SOME FAQ’S ABOUT MANTRA JAPA

( A tete-a-tete with a sincere aspirant – A monk of the Ramakrishna Order )

Q) Is any synchronization observed between the phases of respiration i.e

inhalation/exhalation and Mantra Japa in the RK Math ?
A) No such rules as such that we know as of now. No specific pattern is advised in our
order because when we concentrate on our breath, concentration on Mantra and Istha is
not strong enough. In our order, more stress is laid on yearning because when yearning
is there, there are no rules. Mantra works best when there is intense yearning for the
Lord.

Q) What is yearning and how does it help in Mantra Japa ?

A) Mantra has to be chanted with the same intensity as when we call a fireman when
the house is on fire or like a yearning child calling frantically to its mother to pick him
up in her arms at her earliest.
- When the mind is calm and has no yearning and fear, it has to be chanted like we are
calling our beloved master and thanking him for all that he is doing for us.
- But one should know one’s capacity. If there is heaviness in the head, the chanting
should be stopped.
- Japa is for control of mind and liberation while pure breath control is for a person who
is not keen on liberation but only has yogic aspirations.
- For devotees who love God and seekers who need Him, chanting is like the water that
quenches the thirst of a man walking in the desert.

Q) Is there any consensus opinion on the above and is there any authentic literature
from a realized Jeevanmukta Guru on this particular issue. If so, please share the
references ?
A) Not that I know of. Please see references from Raja Yoga of Swamiji. I don't know of
any. If I do come across, I'll let you know.

Q) Is mantra to be chanted during inhalation or exhalation ?

A) Again, if the practitioner has a Rajasic tendency, if there is too much erratic,
passionate energy where the breath is heavy and agitated, it is very dangerous to do the
RKM mantra while both inhaling and exhaling.
- It is safer to do so while inhaling and take a break during exhaling.
For an aspirant who has a good breathing rhythm, is calm, composed and balanced by
nature, mantra can be chanted both during inhalation and exhalation.

Q) If it’s a long mantra, then is a part of mantra chanted during inhalation and part of it
during exhalation ?

A) If we are instructing someone about this, we have to look into the nature and prana
of the practitioner.
- If he is a man of Rajasic tendencies and is of erratic behaviour, yes, he may break it, a
portion while inhaling and a portion while exhaling. Or simply chant while inhaling
and take respite during exhalation to gain momentum for the next breath. Chanting
while inhaling causes a sense of drawing in. So that is highly recommended.
- Suppose, in your case, for someone who has given importance to the idea and emotion
behind a word or prayer, the mantra should be chanted in one go with deep breath. But
one should feel the heart and the head and ensure that it isn't getting heavy. The
mantra, which appears long can be chanted quickly, in the mind, through practice. The
idea is, if one has connected the mantra with the breath, the break in inhaling and
exhaling can cause a break in sentiment while chanting the mantra.
- When a person becomes Saatvic and peaceful to some extent, the breath will become
finer and he/she can chant that long mantra both while inhaling and exhaling. But this
will have powerful effects, so even if a person does inhale chanting and exhale
chanting, he/she should take a break at least after 20 rounds for ten seconds and again
resume japa. But as the breath becomes finer, it becomes very easy.

Q) Om is a very short mantra, hence, it could be conveniently chanted during both

inhalation and exhalation. Then, why do learned gurus like Swami Tattvavidananda
advocate Om chanting during exhalation only. And why does Sri Sri Ravishankar
advocate “So” during inhalation and “Ham” during exhalation when Soham is also a
very short mantra and is an extended form of Om ?

A) Om can be chanted during exhalation when it’s chanted loudly but when it is done
mentally, it doesn’t really matter as to which phase of respiration you are in.
- If you see, they will speak in a very general sense. Like I said, one would have to know
the person and then suggest.
- So-ham according to Sri Sri Ravishankar, if you see is easy. When we personally know
them and they personally know us, they will suggest deeper techniques. The idea is to
raise the mind beyond words and mantra can do that. It will reduce all ideas to a single
idea and finally the single idea will be made to point to the source, 'I'.

Q) Is there anything like when you chant a mantra, some sort of power enters our body
or leaves it, I mean, if we chant during inhalation, power of mantra enters us and if we
do it during exhalation, some power leaves us and we feel powerless at the end. What
should be the mental state while doing the Japa ?
A) Power always enters but depends on what we invoke. If goodness is the idea behind
the mantra, good enters.. If power, ego and control is the idea, then that kind of energy
enters. If one seeks freedom, whatever be his mind, that energy of compassion from the
Lord, enters into him.
Q) I feel very comfortable when i chant during inhalation and don't feel like chanting
during exhalation because i feel the power of mantra is going away from me.

A) Yes, that's the point. Your comfort levels are all that matter. I have not come across
anything that says Om is to be chanted while exhaling. But even when I chant and teach
children, I do so when exhaling because the mmmmmmm vibrates for a long time. But
mentally, nothing really matters. Both in and out works.

Q) When i sit erect to meditate, i feel, thoughts are arising somewhere between my eye
brows/brain and hence i feel natural to concentrate there, but if i try to focus on heart
centre, i feel as if i am directing my concentration on a centre where thoughts never
arise and hence feel uncomfortable. Moreover, if i imagine Thakur sitting on a lotus
situated in the heart centre, so now, should i think that his head has come to the level of
my Ajna chakra. where do i concentrate, on his head, on his folded legs or where ? I
usually see his smiling face only and forget the entire body. How do i concentrate on
Mother, Swamiji, Gautamananda Maharaj, Swami TV, Yellamraju garu etc, should i
think that, after Thakur has taken his seat on the lotus, all the holy personalities come
and merge into him one after the other ?

A) The fact that you are uncomfortable in the heart region shows that the heart has to be
cultivated. It is a good sign. You better cultivate the heart than jump up. Aspirants more
more accommodative, merciful and develop into a well balanced personalities when the
heart centre blooms. You may get tremendous concentration if you meditate on the
Ajna chakra but if it pierces and opens the sub conscious and if the subconscious is not
healthy, it could cause imbalance and subsequent problems. Suppose you are at ease in
the Ajna chakra in the genuine way, it means that your heart centre has already been
developed. It is a little dangerous to focus on Ajna when you have a lot of mental and
emotional battles. It can make you very unsettled in your emotional balance. But you
should know better. An adept in Ajna can also easy slide to the anahata and meditate.
Such adepts do that when they interact with the world. The heart Chakra is the locus of
love and compassion. So they work and interact from that centre. What you can do is
start at the Ajna and then come down to the Anahata. But you have to cultivate the
heart. You should feel your heart/chest region and place Shri Ramakrishna there. His
head may come a little below the throat. Imagine all other holy people sitting around Sri
Ramakrishna in a circle and then, one by one, they may appear in front of Sri
Ramakrishna, their size smaller than him, and then they may go back to His heart and
merge in Him while they are looking at you.