Focus/meditation and Japa

[Guest guest]

Would like to know how to keep my mind centered and on task while

reciting japa. My mind tends to wander and I have to bring it back

each time. It is very frustrating as I am fairly new to the practice.

Any suggestions would be kindly appreciated.

[Guest guest]

Hi,

 

As I'm sure you're already aware, this is entirely normal and

expected. Time and practice will purify the mind and nadis (subtle

energy channels, [pron. nah deez]) and then it won't tend to wander so

much.

 

The breath is really the key to controlling the mind. Eventually we

want to forget about the breath entirely, but before we can do that it

is necessary to train ourselves to breath properly, and purify the

pranic sheath to a degree.

 

Every disturbance in the mind is echoed in the breath. The two are

intimately connected. If you can make your breath full, balanced

between the two nostrils, serene, and without noise of any kind, or

jerks and pauses, the mind will also be balanced and free from

disturbance.

 

The duration of the inhalation and exhalation should also be balanced.

The duration of the exhalation should not be any shorter than the

inhalation, and, as one progresses, should grow significantly longer.

It is important that the relationship remain relatively constant,

that you don't breathe deeply, then shallowly, and with constantly

changing relative durations. It should stay pretty much the same

throughout a given practice.

 

If you're practicing japa aloud then you can regulate the length of

inhalation by repeating a mantra silently the same number of times

each time (Choose one with a comfortable duration. Your guru mantra,

if you have one, is best, but "Om Namah Shivaya" is a good choice),

then doing your japa on the exhalation the same number of times each

time, with each breath. This alone will help balance your nadis and

purify them (and your mind).

 

If you're practicing silently, then you shouldn't try to connect the

number of repetitions to the breath at all, it will only create

disturbances in both the breath and the mind. Just do your japa and

watch your breath, keeping all the aforementioned characteristics in

mind. Silent japa can easily become pranayama, and then eventually

meditation, where breath, mind, and mantra shakti merge.

 

So, if your mind is wondering all over the place, you might pay a

little attention to your breath. Try to balance the flow through the

nostrils (chances are your right one is dominant). One very good way

to do this, while you're in the midst of practicing, is to try to

connect your emotions to your actions, to try to worship more

completely, try to feel the manifested grace of God flowing in and out

with every breath (it is there!). Worship automatically balances the

primary nadis, and can even open shushumna (the central nadi along

the spine which leads one beyond)! Another technique (this one can be

difficult to use until things have been cleared out a bit) is to

concentrate on the feeling of the breath as it flows past the septum

dividing the nostrils (try to feel it right at the place where the

nose joins the lip). Try to concentrate (not with too much desire, or

it will have the opposite effect!) on the flow at the nostril you want

to open, and imagine a strong flow there.

 

All of this thinking about the breath may seem to defeat the purpose

of doing the practice (whatever it is), but there really is such a

difference between a mind serenely devoted to the task of worship, and

one that is continually trying to assert itself, that the small chunk

of time it takes to examine your breath is a very small price to pay,

if you can get it under control.

 

Of course, sometimes no matter what you do, neither mind nor breath

will cooperate, and in those cases all you can do is struggle to

finish the practice properly. Next time will be better...

 

It takes time to purify a little bit so that you can begin to control

the breath, and thus the mind, but it is worthwhile.

 

Another thing that has a profound effect on the state of the mind is

your social environment. What kinds of things are coming up into your

field of thought when you want to worship? In my experience, I can

usually connect the specific kinds of thoughts that arise (especially

if they are extremely insistent) to recent interactions with other

people. This is why the scriptures enjoin us not to socialize with

"worldly" people, with worldly ambitions, but to seek, instead, the

company of those who are sincerely involved in sadhana and in living

a spiritual life. Of course, most cannot retire from contact with the

larger society. Even so, committed practice, limiting your

interactions with "worldly" folk as much as you can, and satsanga will

help balance and quiet the mind.

 

Jai Maa!

Chris

 

 

 

 

 

 

, "cytexonedasa" <loveofsiva wrote:

>

> Would like to know how to keep my mind centered and on task while

> reciting japa. My mind tends to wander and I have to bring it back

> each time. It is very frustrating as I am fairly new to the practice.

> Any suggestions would be kindly appreciated.

>