passed by. You must learn to
repeat the blessed Name of Ram with sweetness and such devotion that the birds will pause in
their singing to listen to you-that the very trees will bend their branches towards you stirred by
the Divine melody of that Name."

Sant Kabirdas sent his son Kamal to Sant 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 blind Sur Das. Sur Das asked Kamal to bring the corpse that was oating in the river. Sur
Das repeated Ram only once in one ear of the corpse, and it was brought back to life. Kamal's
heart was lled with awe and wonder. Such is the power of God's Name. Kabir says: "If any one
utters Ram, Ram even in dream, I would like to make a pair of shoes out of my skin for his daily
use."

Who can describe the glory of God's sacred Name? Who can really comprehend the greatness and
splendour of the holy names of God? Even Parvati, Lord Siva's consort failed to describe in
adequate terms the grandeur and true signicance of God's Name. When one sings His Name or
hears it sung, he is unconsciously raised to sublime spiritual heights. He looses his
body-consciousness. He is immersed in joy. He drinks deep the divine nectar of immortality. He
gets divine intoxication. Repetition of God's Name enables the devotee to feel the Divine Presence,
the Divine glory, and the Divine consciousness within himself and everywhere also. How sweet is
Hari's Name! How powerful is God's Name! How much joy, peace and strength it brings to one who
repeats His Name! Blessed indeed are those who repeat God's Name, for they will be free from the
wheel of birth and death and will attain immortality!

You may be aware how the Ganika (prostitute) Pingala was mysteriously transformed into a saintly
lady by the power of Name (repeating the Name of Sri Rama), through her Guru the parrot, which
she obtained as a lovely present from a thief and how she easily obtained salvation. The parrot
was trained to utter the Name "Sri Rama, Sri Rama." Pingala knew nothing of Rama-nama. She
heard the sound Rama-Rama through the mouth of the parrot. It was very melodious and
charming. Pingala was very much attracted. She xed her mind on Rama Nama uttered by the
parrot and mysteriously entered into Bhava Samadhi (union with Rama). Such is the power of
Name of the Lord.

Home About Us Divine Life Paths of Yoga Yogasanas Pranayama Meditation Store Whats New Gallery
copyright 2011 the divine life society. All rights reserved.