Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali

Author(s): Prabhavnanda Swami, Christopher Isherwood
Publisher: Ramkrishna Math Madras

Page 43

YOGA AND ITS AIMS
to concentrated thought. We cannot long continue to repeat any word without beginning to think about the reality which it represents. Unless we are far advanced in spiritual practice, this concentration will not be maintained for more than a few moments; the mind will slip back into reverie again. But it will be a higher kind of reverie-a reverie dominated by sattwa rather than by rajas or tamas. And the Name, perpetually uttered within it, will be like a gentle plucking at our sleeve, demanding and finally recapturing our attention.
In India, when a disciple comes to his teacher for initiation, he is given what is called a mantram. The mantram consists of one or more holy names which the disciple is to repeat and meditate upon, throughout the rest of his life. It is regarded as very private and very sacred—the essence, as it were, of the teacher's instructions to that particular disciple, and the seed within which spiritual wisdom is passed down from one generation to another. You must never tell your mantram to any other human being. The act of repeating it is called japam. You can make japam aloud if you are alone, or silently if you are among other people. It is convenient to do this with a rosary-thus linking thought with physical action (which is one of the great advantages of all ritual) and providing a small but sufficient outlet for the nervous energy of the body, which might otherwise accumulate and disturb the mind. Most spiritual aspirants resolve to make a certain fixed amount of japam everyday. The rosary serves to measure this-one bead to each repetition of the mantram-so that you are not distracted by having to count.
Needless to add, the practice of making japam is not confined to the Hindu religion. The Catholics teach it also. “Hail Mary” is a mantram. A form of mantram is also recognised by the Greek Orthodox Church. We quote here form those two remarkable books, The way of a Pilgrim and The Pilgrim Continues His Way, which record the spiritual pilgrimage of a