357--Q&A WITH SWAMIJI--A collector's edition of Japa questions

[Guest guest]

Question from Henny:

In studying the commentary on the Kasyapa Sutra, I came across the

recommendation to 'maintain the traditional formulas for puraka,

kumbhaka and recaka: 1:4:2' if you are performing japa.But what I

don't understand: -what do you do after the outbreath; do you hold the

breath again, so that you get: 1:4:2:4:1:4:2 etc?

 

Swamiji's response:

No, 1:4:2 and then inhale.

 

Question from Henny:

When you perform japa with voice, what do you do during the kumbhaka

(and puraka); recite mentally? so that the japa you hear would be only

the tip of the iceberg and you get very long pauses in the vocal

recitation?

 

Swamiji's response:

Exactly. Recite mentally.

 

Question from Henny:

Is the easiest way to learn japa, to count the number of mantra's: .

When you recite 'om namah shivaya', you would do one on the

inhalation, four keeping your breath, and two on the outbreath?

 

Swamiji's response:

Correct.

 

Question from Henny:

In the Shiva beginner's puja class, we also discussed japa, and the

instruction was that the outbreath should be longer than the inbreath,

but no mention was made of kumbhaka. Was the reason that this is to

complicated for beginners or was there another reason?

 

Swamiji's response:

There are different formulas for pranayam. When we are chanting with

pranayam we recite the text on the outflowing breath and use the guru

mantra on the inflowing breath.

 

Question from Henny:

About japa in general: what is the best time to practice japa with

pranayam: after puja, before puja? Or whenever you want to? (I try to

remember chanting 'om namah shivaya' mentally during the day, but I

understand that is not performing japa).

 

Swamiji's response:

Before, during and after.

 

Nanda's aside : Tee Hee, somehow I KNEW you were gonna say that Swamiji

 

Question from Henny:

what is the best way to start japa: one mala at first and then add to

that gradually?

 

Swamiji's response:

Yes. One mala is minimum.

 

Question from Henny:

About rudraksha beads: I have a sandalwood mala, but I read that

rudraksha beads have special beneficial properties and a special

connection with Lord Shiva. Would experienced japa-performers

recommend I get a rudraksha mala, or is it not important?

 

Swamiji's response:

It depends on the tradition you wish to follow. Our tradition uses

mostly rudraksha, except for some pujas for Lakshmi.

 

Question from Nanda:

When I chant a text, I do the chanting with pranayam as you have

recommended - no retention of breath. This is what I have used during

the 108 mantra repetition too. Should I change the pranayam during the

mantra repetition to 1:4:2. Or is this form 1:4:2 used only when doing

japa alone without the chanting of a text . Thank you for your time.

 

Swamiji's response:

This form is most specific to silent japa, not for chanting texts.

[Guest guest]

Thank you very much, respected Swamiji, for your time and

consideration.

 

with love,

Henny

 

, "Nanda" <chandimaakijai>

wrote:

> Question from Henny:

> In studying the commentary on the Kasyapa Sutra, I came across the

> recommendation to 'maintain the traditional formulas for puraka,

> kumbhaka and recaka: 1:4:2' if you are performing japa.But what I

> don't understand: -what do you do after the outbreath; do you hold

the

> breath again, so that you get: 1:4:2:4:1:4:2 etc?

>

> Swamiji's response:

> No, 1:4:2 and then inhale.

>

> Question from Henny:

> When you perform japa with voice, what do you do during the kumbhaka

> (and puraka); recite mentally? so that the japa you hear would be

only

> the tip of the iceberg and you get very long pauses in the vocal

> recitation?

>

> Swamiji's response:

> Exactly. Recite mentally.

>

> Question from Henny:

> Is the easiest way to learn japa, to count the number of mantra's: .

> When you recite 'om namah shivaya', you would do one on the

> inhalation, four keeping your breath, and two on the outbreath?

>

> Swamiji's response:

> Correct.

>

> Question from Henny:

> In the Shiva beginner's puja class, we also discussed japa, and the

> instruction was that the outbreath should be longer than the

inbreath,

> but no mention was made of kumbhaka. Was the reason that this is to

> complicated for beginners or was there another reason?

>

> Swamiji's response:

> There are different formulas for pranayam. When we are chanting with

> pranayam we recite the text on the outflowing breath and use the

guru

> mantra on the inflowing breath.

>

> Question from Henny:

> About japa in general: what is the best time to practice japa with

> pranayam: after puja, before puja? Or whenever you want to? (I try

to

> remember chanting 'om namah shivaya' mentally during the day, but I

> understand that is not performing japa).

