The Principle of Japa

The Principle of Japa by Prof. Eknath Easwaran

The repetition of the Holy Name or mantra, called japa, can bring us lasting benefits on the physical, mental and spiritual levels. The impact of mantra is based on the theory of vibrations. According to this theory, from the Great Silence there issued one Creative Word. ‘In the beginning was Brahman, with whom was the Word; and the Word was truly the supreme Brahman.’ This verse from the Rig Veda has an almost exact parallel in the Gospel according to St. John: ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.’

According to this theory, sabda or sound is the subtle stuff out of which the phenomenal world has emanated, and every object may therefore be looked upon as sound of a particular concentration. In other words, this world of name and form is sabda (sound) manifesting itself at varying levels of vibrations.

As contrasted with the words of language, Om or Aum is a ‘natural name’ in which there is an intrinsic and inherent connection between name and rupa, between the sound and substance, between the Word and the Reality in represents. To quote Swami Vivekananda: The first letter A is the root sound, which is pronounced without touching any part of the tongue or palate; M represents the last sound in the series, being pronounced by the closed lips, and U rolls from the very root to the end of the sounding board of the mouth. Thus Om or Aum represents the whole sound-producing phenomenon. According to the Katha Upanishad, Om is Brahman. It is the strongest support, it is the highest symbol. He who knows it is revered as a knower of Brahman.

How can one make mantra an integral part of one’s consciousness? The mantra has to be repeated in the mind as often as we can – while walking, driving, while doing mechanical chores, etc. When we are angry, afraid or otherwise agitated let us go for brisk walk, repeating the mantra in the mind. Gradually, the rhythm of our step, the rhythm of our breath and the rhythm of the mantra will blend into a healing harmony to transform the negative emotion. The mantra acts as a tremendous transformer. At bedtime, after lying down, let us close our eyes and keep repeating the mantra until we fall asleep. This may be difficult at first, but we are likely to be pleasantly surprised at the ease with which we get good sleep as a consequence of this practice.

As the mantra sinks into the deeper levels of consciousness, a wave of bliss begins to rise up from the Sea of Bliss, that is the Atma. After years of patience and practice, we no longer have to perform japa consciously because the mantra has become an integral part of our consciousness. It is now ajapa japa (japa without japa) in which the mantra goes on repeating itself.

One in whom the mantra has become an integral part of consciousness carries God with him into all his work and into all places, and God alone does all his work. He seeks nothing but God, nothing seems good to him but God. He becomes one with God in every thought.

(Taken from Sri Ramana Jyoti – November 2010)