The Yoga Tutor

Om Japa Kriya
[ Excerpt from The Science of Yoga, page 395 ]

Another inner concentration practice in dharmika asana is the Om japa kriya. Japa means "repetition," therefore the Om japa is a repetition of the sound of Om (AUM).

Technique

  • In dharmika asana, allow your mind to settle its attention into bindu nadi, behind the brow centre.
  • Concentrate on making the sound 'OM' into this inner point of concentration, repeating it with steady rhythm. The sound is actually ajapa, or a silent creation within the mind only.
  • When the mind wanders, gently bring it back to the practice.
Note: If you are finding it difficult in the beginning to create this 'mental OM' in bindu nadi, then you may try a form of japa-ajapa, whereby you verbalize the OM on an exhalation of the breath and mentally create the OM on the inhalation. The utterance should be very soft and low, all the while concentrating firmly on the point behind the forehead.

[Continued...]


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Foreword
About Yoga Home Study
Section 1 - Getting Started
Section 2 - Foundations of Yoga (1)
Section 3 - Foundations of Yoga (2)
Section 4 - Classical Ashtanga Yoga
Section 5 - Modern Yoga
Section 6 - The History of Yoga
Section 7 - Yama Niyama Introduction
Section 8 - Awareness
Section 9 - The Yoga Diet
Section 10 - Yoga Philosophy
Section 11 - The Yoga of Perception
Section 12 - The Yoga Path
Section 13 - The Virtue of Restraint
Section 14 - The Classical Yoga Texts
Section 15 - Yoga Cleansing
Section 16 - The Law of Cause and Effect
Section 17 - The Yoga of Digestion
Section 18 - Yoga Psychology
Section 19 - Yoga Psychology (Part 2)
Section 20 - Yoga Psychology (Part 3)
Section 21 - Yoga Psychology (Part 4)
Section 22 - Controlling The Senses
Section 23 - The Higher Stages of Yoga
Section 24 - Higher Stages of Yoga (Part 2)