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478
The Unknown Pilgrims
there for a short while. Then we will follow them on vihāra, then during the cāturmasya, the four months of stability during the monsoon.
B - Japa: The repctition of Mantras
The daily work of the śramanis begins at about four in the morning, in the dark, since they do not use any form of light. Nowhere is it expressly stated that japa must be the first spiritual activity of the day nor that it is the most important; however, very often the day does start with japa, to which an important place is given. Japa is the threshold of dhyāna. 18 Whereas japa should be a threshold that one crosses in order to penetrate further in dhyāna, it happens not infrequently that one lingers on the threshold without proceeding further and this may continue one's whole life long. Japa is the most commonly practised form of spiritual activity among the sādhvis of today. 19
i) What is japa?
It is the repetition of certain syllables, usually those composing mantras well-known to tradition. The mantra or mantras may be either pronounced in a low voice or spoken in the mind. Linked with the utterance of the syllables is a corresponding mental concentration upon these same syllables. Onc may count the number of repetitions of the mantra upon one's fingers or with the help of a mālā. One must
18 Japa belongs, in fact, to the type of dhyāna called: padastha-dhyāna; but this latter is, as one might say, preliminary to dhyāna; cf. P 388 n. 66.
19 One hears it said sometimes that in our day and age of misfortune (P 76) the physical resistance requisite for concentration is lacking! What should above all else be emphasised and what, furthermore, a great number of sādhvis suffer from is the lack of training in regard to spiritual disciplines. Too often there has been a tendency to consider that it is sufficient that they should be resigned and docile. This is a fundamental error, for not only does one thus fail to help them to fulfil their vocation, but one deprives of the light of spiritual instruction those men and women who have a right to receive from the sadhvis counsels and teaching.
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