Ajapa Japa Stage 1 Practice this Ajapa Japa a few times before moving on to Stage 2.
Sit in a comfortable position.
Close your eyes.
And relax the whole body.
The spine is upright without any excessive strain.
Tell yourself that for the duration of practice all problems and worries will be discarded.
All attention will be on the practice of Ajapa Japa.
Become aware of your breathing.
And allow your breath to move to Ujjayi breathing where you make the ocean sound in the back of your throat.
A hissing sound arrives in the throat.
If you know the Chakri Mudra you can apply putting your tongue to the back of your throat.
Complete awareness of the breathing process.
As you breathe in,
Know that you are breathing in.
As you breathe out,
Know that you are breathing out.
Be totally attentive to every incoming and outgoing breath.
Feel the rhythm of the flow.
Continue in this manner for a few moments.
Then imagine that the breath is flowing in the front of your body from the navel to the throat.
On the inhalation,
The breath rising.
And on the exhalation,
The breath descending.
The important thing is to be completely aware of the breath.
Allow the breathing to become rhythmical,
Deep and long,
But without force.
The more you relax,
The more the breath will automatically become slow and deep.
Maintain awareness.
The essence of a Japa,
Like all other meditative techniques,
Is to continually be attentive to the practice being performed.
There is no need to suppress the fluctuations and distractions of the mind.
But you should try to simultaneously maintain awareness of the process.
Thus,
If the mind wanders,
Which it surely will,
Don't fight it.
Just simultaneously be aware of your practice.
This Ajapa Japa is an excellent and essential preparation for Kriya Yoga,
Bringing mental peace and one-pointedness of mind,
And leads directly to meditation.
Then you must merge and synchronize the mantra So Hum with the up and down movement of breath.
Simultaneously be aware of the rising and descending breath,
And the sound of So Hum in the throat.
So sounds with the upward movement of the inhalation,
And Hum sounds with the downward movement of the exhalation.
The meaning of the mantra So Hum is not essential for the practice of a Japa.
However,
It is worthwhile explaining it.
So is He or Shiva.
Hum is a Hum or I Am.
So Hum means I am He,
Or I am Shiva,
Or I am Supreme Consciousness.
The meaning can be remembered continuously with the practice of a Japa as a method of affirmation.
There should be unceasing awareness of So Hum as you breathe in and out,
Ascending and descending.
And now,
As we come to the end of the practice of a Japa Japa,
You can either end with me,
Or continue into meditation practice,
As your preparation has now been done.
Hari Om Tat Sat
