Importance of "JAPA" in Spiritual journey to realise the Divine

Right from my childhood days till now, I have observed seekers on spiritual journey using "JAPA" (repetition of a mantra or a hymn) as a daily practice in most of the religions, be it Hinduism, Christianity or Buddhism or any other) across the different parts of the world during my travels to different places. It had been a curiosity in me in earlier days and now a realisation that this is perhaps a simple and proven way to connect and be in resonance with the chosen form of Divine (be it a Deity or a Sound or most cherished role model).

This thought gets reinforced as we read the scriptures and stories of the transformational journey of Saints and spiritual leaders who chose "Bhakti Marg" (Sadhana through Devotion) as the path to tread in their spiritual journey and realisation of Self and its communion with Divinity in the form of the chosen Deity.

Contemplation on JAPA as a Daily Practice and then self experince in doing JAPA in early mornings and late evening hours develped conviction that this indeed is the simplest way to realise the Divine (connect individual conscousness with Universal consciousness) and feel moments of Joy and Bliss – may be because we learn to concentrate and devote consciously through this practice. And this in turn helps in making decisions by activation of Psychic self and silencing the multiplicity of Physical Mind.

One popular practice is using a "Mala" (thread of beads) to keep resonance between physical and mental self. Concept of 108 beads in a "Mala" used as an instrument also has a spiritual significance which I am still trying to understand as a seeker.

Connecting with the Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, repetition of a Mantra using Japa as the process has been mentioned as one of the proven and simpler way to realise the Divine as it facilitates the connect of Individual Psychic consciousness (Soul) with the Cosmic consciousness.

There are numerous references of earlier sages/seekers, wherein JAPA as regular practice on chosen form of Divine for extended period brought transformational changes in their Life Journey. One such story relates to a dreaded forest-based robber named, "Angulimal", becoming the saint "Valmiki" just by doing JAPA over an extended period of time. There are many more such references in Indian mythology and historical texts.

This kind of Practice with Sincerity could bring Transformational change in our Life and aspiration to realise the Divine on Daily basis.

- Pranav Srivastava (India)

Keywords: Spiritual practice, Japa, Realising the Divine

Comments

  1. Anonymous24 August 2023 at 19:22

    Thank you for this post. Japa is a unique modality to connect with the energy of the pure consciousness. It builds mental muscles and stimulates our Chakras. Sri Aurobindo and The Mother have beautifully written on this aspect of spiritual development. Abhishek Ghosh.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous25 August 2023 at 10:29

    "Nam-japa" has great power".
    - Sri Aurobindo

    ReplyDelete
  3. Random Thoughts25 August 2023 at 19:01

    Please explain the terms 'physical mind' and 'multiplicity of the physical mind'.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous31 August 2023 at 09:46

      "Physical Mind" helps in formations and expressions in physical world and in dealing with external objects and movements.. so operates at Physical plane of consciousness.
      Multiplicity of Objects and our roles in daily life requires mind to support expressions so one could experience multiplicity of Mind as some Life situations ... Compilation of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother's thoughts by Mr AS Dalal entitled "Our Many selves" could be good reference in this context .... Pranav Srivastava

      Delete
    2. Don3 May 2024 at 17:36

      One of the key explanations Sri Aurobindo has given for his terminology is that he aimed to connect the inner and outer consciousness. So the term "physical" he uses in "physical mind" is not simply the "physical" stuff we see and perceive with our ordinary senses. He is referring to the subtle physical consciousness and its influence on the outer thinking mind.

      The nature of the physical consciousness as it affects humanity in the present era is that it is very tamasic, dull, inert, barely conscious in the ordinary waking sense, and as a result, contributes characteristics of habit, dull repetition, inertia, compulsiveness, mechanical thinking, feeling and behavior, etc.

      It makes it difficult to think clearly, to focus, to feel with any depth or intensity. The physical mind, thus, is characterized by repetitive, mechanical, barely conscious behavior.

