Ajapa Japa - Stage 2

Ajapa means that the repetition of the mantra becomes spontaeous. So hum, on the breath, to remind you with every breath "I am consciousness" - "I am that"
In Stage 2 the mantra is Ham So, merging with the breathing process. This meditation will have further benefits of opening the central channel, bringing peace and harmony to mind and body.

Transcript

Ajapa Japa stage 2. In stage 1 of Ajapa Japa you synchronized So with the incoming breath and Hum with the outgoing breath. In stage 2 the process is similar but each breath will start with the exhalation synchronizing with the mantra Hum and with the inhalation synchronizing with the mantra So. The inhalation but now the mantra will be Hum So instead of So Hum. There should be no pause between Hum and So but a slight pause after one round of Hum So. This may seem a fine difference but it is nevertheless important. Come to your sitting position. Make yourself comfortable and then relax the whole body. Relax the whole body and relax the whole mind. Become aware of your breathing. And again just to remind you to stay focused or bringing your attention back to the practice and don't worry about the thoughts and distractions. Ujjayi breathing. Listen to the sound that the throat makes when you do Ujjayi. The hissing sound. And if you like perform Kechiri Mudra. Complete awareness of the breathing process. Allowing it to become deeper and slower. Try to feel as though you are the process of breathing itself. Again imagine the breath moving between the navel and the throat. On the inhalation it moves upwards and on the exhalation moving downwards from the throat to the navel. Be attentive to the rhythmic flow of breath. No forcing, Just attentiveness to the natural process of breathing. You can imagine the up-and-down flow of the breath in the body as if it's moving through a glass tube. A glass tube that is connecting your navel to the throat. And the tube contains water. As you breathe out the level of water drops. Watch the breathing become slower and slower. And now we're to synchronize the mantra HUM SO with the breathing. With the exhalation downwards hear the sound HUM. With the inhalation upwards hear the sound SO. Thus with each round of respiration you will hear HUM SO, HUM SO, HUM SO and so forth. There will be a continuation between exhalation and inhalation. But a slight break between inhalation and exhalation. After the mantra HUM SO, A slight pause. Be sure to maintain awareness of the breath and the mantra. Try to locate the Manipurka Stram located at the navel. This is the lowest junction of the movement of your exhalation as it goes down into the navel. Try to clearly feel the exhaled and downward flowing breath penetrating the Manipurka Stram at the navel and being drawn upwards from the same center during inhalation. This will greatly help to develop your sensitivity to the exact position of the center in preparation for Kriya Yoga. And now we're going to leave the Ajapa and become aware of the space in front of the closed eyes. Take your time to move your attention from Ajapa Japa to Chidakash. And observe with detachment the contents of the subconscious mind. Observe whatever arises in the space before your closed eyes. Then again return to the practice of Ajapa with mantra and breath awareness. Continue to practice the Ajapa Japa until the synchronization of the breath and the mantra occur without any effort. Then you are ready to progress to Stage 3. Again observe the space in front of your closed eyes. Either continue your practice or if you like end the practice now with me. Thank you for joining. Hari Om Tat Sat.