>

> Swamiji's response:

> Before, during and after.

>

> Nanda's aside : Tee Hee, somehow I KNEW you were gonna say that

Swamiji

>

> Question from Henny:

> what is the best way to start japa: one mala at first and then add

to

> that gradually?

>

> Swamiji's response:

> Yes. One mala is minimum.

>

> Question from Henny:

> About rudraksha beads: I have a sandalwood mala, but I read that

> rudraksha beads have special beneficial properties and a special

> connection with Lord Shiva. Would experienced japa-performers

> recommend I get a rudraksha mala, or is it not important?

>

> Swamiji's response:

> It depends on the tradition you wish to follow. Our tradition uses

> mostly rudraksha, except for some pujas for Lakshmi.

>

> Question from Nanda:

> When I chant a text, I do the chanting with pranayam as you have

> recommended - no retention of breath. This is what I have used

during

> the 108 mantra repetition too. Should I change the pranayam during

the

> mantra repetition to 1:4:2. Or is this form 1:4:2 used only when

doing

> japa alone without the chanting of a text . Thank you for your

time.

>

> Swamiji's response:

> This form is most specific to silent japa, not for chanting texts.

[Guest guest]

Nanda what a wonderful topical collection of QA.

 

I think I want to change the question to:

 

Swamiji,

 

In doing pranayam and counting with japa or mantra, do you ever allow

the mantra and breath to slow down considerably, for example, longer

retention, or extended exhalation? for the purpose of further stilling

mind and body and increasing unity with spirit.

 

Pranams,

 

steve c.

 

 

 

, "Nanda" <chandimaakijai>

wrote:

> Question from Henny:

> In studying the commentary on the Kasyapa Sutra, I came across the

> recommendation to 'maintain the traditional formulas for puraka,

> kumbhaka and recaka: 1:4:2' if you are performing japa.But what I

> don't understand: -what do you do after the outbreath; do you hold

the

> breath again, so that you get: 1:4:2:4:1:4:2 etc?

>

> Swamiji's response:

> No, 1:4:2 and then inhale.

>

> Question from Henny:

> When you perform japa with voice, what do you do during the kumbhaka

> (and puraka); recite mentally? so that the japa you hear would be

only

> the tip of the iceberg and you get very long pauses in the vocal

> recitation?

>

> Swamiji's response:

> Exactly. Recite mentally.

>

> Question from Henny:

> Is the easiest way to learn japa, to count the number of mantra's: .

> When you recite 'om namah shivaya', you would do one on the

> inhalation, four keeping your breath, and two on the outbreath?

>

> Swamiji's response:

> Correct.

>

> Question from Henny:

> In the Shiva beginner's puja class, we also discussed japa, and the

> instruction was that the outbreath should be longer than the

inbreath,

> but no mention was made of kumbhaka. Was the reason that this is to

> complicated for beginners or was there another reason?

>

> Swamiji's response:

> There are different formulas for pranayam. When we are chanting with

> pranayam we recite the text on the outflowing breath and use the

guru

> mantra on the inflowing breath.

>

> Question from Henny:

> About japa in general: what is the best time to practice japa with

> pranayam: after puja, before puja? Or whenever you want to? (I try

to

> remember chanting 'om namah shivaya' mentally during the day, but I

> understand that is not performing japa).

>

> Swamiji's response:

> Before, during and after.

>

> Nanda's aside : Tee Hee, somehow I KNEW you were gonna say that

Swamiji

>

> Question from Henny:

> what is the best way to start japa: one mala at first and then add

to

> that gradually?

>

> Swamiji's response:

> Yes. One mala is minimum.

>

> Question from Henny:

> About rudraksha beads: I have a sandalwood mala, but I read that

> rudraksha beads have special beneficial properties and a special

> connection with Lord Shiva. Would experienced japa-performers

> recommend I get a rudraksha mala, or is it not important?

>

> Swamiji's response:

> It depends on the tradition you wish to follow. Our tradition uses

> mostly rudraksha, except for some pujas for Lakshmi.

>

> Question from Nanda:

> When I chant a text, I do the chanting with pranayam as you have

> recommended - no retention of breath. This is what I have used

during

> the 108 mantra repetition too. Should I change the pranayam during

the

> mantra repetition to 1:4:2. Or is this form 1:4:2 used only when

doing

> japa alone without the chanting of a text . Thank you for your

time.

>

> Swamiji's response:

> This form is most specific to silent japa, not for chanting texts.