The technique of Ajapa Japa

All life pulsates in a continuous rhythm of expansion and contraction, intake and elimination, prana and apana. Everything is in a ceaseless and spontaneous state of cyclical change, repeating endlessly in an endless mantra.

Man pulsates to this rhythm in many ways. The most obvious are the heartbeat and breathing. The ancient yogis developed a simple but wonderful method of using this steady rhythm as a means of calming the mind and raising levels of awareness and understanding. They realized that the breath has a rhythm that continuously repeats the mantra SoHam and the practice of awareness of this was called Ajapa Japa.

'Japa' means continuous repetition/awareness of a mantra. 'Japa' becomes 'Ajapa' when this repetition becomes spontaneous. 'Japa' needs conscious effort and happens from the mind, 'Ajapa' is effortless and comes from the heart. Every creature repeats mantra Ham with every exhalation and mantra So with every inhalation. Every human being takes 21,600 breaths/day, reciting this mantra continuously.

 Gheranda Samhita.

The ultimate Ajapa Japa is the uninterrupted connection with the breath and the mantra. Whatever activity we do, from working, walking or reading this text, awareness never leaves the mantra. Gradually, the body and mind begin to vibrate more and more intensely in its vibration.

This practice is practiced in class with the Ajapa Japa meditation technique. It is a comprehensive and incredibly powerful pratyahara and meditation technique that connects mind, breath and prana to move harmoniously as one. The practice involves breathing, repeating the SoHam mantra and moving awareness through the energy channels to, among other things, train oneself to be connected outside of class. The great poet and yogi Kabir referred to Ajapa Japa as the ultimate meditation technique. In Vedas it is the most recommended meditative practice. In fact, it is considered so important that a separate Upanishad has been written about it, the Hamsa Upanishad.

Ajapa Japa involves a meditation practice that you can keep for your daily life. Its regular practice can be highly transformative.