Japa is the repetition of a mantra, aloud, whispered or silently. It is one of the oldest and most accessible forms of meditation: the mind has something concrete to hold on to, and gradually settles.
The mala
Traditionally a mala is used, a string of 108 beads. You move one bead with your fingers for each repetition, starting next to the main bead (meru), which is never crossed: when you reach it, you turn the mala and continue in the other direction.
The OM mantra
OM is considered the primordial sound. It can be chanted in three parts, A-U-M, feeling the vibration rise from belly to chest to head, ending in a silence that is also part of the mantra. Chanting OM, especially aloud and in a group, has a clearly calming, unifying effect.
How to start
- Sit with a straight back and close your eyes.
- Repeat the mantra at a gentle pace, linking it to the breath if that helps.
- Start with one round of the mala (108 repetitions) and keep the practice daily for a while.
Over the years, the mantra keeps sounding within even when we’re not repeating it.
