Japa Meditation: The Spiritual Discipline

Japa meditation involves the meditative repetition of a mantra (a religious or mystical syllable or poem). The mantra, or you can use the name of God, is spoken out-loud or silently to yourself. In Sanskrit, the classical language of India, the word Japa means to utter in a low voice, repeat internally, or to mutter.

Japa meditation helps clear the mind and purify the spirit. Many people use the name of the deity they worship, which can be a powerful and divinely inspiring mantra. The word can be the name of an item you find enjoyable or soothing, such as the name of a flower or a river, a word that rolls smoothly off your tongue. Alternatively, you can use a phrase from a favorite poem, or a Bible verse.

You can practice Japa meditation while sitting in a meditation posture, or while you’re doing other activities, or even as part of formal worship, for example, in group settings. Some people like to count the repetitions of either the mantra or the name of God, using a string of beads known as a japa mala. It’s commonly made of 108 beads, a number that has great significance in the Buddhist tradition.

Independently of all beads or prayer devices, many Hindus will recite mantra, either under their breath or in their own mind, at any time of the day. This sort of casual chanting is said to be a way of inspiring contemplation about oneself, or about God. The Hindus hope that this kind of Japa meditation will help them attain a life that’s a constant flow of prayer, despite interruptions by daily chores and concerns.

In the Hindu traditions, devotees of Vaishnava (which is one of the principal traditions of Hinduism) commonly chant on beads made from the Tulsi plant, which is also known as Holy Basil, and is often used as a medicinal plant around the world. People commonly wear japa meditation beads around their necks, although some users prefer to carry them in a bead-bag in order to keep them clean.

The use of beads in japa meditation is based on sound psychological and natural principles. Holding the beads in your fingers helps you to foster alertness and offers a focus for releasing physical energy. Passing the beads through your hands is an aid to the rhythmic continuous recitation of the mantra.

Before the beginning of the mantra, a prayer should be said to induce purity of feeling and a meditative state. With eyes closed, concentrating either on your heart or your mind, you should ask for the aid of your deity and pronounce the mantra distinctly. The repetition that follows must be neither too fast, nor too slow, and careful thought must be given to the meaning of the manta. If your mind starts to wander away from the japa meditation, you can increase or decrease the speed, or volume, of the mantra to keep alert.

Experts in the practice say that if you manage to keep up the mantra all day, spiritual realization will flood into your life, bringing you peace, happiness, and spiritual revitalization.