Repetition of the Name (Japa)
The name of God repeated until the mind grows still — and, for the devotee, until the heart grows full.
Japa is the repetition of a sacred sound — a mantra or a name of God — recited over and over to gather and steady the mind. It may be spoken aloud, murmured under the breath, or repeated silently within, the last being the most prized; a rosary of beads often keeps the count. In the meditative traditions it concentrates attention; in the devotional ones the repetition of the holy name becomes a loving practice in its own right, held capable of carrying the devotee all the way to the goal.
Key passages(10)
Of the great Rishis I am Bhrigu; of words I am the one syllable "Om"; of Yajnas I am the Yajna of Japa (silent repetition); of immovable things the Himâlaya.
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