      And this mind is one of the most dominant influences on present humanity. Understanding this can evoke great compassion for our fellow/sister humans!

      Delete
  4. Bahman Shirazi27 August 2023 at 04:39

    Thank you Pranav for this post! Japa as a way of concentrating on the Divine is also practiced, as you said, in other traditions. Sufis have a practice called "Dhikr or Zikr" which means remebrance and is done in groups reciting names of The Divine ( there are 99 names + Allah). They also have rosary beads ( malas) with 100 beads, which can be used to recall the names or concentrate on them.
    I had heard the story of Angulimala in the context of Theravada Buddhism. He was a murderer who has created a mala of the fingure bones (anguli) of those who had murdered as a way to terrorize others. I had not heard that he used JAPA in that version, but rather being transformed by the Buddha after seeing that the Buddha walked toward him without any fear.

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  5. AnooradhaUnni8 September 2023 at 16:41

    Thank you, Pranav Ji, for your thoughts about writing on the importance of JAPA and its significance.

    In my personal experience, I have observed and understood that the JAPA Mala (the bead) is a simple tool that can be very helpful to beginners of sadhana who are sincerely attempting to discipline their lives. ( Nithya Anushtana) Especially when a person finds it difficult to calm the mind or go to a state of thoughtlessness while sitting for Mantra JAPA practice.

    But using a JAPA Mala, preferably made with Tulasi ( Basil) or Chandan ( Sandal), instantly connects the hand-mind co-ordination, while the positive effects of the bead in the mala also add its value in controlling the mind, keeping away thoughts and staying focussed on the mala. One bead at a time.

    Gradually, as one progresses in sadhana, one can observe the effortless synchronization of the hands, mind, and lips. Although you hold the bead, you no longer feel the bead in the hand. The mind obediently stays in control of the beads ( in a perfect synch) while the lips repeat the mantra.

    Initially, I had this wrong notion that using a JAPA Mala is not recommended for beginners and that people in advanced stages of sadhana could only use it. In reality, it is not so. It took me years to break this mindset and fear.

    If you are reading this post, I would happily recommend/ encourage you to go ahead and begin to use a JAPA Mala to practice Mantra JAPA.

    Therefore, using a JAPA Mala is one of the best practices everyone can follow regardless of age, gender, or stage of sadhana.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous3 May 2024 at 17:32

    There is small book written by Madhav Pandit ji on Japa.
    The japa has to become an inner and not only an outer experience as one progresses ,practices . It is like breath or say like a Tanpura accompanying simultaneous to the song being sung. One does all the outer activities while Japa goes on simultaneously and silently- ."sumiran" some say .
    Ma ma ma ma ma ma.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Don3 May 2024 at 17:40

    I began Japa of the Divine Name in 1974. I received it from a teacher who himself received it from Swami Ramananda of Rishikesha.

    Swamiji was himself part of a very traditional path going back to the Arya Samaj in the 19th century, one of semi-rationalized bhakti and devotion. In the course of his sadhana, Swamiji had a vision of the supramental shakti descending and transforming the earth, but had no words for it and no idea what it was. Neither his guru nor anybody else he knew could explain this to him.

    For the next year or so, he kept a daily journal of his prayers and meditations, and it wasn't until he came across "Bases of Yoga" a year later, that he found someone (Sri Aurobindo, of course) who could explain exactly what was going on. Further, he soon after that came across the Mother's "Prayers and Meditations," and to his astonishment, he found numerous of the prayers and meditations he wrote were - word-for-word - exactly what She had written.

    He described his practice as using the Name as a way of enhancing the spontaneous aspiration of our innermost Soul (psychic being) to open to the Divine Shakti of the Mother for the sake of evolution and transformation.

    Over the decades, I've found the Name has settled in and - more as a vibration than specific syllables - channels an almost constant descent of the Mahashakti. It really is teacher, guide, counselor and guru all in one, and vibrates everywhere and everywhen.

    ReplyDelete

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