Heartfelt Nama Japa Helps You Tune In to the Cosmos

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Heartfelt Nama Japa Helps You Tune In to the Cosmos

THE SPEAKING TREE: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1136444.cms

by K S Ram

 

The practice of chanting the name of God is recommended by all

religions. Japa, or the repetition of God’s name, helps to activate a

resource centre in our system that is otherwise dormant. Most people

pass through life entirely ignorant of this spiritual facility, or they

underestimate it.

 

What is God’s name? He has a number of names, because God’s names are

all adjectives, not nouns: They refer to some aspect of His. Conflicts

begin when the adjective is made into a noun: We then err in trying to

differentiate God, who is the undifferentiated, the One.

 

In the epilogue to the Vishnu Sahasra Nama, Parvati asks Shiva: How do

the wise chant the thousand names in brief? And Shiva responds with the

well-known couplet: "Sri Rama Rama Rameti, Rame Raame Manorame." Rama

nama, he says, is singularly equal to the thousand names. Mahatma Gandhi

trusted the power of Rama nama for guidance in moments of personal as

well as political crisis. Mirabai turned ecstatic when she discovered

the potency of Rama nama. It was like coming upon a treasure — "Payoji

maine Rama ratan-dhan paayo!" This treasure, she says, none can rob; it

does not reduce if you draw from it; in fact, it grows at a compound

rate!

 

Nama japa is done in three modes: In high tone, in low tone, and in the

silent, mental mode. Low tone japa is more powerful than high tone

japa, and mental japa is more powerful than low tone japa. One must

begin japa with high tone and gradually move on to low and then to the

silent mode. It is important to coordinate thought with chant: If the

mind wanders while lips utter the Name, the exercise is futile.

 

The mind is bound to wander; it must however be repeatedly and gently

drawn back to the japa. Regular practice of mental japa leads to a-japa

japa or effortless chanting in the subconscious mind. This leads to an

exalted state where the individual ego begins to dilute, because the

self is logged on to the Cosmic Self. This state is marked by pranava

dhvani, the ceaseless, primordial reverberations within.

 

Receiving the nama mantra from an evolved guru is considered to be more

effective than acquiring it of oneself. Nama japa is effective when it

is practised for earthly ends as well as when it is practised for its

own sake. The latter is superior to the former. Practised for its own

sake, japa serves to burn away the sanchit karmas — the garbage that

makes life toxic. To use japa for earthly ends is to underutilise a

resource and, worse, to increase your spiritual baggage.

 

Nama japa must not be abused. To use the enabling power of nama to

commit vice is a heinous sin. This tops the 10 forms of nama-aparadh

listed by tradition. To grade the different names of God as superior or

inferior is also an aparadh.