Guest guest Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 "...I did my japa silently. One of the benefits of this is that it goes faster, of course, though there are others as well. But I have found that japa aloud has its own unique benefits, though it does take considerably more time. I'm thinking I may alternate between doing japa aloud and silently. It is a bit of a struggle, since the modes are so different, but it may be worth doing. One day silent, the next aloud...." Dear Chris, Sometimes when I am doing a long mantra japa like this, I think about the 3 ways it is done: aloud (vacika), whispered (upamshu) or mentally (manasa). (then there is the written form (likhita-japa)as well. I like to think about the purpose of japa: to reach the state of consciousness that the mantra represents. There are these specific stages through which sound proceeds from the Absolute and the 3 kinds of japa are reflections of that. (I hope I'm not sounding too "preachy" here...but it's hard to explain this in a less scholarly kind of way)...Anyway, the point of this information is how it affects the way I do japa during a long practice. I start with the spoken (since that's the most "manifest sound"), do a number of malas of the spoken, then go to the whispered and then finally to the silent..that way, I'm reminding myself that the point of the japa is to "travel back through sound" to the mantra deity. I know that, really, it's a way to convince my mind that this is "so interesting" so it keeps quiet and allows me to do the japa. I can kind of trick my mind to just settle in and then the japa takes over. A swami taught me this quite a long time ago and I have used the technique whenever I do a long japa practice. But, just to be clear..everybody..it's not the "right" way to do japa...just helpful for those of us whose minds sometimes buck and kick before they will settle into the "mantra groove". The other thing I like about this japa in "stages" is that the spoken japa really can get your whole body vibrating with the sound..then you just get increasingly more subtle. best luck in your practice, sadhvi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 OM NAMAH SHIVAYA Dear Memebers: I have been able to identify 5 way of performing Japa. Also if your are interested you can read this article that mentions the effects of Mantras on the Brain (http://www.swamij.com/mantra-brain-words.htm). Varieties Japa: 1) Visual Reading Words 2) Audio Listening to Words Listening to an Audio File of the Mantra 3)( Vaikhari Speaking Words, Vocal 4) Upamshu Whispering Words, Repetition with The movement of the Lips without making any Sounds 5) Likhita Writing Words Writing the Mantra OM NAMAH SHIVAYA --- nityashakti <sadhvi wrote: > "...I did my japa silently. One of the benefits of > this is that it > goes > faster, of course, though there are others as well. > But I have found > that japa aloud has its own unique benefits, though > it does take > considerably more time. I'm thinking I may alternate > between doing > japa aloud and silently. It is a bit of a struggle, > since the modes > are so different, but it may be worth doing. One day > silent, the next > aloud...." > > Dear Chris, > Sometimes when I am doing a long mantra japa > like this, I think > about the 3 ways it is done: aloud (vacika), > whispered (upamshu) or > mentally (manasa). (then there is the written form > (likhita-japa)as > well. I like to think about the purpose of japa: to > reach the state > of consciousness that the mantra represents. There > are these > specific stages through which sound proceeds from > the Absolute and > the 3 kinds of japa are reflections of that. (I hope > I'm not > sounding too "preachy" here...but it's hard to > explain this in a > less scholarly kind of way)...Anyway, the point of > this information > is how it affects the way I do japa during a long > practice. I start > with the spoken (since that's the most "manifest > sound"), do a > number of malas of the spoken, then go to the > whispered and then > finally to the silent..that way, I'm reminding > myself that the point > of the japa is to "travel back through sound" to the > mantra deity. I > know that, really, it's a way to convince my mind > that this is "so > interesting" so it keeps quiet and allows me to do > the japa. I can > kind of trick my mind to just settle in and then the > japa takes > over. A swami taught me this quite a long time ago > and I have used > the technique whenever I do a long japa practice. > But, just to be > clear..everybody..it's not the "right" way to do > japa...just helpful > for those of us whose minds sometimes buck and kick > before they will > settle into the "mantra groove". The other thing I > like about this > japa in "stages" is that the spoken japa really can > get your whole > body vibrating with the sound..then you just get > increasingly more > subtle. > best luck in your practice, > sadhvi > > > > > Small Business $15K Web Design Giveaway http://promotions./design_giveaway/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 Sadhvi, I know this progression, and I have often thought that the method you describe would be ideal, but I have not been able to make it happen. The change seems too strange, or too much of a struggle. Perhaps this is something that will come in time. I have not been doing japa aloud for more than a year or so. Maybe it's simply a matter of adjustment. At the time of sessation of external japa the mind becomes inward, silent, and one-pointed. There have been times when a different mantra at this time, done internally, seems natural, but with the original mantra there just seem to be too many associations in the mind with the movements involved in chanting, so there is a struggle, and the best of the concentration is lost. I think I will experiment a little bit... Chris , "nityashakti" <sadhvi@p...