Guest guest Posted February 6, 2002 Report Share Posted February 6, 2002 , "Eve _69" <eve__69@h...> wrote: > Dear Guru Friends, > Because of the topic on japa, I wonder if you could go over some basics > of japa, such as proper fingers, counting, numbers of beads, and since many > mala types, maybe don't spend time on them, but just the basics of japa. > There are so many different opinions that a refresher might be very useful. > It would be for me. Thank You - Jai Shiv, Jai Gauri Jai Gurudev Hope this helps VARIETIES OF JAPA Repeat the Mantra verbally for sometime, in a whisper for sometime, and mentally for sometime. The minds wants variety. It gets disgusted with any monotonous practice. The mental repetition is very powerful. It is termed Manasika Japa. The verbal or loud repetition is called Vaikhari Japa. The loud Japa shuts out all worldly sounds. There is no break of Japa here. Repetition in a whisper or humming is termed Upamshu Japa. Even mechanical repetition of Japa without any Bhava has a great purifying effect on the heart or the mind. The feeling will come later on when the process of mental purification goes on. Write down daily in a notebook your Ishta Mantra or Guru Mantra for half an hour. When you write the Mantra, observe Mouna. Write the Mantra clearly in ink. On Sundays and holidays, write this for one hour. This is Likhita Japa You can develop a wonderful power of concentration. The benefits of Mantra-writing or Likhita Japa cannot be adequately described. Besides bringing about purity of heart and concentration of mind, mantra-writing gives you control of Asana, control of Indriyas, particularly the sight and the tongue, and fills you with the power of endurance. You attain peace of mind quickly. By prolonged and constant practice the inherent power of the Mantra (Mantra-Sakti) will be awakened, which will fill your very existence with the Divinity of the Mantra. In Mantra writing, there is no restriction about any particular script. It may be written in any language. PRACTICAL AIDS TO JAPA Select any Mantra or Name of God, preferably that given to you by your Guru, and repeat it from 108 to 1,080 times daily (one to ten malas). Always keep your Guru-Mantra a secret. Never disclose it to anyone. It is better to stick to one Mantra only. See Lord Krishna in Rama, Shiva, Durga, Gayatri and in everyone. Get up at 4a.m. and do Japa for two hours. The early morning period (Brahmamuhurta) and dusk is the most favourable time for Japa and meditation. This is when Sattva (purity or steadiness) is predominant. Take a bath or wash your hands, feet, face and mouth before sitting for Japa in the morning. At other times this is not absolutely necessary. Do Japa whenever you have leisure, at the three junctions of the day - morning, noon and evening - and before going to bed. Face east or north during the practice. This enhances the efficacy of the Japa. Sit on a deer skin or rug. Spread a piece of cloth over it. This conserves body-electricity. Sit in a separate meditation room or in any suitable place, such as a temple, on a river bank or under a banyan or peepul tree. Maintain a steady pose. Attain mastery of the posture. You must be able to sit in Padmasana, Siddhasana or Sukhasana for three hours at a strech. Reslove to complete a certain minimum number of malas before leaving your seat. Recite some prayers before starting the Japa. A rosary is a whip to goad the mind towards God. Use a rudraksha or tulsi mala of 108 beads. Do not allow the mala to hang below the navel. Keep the hand near the heart or the nose. The mala must not be visible to you or to others. Cover it with a towel or handkerchief, which must be clean and washed daily. Use the middle finger and the thumb of the right to roll the beads. The use of the index finger is prohibited. Do not cross the meru while rolling the beads. Turn back when you come to it. Sometimes do the Japa without a mala. Use a watch. Do mental Japa for a time. When the mind wanders, do the Japa aloud, or whisper the Mantra for some time and come back to mental Japa again as soon as possible. When you repeat the Mantra, have the feeling or mental attitude that the Lord is seated in your heart, that purity or Sattva is flowing from the Lord into your mind, that the Mantra is purifying your heart, destroying desires, cravings and evil thoughts. Do not do the Japa in a hurried manner, like a contractor who tries to finish his work in a short time. Do it slowly with feeling, one- pointedness of mind and single-minded devotion. Pronounce the Mantra distinctly and without any mistakes. Repeat it neither too slowly nor too fast. Increase the