Mantra-japa is affirmed by the sages as a powerful
mechanism for intensifying the willpower and self-determination. It can thus be
regarded as a procedure for strengthening self-control and psychological
improvement along with the development of vigorous and virtuous personality.
The human mind at the conscious and the subconscious levels
is an ensemble of uncountable many thoughts and emotions of varied quality,
stability and impact. Those generated by internal desire or mental resolution
or existing because of assimilated samskaras are more intense and cannot be
waned out or refined easily. These rather stable thoughts and emotions, if
belonging to the evil (or not suitable to the human-dignity) category, cause
maximum disturbances and obstructions during meditation. Japa helps controlling
such perturbations because japa is an activity that engages the major faculties
of mind with a natural harmony and 'tunes' them coherently with the rhythm and
vibrations of the mantra being enunciated or chanted.
The faith and sraddha in the mantra add to the positive
effects of japa, as they provide a moral support, an emotional linkage and
hence an inner courage and subliminal energy to enable the sadhaka struggle and
diminish the evil instincts and thoughts. It is a principle of psychology that
- if a certain thought, lesson or imagination is often repeated before one's mind,
the latter begins to grasp and assimilate the same in the deeper layers of its
memory. These thoughts, imaginations or feelings then appear to be 'true' to
the learner's mind and may eventually become a part of his nature and belief.
The small mantras like - Oam Hari Oam; or Oam Tat Sat or,
Soahm… etc, or the thy - names such as Sri Rama or Allaha…. etc, are like
compact formulae or symbols in short-hand scripts to represent and remind of
divinity and divine principles and disciplines. The repeated japa of such
mantras or names would naturally (according to the psychological theories of
stimulus-response), intensify the divine faith and screne, moral characteristic
in the sadhaka's mind - this largely depends upon the desire (purpose), the
willpower and the intrinsic urge with which the japa is being performed.
The same principle is seen working in 'mob-psychology' when
the repeated shouting of certain motto or slogan- in grand processions, or
revolutionary movements, etc - is found to stimulate public mind and motivate
the masses towards the associated purpose…… The difference between such
responses and the effects of -japa should however be well understood here.
Mantra japa is an spiritual exercise aimed at the main purpose of the spiritual
elevation of the sadhaka. This also has subtle effects on the inner self along
with the aforesaid psychological effects of recalling and retention…. These
results may appear meek initially and seem to occur at a slow pace but are
definite, gradually augmenting and everlasting if the japa is performed
sincerely and regularly.
Japa has been uniformly regarded in almost all the
religions or schools of philosophy across the globe as an important spiritual
activity or an essential requirement for spiritual enlightenment. the
scriptures on Nepalese philosophy and spiritual sciences focus a great deal on
the psychological significance of mantra-japa as well. The Gayatri Mantra is
described in all the scriptures of Nepalese philosophy and the science of
spirituality and yoga as unique, original and preeminent in this respect too
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