Ramana Maharshi on Mantra Japa

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Posted on January 21, 2013 | Views: 26571

Question : For controlling the mind, which of the two is

better, performing japa of the ajapa [unspoken] mantra
or of omkar [ the sound of `om’ ] ?

Ramana Maharshi: Ajapa really means to

know that japa which goes on involuntarily
without being uttered through the mouth.
Without knowing this real meaning people think that it
means repeating with the mouth the words `soham,
soham’ thousands of times, counting them on the
fingers or on a string of beads.
Before beginning a japa breath control is
prescribed. That means, first do pranayama
[regulating of breath] and then begin
repeating the mantra. Pranayama means
first closing the mouth, doesn’t it? If, by
stopping the breath, the five elements in the
body are bound down and controlled, what
remains is the real Self. That Self will by
itself be repeating always `aham, aham’ [`I,
I’]. That is ajapa.
Knowing this, how could that which is repeated by
mouth be ajapa? The vision of the real Self
which performs japa of its own accord
involuntarily and in a never-ending stream,
like the flowing down continuously of oil, is
ajapa, gayatri and everything. If you know who it
is that is doing japa you will know what japa
is. If you search and try to find out who it is
that is doing japa, that japa itself becomes
the Self.

Question : Should we not contemplate the japa

and repeat it orally also?
Ramana Maharshi: When the japa becomes mental,
where is the need for the sounds? Japa, becoming
mental, becomes contemplation. Dhyana,
contemplation and mental japa are the
same. When thoughts cease to be one thought
persists to the exclusion of all others, it is said to be
contemplation - Dhyana. The object of japa or
dhyana is the exclusion of several thoughts
and confining oneself to one single thought.
Then that thought too vanishes into its source –
absolute consciousness.

Question : Sri Bhagavan has said that the

japa must be traced to its source. Is it not
the mind that is meant?

Ramana Maharshi: Japa helps to fix the

mind on a single thought. All other thoughts
are first subordinated until they disappear.
When it becomes mental it is called dhyana.
It is however called dhyana because it is made with
effort. Effort is necessary so long as thoughts are
promiscuous. Because you are with other thoughts,
you call the continuity of a single thought
meditation or dhyana.
Japa means clinging to one thought to the
exclusion of all other thoughts. That is its
purpose. It leads to dhyana which ends in
Self-realization or jnana.

Source: from David Godman Excellent Book

“Be As You are”
http://www.awaken.com/2013/01/ramana-
maharshi-on-mantra-japa/