speed only when the mind wanders. Be vigilant and alert during Japa. Stand up when sleep tries to overpower you. Try to associate the Japa with the rhythm of the breath and meditate in the form of your Deity. Keep a picture or idol of the Deity in front of you. Think of the meaning of the Mantra while repeating it. Regularity in Japa Sadhana is most essential if success is to be achieved. Sit in the same place and at the same time every day. Do not beg for any worldly objects from God while doing Japa. Feel that your heart is being purified and that the mind is becoming steady by the power of the Mantra and the Grace of the Lord. Observe silence and avoid distractions, calls and engagements. It is important not to leave the place at once after the Japa is over and mix with everyone or plunge into worldly activity. Sit very quietly for at least ten minutes, humming some prayer, remembering the Lord and reflecting upon His infinite love. Then, after devout prostration, leave the place and commence your routine duties and activities. In this way the spiritual vibrations will remain intact. Continue the current of Japa mentally at all times, whatever be the activity in which you are engaged. Carry on your Sadhana with tenacity and perseverance, without a break. Realize the glorious goal of life and enjoy supreme bliss. for more info go to http://www.sivanandadlshq.org/teachings/japayoga.htm Jai Gurudev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2002 Report Share Posted February 8, 2002 Dear Guru Bhais and Bahan(s) Jaya Guru Dev Mantra Chanting. I In the early 1997 after Photo Dikchya, my wife and myself started (collectively) chanting Guru Mantra/Chaitanya Mantra and Gayatri Mantra aloud. After we got Dikchya from Param Pujya Guru Dev in October 1997 we started Manasik Mantra Jaap. Would take us about 20 minutes to complete minimum number of Malas (i.e. 4/1/1) Afer three years of continuous chanting a Guru Bhai mentioned that only lazy Sishyas do only four malas of Guru Mantra. And asked me to do minimu 16 every morning. I started 16 and could not stop myself doing 40 rounds from April last year and I have been graced by Param Pujya Guru Dev to be able to do this continuously to date. It takes me 50-70 minutes to complete the 40 Guru Mantra, One Chaitanya Mantra, One Gayatri Mantra. At least I have been able to sit properly for this duration. I pray to Prampujya Guru Dev for granting me more willingness to do more good work. Jaya Guru Dev. cheers bishnu Global Medicine Pvt. Ltd., 3/555 Harihar Bhavan P. O. Box 5659, Kathmandu, Nepal Fax 977 1 523282, Phone 977 1 528372 - birendra_m <birendra_m <> Wednesday, February 06, 2002 11:32 PM Re: Digest Number 311(Japa and how to do it) > , "Eve _69" <eve__69@h...> wrote: > > Dear Guru Friends, > > Because of the topic on japa, I wonder if you could go over > some basics > > of japa, such as proper fingers, counting, numbers of beads, and > since many > > mala types, maybe don't spend time on them, but just the basics of > japa. > > There are so many different opinions that a refresher might be very > useful. > > It would be for me. Thank You - Jai Shiv, Jai Gauri > > > > Jai Gurudev > > Hope this helps > > > VARIETIES OF JAPA > > Repeat the Mantra verbally for sometime, in a whisper for sometime, > and mentally for sometime. The minds wants variety. It gets disgusted > with any monotonous practice. The mental repetition is very powerful. > It is termed Manasika Japa. The verbal or loud repetition is called > Vaikhari Japa. The loud Japa shuts out all worldly sounds. There is > no break of Japa here. Repetition in a whisper or humming is termed > Upamshu Japa. Even mechanical repetition of Japa without any Bhava > has a great purifying effect on the heart or the mind. The feeling > will come later on when the process of mental purification goes on. > > Write down daily in a notebook your Ishta Mantra or Guru Mantra for > half an hour. When you write the Mantra, observe Mouna. Write the > Mantra clearly in ink. On Sundays and holidays, write this for one > hour. This is Likhita Japa You can develop a wonderful power of > concentration. > > The benefits of Mantra-writing or Likhita Japa cannot be adequately > described. Besides bringing about purity of heart and concentration > of mind, mantra-writing gives you control of Asana, control of > Indriyas, particularly the sight and the tongue, and fills you with > the power of endurance. You attain peace of mind quickly. By > prolonged and constant practice the inherent power of the Mantra > (Mantra-Sakti) will be awakened, which will fill your very existence > with the Divinity of the Mantra. > > In