Japa
Japa- Meditation on Mala beads.
Japa is a practice that is at least as old as the Veda’s. Japa combines energies of Bhakti and Jnana Yoga. Bhakti is the feeling of loving devotion turned inward. This feeling of Bhakti increases as we remove emotional obstacles though gratitude , love and forgiveness. Jnana is Sanskrit for knowledge or wisdom. Jnana Yoga is the path of attaining knowledge of the true nature of reality through the practice of meditation, self-inquiry, contemplation and ultimately transmutation. Jnana and Bhakti Yoga is the merging of heart and mind. The focused concentration on the mantra (words) with love brings emotional strength and mental balance.
Choose the beads. Rudraksha (seeds) or stone mala’s. The beads retain the energies of the Japa. Wearing the mala’s following this devotional practice integrates the energies into the physicality.
Sit with spine straight.
Breath deep and even to prepare.
Hang the beads over the third finger. Moving each bead with the thumb for each mantra.
Repeat mantra vocally with each bead. It may be sung.
Om Namah Shivaya x 108
Gayatri Mantra x 108
Complete 108 repetitions without interruption. Hold as much loving focus as possible.
