Qualities and measure of JAPA
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1) Japa should be shortest.
2) It should not have hard consonants.
3) Best Japa is easiest to pronounce.
4) Sound has three centers
umbilical center
throat center
top of the head center
Japa with the words that touches and pierces all these centers is the ideal japa.
4) Japa should be co-ordinated either with breath or heart beat.
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When japa is lively, effortless, permanent and continuous like the flow of Ganges water, then only it is very helpful to direct inner instruments ( mind, intelligence etc ) and soul towards appropriate aim. Continuity in the japa is very important in producing loving devotion that in turn will lead to higher consciousness. Japa is best done with happy flow of feelings and aspiration.
Mental japa is best, but beginners can not do it in mind. The reason being very nature of the mind, that knows only duality. The function of the mind is to be indecisive and argue either way since it works at the level of duality. It can not do anything but that. When practice of japa becomes lively, affectionate and directed towards divine then only effortless continuity ( અજપાજપ ) in japa is established in mind.
Nervous system in the body reacts to various actions and reactions producing different kind of vibration in it. Body in turn feels and reacts to these vibrations in variety of ways. Distraction and agitation is produced by intense feeling of love, anger, greed, infatuation, jealousy and ego. This distraction and agitation upsets the nervous system in variety of ways, producing instability, loss of balance and peace. Because of this loss of order and efficiency; balance and determination of the nervous system is compromised, resulting in diseases. If japa is done continuously and whole heartedly nervous system is toned up, producing peace, balance and equanimity. And when these qualities reach at the extreme in nervous system, there is a possibility of curing diseases of the body and nervous system. Because of this, it is very important to develop continuity and one pointedness in japa. When live awareness and dynamic continuity is established in japa, it prods the mind, intelligence, life force and ego towards it's appropriate goal and it is inspirational and creative in its action. Duality of the mind is reduced and psyche tends to be virtuous. This also creates a natural state of the being where sex and anger like qualities of life force (prana ) is automatically reduced. Balance is established in intelligence permanently. Ego now works to enhance knowledge of consciousness, instead of being busy with dualities and matters of daily life.
Pujya Shree Mota
Preface of Jivan smaransadhana
Compiled in Naam-Smaran
Edition 1, page 30-32
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My two cents --
Japa works at the root cause of duelities in mind and calms the forces of prana like anger, sex, jealousy, greed and ego at the same time. It is very difficult, rather impossible to reduce these forces individually. Japa works on all at the same time. Pujya Shree Mota has clearly stated that in this difficult times there is no other safer and effective tool as naam-smaran ( japa ).
So try it . You have nothing to loose but your anger and greed.
Ashwin