> wrote: > "...I did my japa silently. One of the benefits of this is that it > goes > faster, of course, though there are others as well. But I have found > that japa aloud has its own unique benefits, though it does take > considerably more time. I'm thinking I may alternate between doing > japa aloud and silently. It is a bit of a struggle, since the modes > are so different, but it may be worth doing. One day silent, the next > aloud...." > > Dear Chris, > Sometimes when I am doing a long mantra japa like this, I think > about the 3 ways it is done: aloud (vacika), whispered (upamshu) or > mentally (manasa). (then there is the written form (likhita-japa)as > well. I like to think about the purpose of japa: to reach the state > of consciousness that the mantra represents. There are these > specific stages through which sound proceeds from the Absolute and > the 3 kinds of japa are reflections of that. (I hope I'm not > sounding too "preachy" here...but it's hard to explain this in a > less scholarly kind of way)...Anyway, the point of this information > is how it affects the way I do japa during a long practice. I start > with the spoken (since that's the most "manifest sound"), do a > number of malas of the spoken, then go to the whispered and then > finally to the silent..that way, I'm reminding myself that the point > of the japa is to "travel back through sound" to the mantra deity. I > know that, really, it's a way to convince my mind that this is "so > interesting" so it keeps quiet and allows me to do the japa. I can > kind of trick my mind to just settle in and then the japa takes > over. A swami taught me this quite a long time ago and I have used > the technique whenever I do a long japa practice. But, just to be > clear..everybody..it's not the "right" way to do japa...just helpful > for those of us whose minds sometimes buck and kick before they will > settle into the "mantra groove". The other thing I like about this > japa in "stages" is that the spoken japa really can get your whole > body vibrating with the sound..then you just get increasingly more > subtle. > best luck in your practice, > sadhvi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2004 Report Share Posted April 8, 2004 your explanation about japa is really good, i learnt same thing a while ago, however recently ther is experience i am going thru, when i do my japa even if its only one mala, i feel like i am doing japa for two diffrent mantra simultaniously, for example if am doing OM NAMAH SHIVAYA loudly than in the background i am doing OM GUM GANAPATAYE NAMAH silently,a part of me thinks i am reaching different level of japa, really don't understand this. Does anyone have any explanation about this. sanju jaymaa nityashakti <sadhvi (AT) prodigy (DOT) net> wrote: "...I did my japa silently. One of the benefits of this is that it goesfaster, of course, though there are others as well. But I have foundthat japa aloud has its own unique benefits, though it does takeconsiderably more time. I'm thinking I may alternate between doingjapa aloud and silently. It is a bit of a struggle, since the modesare so different, but it may be worth doing. One day silent, the nextaloud...."Dear Chris, Sometimes when I am doing a long mantra japa like this, I think about the 3 ways it is done: aloud (vacika), whispered (upamshu) or mentally (manasa). (then there is the written form (likhita-japa)as well. I like to think about the purpose of japa: to reach the state of consciousness that the mantra represents. There are these specific stages through which sound proceeds from the Absolute and the 3 kinds of japa are reflections of that. (I hope I'm not sounding too "preachy" here...but it's hard to explain this in a less scholarly kind of way)...Anyway, the point of this information is how it affects the way I do japa during a long practice. I start with the spoken (since that's the most "manifest sound"), do a number of malas of the spoken, then go to the whispered and then finally to the silent..that way, I'm reminding myself that the point of the japa is to "travel back through sound" to the mantra deity. I know that, really, it's a way to convince my mind that this is "so interesting" so it keeps quiet and allows me to do the japa. I can kind of trick my mind to just settle in and then the japa takes over. A swami taught me this quite a long time ago and I have used the technique whenever I do a long japa practice. But, just to be clear..everybody..it's not the "right" way to do japa...just helpful for those of us whose minds sometimes buck and kick before they will settle into the "mantra groove". The other thing I like about this japa in "stages" is that the spoken japa really can get your whole body vibrating with the sound..then you just get increasingly more subtle.best luck in your practice,sadhvi Messenger - Communicate instantly..."Ping" your friends today! Download Messenger Now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 9, 2004 Report Share Posted April 9, 2004 Sadhvi, For the last couple of days I have been splitting my japa in two: five aloud, followed by five silent. I did not encounter the feelings I had experienced before, and it transitioned very nicely. I think I will continue in this way. It was a good suggestion. Thanks. Chris , "nityashakti" <sadhvi@p...