Japa meditation is another choice to the simple meditation technique on this site.
Regarded as one of most effective ways of meditation, Japa Meditation helps sooth the mind and clears away the numerous impinging problems and worries that cloud it from time to time. Prevalent from ancient times, Japa Meditation has been in vogue and practiced by all religions such as Hindus, Christians, Muslims, and others to enable them to experience peace, calmness, and tranquillity in their minds and life.
An indispensable tool for all, which has been handed down from one generation to another, what does Japa Meditation mean?
Meditation involves focusing the mind on a certain objective or thing or thought by shutting out the disturbing external stimuli. Meditation, or the peace of mind, can be achieved by different ways. One of the ways involves mental chanting or repetition of mantras to ease one’s stress and tension. This method is also known as Japa Meditation.
Japa Meditation involves chanting of a mantra, which in most instances are composed of Sanskrit letters which are so arranged so as to evoke a certain response from within the individual. The vibrations of such mantras are extremely effective in creating a very significant change in attitudes and mind-set of individuals. It helps in focusing one’s energies so as to achieve a sense of calmness within oneself.
Mantras can also be any word which evokes a sense of calmness, inspiration, and even respect, such as repeating the name of their God, or anything else.
There are usually two ways in which individuals can practice Japa Meditation. One is audible Japa Meditation, also known as Vaikhari Japa, which includes repetition of mantras in whispers and even audible pitch, and the other is the silent or mental Japa Meditation which is also known as Manasika Japa. Manasika Japa is considered to be extremely powerful as it involves the complete focusing of the mind and hence, once achieved, it tends to obstruct any outside influences from disturbing the mind.
Usually the best ways in which one can practise Japa Meditation is by sitting cross-legged on a sheet or cloth on the ground, and chant the mantra by beading the rosary of 108 beads with concentration, perseverance, and dedication.
A mental activity, Japa Meditation is the best way to ease stress and tension in our lives. When practised correctly, Japa Meditation makes our lives peaceful, calm, and evokes happiness from within ourselves, both from minds and souls.
- Japa meditation is an ancient meditation developed about 2300 B.C in India. It has been passed down throughout history, and is cited in ancient teachings.
- The power of sound “Ahh” stems from all the different names, which have been given to the Creator, whether primitive, western or eastern. The sounds share one thing in common, the sound "Ahh", the sound of joy and the sound of creation.
- Whether, you call the supreme power Atman, God, Buddha, Krishna, Tao, Ra, Allah, Jehovah, Brahman, Jah, etc. The sound of Creation is within all the names of God. It is the sound of “Ahh”.
- You will be visualizing the first 7 letters of the alphabet, A through G one at a time, and making the sound of God, the sound of “Ahh”.
- When meditating, try to ignore everything around you. Keep focused on the activity at hand. Staying disciplined will enhance the Japa meditation. If your mind wanders, simply bring it back to what you're doing.
- The Japa meditation method can be used by beginners or experts, for people who enjoy using a mantra to meditate, or just simply for stress reduction. Japa meditation is my favorite meditation by far, and it is the meditation method I most commonly teach.
