I've been very busy making malas, and I've had a few people ask what they are for and shown interest in learning about meditation. So here is a quick crash course!
It seems lately that the benefits of meditation and mindfulness are everywhere. Meditation involves turning one's attention inward and withdrawing from external stimuli. This focus can come in the form as concentrating on breath, areas of your body, maybe another person, place or thing, and chanting/mantra. Not every form of meditation works for everyone, and you need to find the one that fits you the best. If you find a simple and enjoyable meditation you are more likely to come back to it everyday. Then you will find the most benefits.
Today I am going to talk about japa meditation, and using a mala. A mala is simply a string of 108 and a head bead, whose purpose is only to give you a beginning and an end. In Indian yogic tradition sound is healing and sacred. Chanting mantra was and is seen as a way to bring you closer to the deities, as well as a way to focus and clear the mind. To begin you start on the bead next to the head bead, and hold it between your index finger and your thumb. Begin to recite your mantra, and on each repetition you slide to the next bead. This counts your 108 repetitions. Why 108? There are many examples of 108 showing up:
there are 108 Indian Goddesses
in astrology there are 12 zodiac signs and 9 planets 12 X 9 = 108
there are 108 energy points in the body
108 stiches on a baseball
the sun's diameter is 108 times bigger than the earth's
There are so many choices for things to chant. For a beginner sometimes "OM" can be the easiest. No need to worry about learning sanskrit. Om is the universal sound of creation. There three parts to the sound "aaah" which starts at the back of the throat, "uuuuh" which moves the sound to the front of the mouth, and "mmmm" which is voices with the lips together. Om is also the mantra for the third eye chakra and will help open up your connection to you intuition and purpose. There are many other mantras, and if you are interested in learning more, please reach out and we can talk! Otherwise it is okay to repeat an affirmation also, something that is meaningful to you and that resonates with the place that you are.
I have been really drawn to japa meditation, or the chanting of mantra. I think the reason that I really like it is that the repeating of mantra gives something for my brain to focus, and keeps it from wandering off. I like the idea of releasing my mantra out there to the universe and having it resonate. I will tell you that it is awkward at first, especially when you are chanting by yourself at home. I recommend finding a group that practices japa meditation to practice with if you find the idea of chanting alone gives you the willies. That being said, you can practice japa meditation without chanting out loud. You will receive the same benefits from saying the mantra in your mind. The reason that I prefer saying it out loud is I find myself more likely to stay focused and I like the resonance of the mantra in my throat and chest, and in the air.
Reach out if you are interested in more information.
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