> wrote: > "...I did my japa silently. One of the benefits of this is that it > goes > faster, of course, though there are others as well. But I have found > that japa aloud has its own unique benefits, though it does take > considerably more time. I'm thinking I may alternate between doing > japa aloud and silently. It is a bit of a struggle, since the modes > are so different, but it may be worth doing. One day silent, the next > aloud...." > > Dear Chris, > Sometimes when I am doing a long mantra japa like this, I think > about the 3 ways it is done: aloud (vacika), whispered (upamshu) or > mentally (manasa). (then there is the written form (likhita-japa)as > well. I like to think about the purpose of japa: to reach the state > of consciousness that the mantra represents. There are these > specific stages through which sound proceeds from the Absolute and > the 3 kinds of japa are reflections of that. (I hope I'm not > sounding too "preachy" here...but it's hard to explain this in a > less scholarly kind of way)...Anyway, the point of this information > is how it affects the way I do japa during a long practice. I start > with the spoken (since that's the most "manifest sound"), do a > number of malas of the spoken, then go to the whispered and then > finally to the silent..that way, I'm reminding myself that the point > of the japa is to "travel back through sound" to the mantra deity. I > know that, really, it's a way to convince my mind that this is "so > interesting" so it keeps quiet and allows me to do the japa. I can > kind of trick my mind to just settle in and then the japa takes > over. A swami taught me this quite a long time ago and I have used > the technique whenever I do a long japa practice. But, just to be > clear..everybody..it's not the "right" way to do japa...just helpful > for those of us whose minds sometimes buck and kick before they will > settle into the "mantra groove". The other thing I like about this > japa in "stages" is that the spoken japa really can get your whole > body vibrating with the sound..then you just get increasingly more > subtle. > best luck in your practice, > sadhvi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 9, 2004 Report Share Posted April 9, 2004 i tried it too, it seems good. steve , "Chris Kirner" <chriskirner1956> wrote: > Sadhvi, > > For the last couple of days I have been splitting my japa in two: > five aloud, followed by five silent. I did not encounter the feelings > I had experienced before, and it transitioned very nicely. I think I > will continue in this way. It was a good suggestion. Thanks. > > Chris > > > > , "nityashakti" <sadhvi@p...> wrote: > > "...I did my japa silently. One of the benefits of this is that it > > goes > > faster, of course, though there are others as well. But I have found > > that japa aloud has its own unique benefits, though it does take > > considerably more time. I'm thinking I may alternate between doing > > japa aloud and silently. It is a bit of a struggle, since the modes > > are so different, but it may be worth doing. One day silent, the > next > > aloud...." > > > > Dear Chris, > > Sometimes when I am doing a long mantra japa like this, I think > > about the 3 ways it is done: aloud (vacika), whispered (upamshu) or > > mentally (manasa). (then there is the written form (likhita-japa) as > > well. I like to think about the purpose of japa: to reach the state > > of consciousness that the mantra represents. There are these > > specific stages through which sound proceeds from the Absolute and > > the 3 kinds of japa are reflections of that. (I hope I'm not > > sounding too "preachy" here...but it's hard to explain this in a > > less scholarly kind of way)...Anyway, the point of this information > > is how it affects the way I do japa during a long practice. I start > > with the spoken (since that's the most "manifest sound"), do a > > number of malas of the spoken, then go to the whispered and then > > finally to the silent..that way, I'm reminding myself that the > point > > of the japa is to "travel back through sound" to the mantra deity. > I > > know that, really, it's a way to convince my mind that this is "so > > interesting" so it keeps quiet and allows me to do the japa. I can > > kind of trick my mind to just settle in and then the japa takes > > over. A swami taught me this quite a long time ago and I have used > > the technique whenever I do a long japa practice. But, just to be > > clear..everybody..it's not the "right" way to do japa...just > helpful > > for those of us whose minds sometimes buck and kick before they > will > > settle into the "mantra groove". The other thing I like about this > > japa in "stages" is that the spoken japa really can get your whole > > body vibrating with the sound..then you just get increasingly more > > subtle. > > best luck in your practice, > > sadhvi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 9, 2004 Report Share Posted April 9, 2004 "...Sadhvi, For the last couple of days I have been splitting my japa in two: five aloud, followed by five silent. I did not encounter the feelings I had experienced before, and it transitioned very nicely. I think I will continue in this way. It was a good suggestion. Thanks. Chris..." Dear Chris, Yesterday, I had to take a stress test in downtown Boston. As if that weren't enough, I had to drive home in rush hour through the Big Dig (which is, for those of you who don't know Boston: a huge re- construction of the freeway system in and out of Boston). I had decided to save my japa for the evening and do the Kavacam in the morning along with my usual puja. I was SO tired when I finally got to my asan, that I couldn't do any spoken japa at all...I had to do all silent japa. At first, I had fixed my eyes on a large Chandi I have above my Devi puja (I am doing the navarna mantra)but halfway through, my eyes closed and I went into the deepest state I can remember for a long time. I knew I was doing japa of the mantra and I could feel my fingers turning the mantra and part of my brain seeing which mala I was on and I could see the mantra moving across the screen of my mind...but some other deeper part of me was just observing the whole thing...like sitting at the bottom of a lake and looking up at someone else doing the japa. It was a really strange and wonderful experience. I am enjoying hearing about everyone's japa practice and chanting practice with the Chandi. If we are doing this for 4 months!!!! who knows what insights we might have! Also, thanks for the information on pranayama...very very helpful. best love to everyone, sadhvi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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