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Japa

Kirran

Premium Member
In the last few weeks, I've taken up japa, which has replaced my previous meditation practice. I've taken it up on advice from a guru of mine (not my Guru with a capital G though :) ), and find it to be immensely useful.

I'm curious as to whether anybody else here practices it? Or has done?

If so, how long do you do it for? Do you count on a mala? Rudraksha or tulsi?

Share any experience you have :)
 

StarryNightshade

Spiritually confused Jew
Premium Member
I do. It's a part of my regular sadhana (which does need some work, admittedly).

I chant Gayatri, Om Namo Narayana, and the Lakshmi-Narasimhaya mantra. Once I go further into my practice, I will be given more mantras to chant. I currently count on a Tulsi mala given to me by my initiator.
 
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George-ananda

Advaita Vedanta, Theosophy, Spiritualism
Premium Member
Actually, I don't practice Japa but my greatest spiritual figure Satya Sai Baba is a very, very enthusiastic supporter of this practice. I have heard in this age, this method is the fastest and easiest way to advance spiritually. I'm not sure I understand why but it might have something to do with attracting a flow of spiritual energy most conducive to progress in this age? I am more of Jnana type of guy but maybe somebody is trying to tell me something.
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
Most main-line Hindus do it. Greatly helps them. Tulsi for Vaishnavas and Rudraksha, Coral (or imitations, that does not matter, any kind of beads, 108 in the string and one extra) for others. Except for infidels like me, I recommend it. Any of the names of deities, nama japa, or mantras. I do not know why the mantra should come from a guru. Can be picked up from any scripture. Counting, fixing gaze, follow a moving pendulum, I did not like all these when I meditated. I think they are distractions.
 

Makaranda

Active Member
I have found the best mantra for japa to be aham brahmasmi and the best of all malas to be the sakshi chaitanya by whom the three states of waking, dream, and sleep are connected and pervaded.

:)
 

Kirran

Premium Member
I do. It's a part of my regular sadhana (which does need some work, admittedly).

I chant Gayatri, Om Namo Narayana, and the Lakshmi-Narasimhaya mantra. Once I go further into my practice, I will be given more mantras to chant. I currently count on a Tulsi mala given to me by my initiator.

What else is in your regular sadhana?

I chant Aum. While a powerful mantra in its own right, no doubt, it also seems to be the training-wheel mantra. But the guy teaching me says he'll teach me Gayatri soon.

I chant on a rudraksha mala myself. I got it on Amazon.

Before I had a mala, I just timed 3 minutes on my phone, and chanted until it started beeping at me. To be honest, I found my mind able to settle better with that than with counting. Maybe I just need to get used to the experience of using the mala, so it doesn't distract anymore.

Actually, I don't practice Japa but my greatest spiritual figure Satya Sai Baba is a very, very enthusiastic supporter of this practice. I have heard in this age, this method is the fastest and easiest way to advance spiritually. I'm not sure I understand why but it might have something to do with attracting a flow of spiritual energy most conducive to progress in this age? I am more of Jnana type of guy but maybe somebody is trying to tell me something.

Maybe time to give it a try?

I don't see how it could hinder your progress in the least, so it's worth a go. It's really very useful for calming yourself, just throughout the day as well as at the time.

Most main-line Hindus do it. Greatly helps them. Tulsi for Vaishnavas and Rudraksha, Coral (or imitations, that does not matter, any kind of beads, 108 in the string and one extra) for others. Except for infidels like me, I recommend it. Any of the names of deities, nama japa, or mantras. I do not know why the mantra should come from a guru. Can be picked up from any scripture. Counting, fixing gaze, follow a moving pendulum, I did not like all these when I meditated. I think they are distractions.

Whatever works for you :)

I have found the best mantra for japa to be aham brahmasmi and the best of all malas to be the sakshi chaitanya by whom the three states of waking, dream, and sleep are connected and pervaded.

I do feel drawn to chanting aham brahmasmi, but I was told to chant Aum instead.

Well, that's quite the mala. How long have you been doing it for?
 
This is what I have been told. It is good to do Japa at least twice a day, morning and evening. To add noon time is very good. Most of us have to work so that makes it hard. Best time is before sunrise. Take a bath offer your self go at it. More time the better. Only as much as you can do in a realistic consistent practice. At least that's what my tradition teaches.
 

StarryNightshade

Spiritually confused Jew
Premium Member
What else is in your regular sadhana?

Sandhyavandyam, chanting (or at least listening to) the Suprabhatam, going to temple to be among fellow Hindus, reading works by Ramanujacharya, reading our religious texts, learning the philosophy, purity rituals, etc.
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
But the guy teaching me says he'll teach me Gayatri soon. :)
Gayatri is not preceeded by OM in RigVeda and not followed by OM. Does not contain 'Bhuh, Bhuvah Swaha'. That is a later addition. The real meaning according to words also is quite different from the enhanced popular translations.
 
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Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
Some thing very simple like this:

Tat: that; savituh: deity, creator; vareniyam: best desirable;
bhargah: effulgence; devasya: of the deity; dhīmahi: we meditate on;
dhiya: our intellect; yah: which; nah: our; pracodayāt: may it increase.

"Tat savituh vareniyam,
bhargo devasya dhimahi,
dhinyo yonah pracodayat."


That most desirable creator deity,
we meditate on the deity's effulgence, (which)
may it increase our intellect.
Rig Veda: Rig-Veda, Book 3: HYMN LXII. Indra and Others.
 
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