Mantra writing, there is no restriction about any particular > script. It may be written in any language. > > PRACTICAL AIDS TO JAPA > > Select any Mantra or Name of God, preferably that given to you by > your Guru, and repeat it from 108 to 1,080 times daily (one to ten > malas). > Always keep your Guru-Mantra a secret. Never disclose it to anyone. > It is better to stick to one Mantra only. See Lord Krishna in Rama, > Shiva, Durga, Gayatri and in everyone. > > Get up at 4a.m. and do Japa for two hours. The early morning period > (Brahmamuhurta) and dusk is the most favourable time for Japa and > meditation. This is when Sattva (purity or steadiness) is > predominant. > > Take a bath or wash your hands, feet, face and mouth before sitting > for Japa in the morning. At other times this is not absolutely > necessary. Do Japa whenever you have leisure, at the three junctions > of the day - morning, noon and evening - and before going to bed. > Face east or north during the practice. This enhances the efficacy of > the Japa. Sit on a deer skin or rug. Spread a piece of cloth over it. > This conserves body-electricity. Sit in a separate meditation room or > in any suitable place, such as a temple, on a river bank or under a > banyan or peepul tree. > > Maintain a steady pose. Attain mastery of the posture. You must be > able to sit in Padmasana, Siddhasana or Sukhasana for three hours at > a strech. > > Reslove to complete a certain minimum number of malas before leaving > your seat. > > Recite some prayers before starting the Japa. > A rosary is a whip to goad the mind towards God. Use a rudraksha or > tulsi mala of 108 beads. > > Do not allow the mala to hang below the navel. Keep the hand near the > heart or the nose. > > The mala must not be visible to you or to others. Cover it with a > towel or handkerchief, which must be clean and washed daily. > > Use the middle finger and the thumb of the right to roll the beads. > The use of the index finger is prohibited. > > Do not cross the meru while rolling the beads. Turn back when you > come to it. > > Sometimes do the Japa without a mala. Use a watch. > > Do mental Japa for a time. When the mind wanders, do the Japa aloud, > or whisper the Mantra for some time and come back to mental Japa > again as soon as possible. > > When you repeat the Mantra, have the feeling or mental attitude that > the Lord is seated in your heart, that purity or Sattva is flowing > from the Lord into your mind, that the Mantra is purifying your > heart, destroying desires, cravings and evil thoughts. > > Do not do the Japa in a hurried manner, like a contractor who tries > to finish his work in a short time. Do it slowly with feeling, one- > pointedness of mind and single-minded devotion. > > Pronounce the Mantra distinctly and without any mistakes. Repeat it > neither too slowly nor too fast. Increase the speed only when the > mind wanders. > > Be vigilant and alert during Japa. Stand up when sleep tries to > overpower you. > > Try to associate the Japa with the rhythm of the breath and meditate > in the form of your Deity. Keep a picture or idol of the Deity in > front of you. Think of the meaning of the Mantra while repeating it. > Regularity in Japa Sadhana is most essential if success is to be > achieved. Sit in the same place and at the same time every day. > Do not beg for any worldly objects from God while doing Japa. Feel > that your heart is being purified and that the mind is becoming > steady by the power of the Mantra and the Grace of the Lord. > Observe silence and avoid distractions, calls and engagements. > It is important not to leave the place at once after the Japa is over > and mix with everyone or plunge into worldly activity. Sit very > quietly for at least ten minutes, humming some prayer, remembering > the Lord and reflecting upon His infinite love. Then, after devout > prostration, leave the place and commence your routine duties and > activities. In this way the spiritual vibrations will remain intact. > Continue the current of Japa mentally at all times, whatever be the > activity in which you are engaged. Carry on your Sadhana with > tenacity and perseverance, without a break. Realize the glorious goal > of life and enjoy supreme bliss. > > > for more info go to > > http://www.sivanandadlshq.org/teachings/japayoga.htm > Jai Gurudev > > > > > > Jay Gurudev > > > > > > Your use of is subject to > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2002 Report Share Posted February 17, 2002 Thank you very much for the info and link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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