This is a Sanskrit term that literally translates to “the chant that is not chanted.” When a practitioner chants the mantra given by Guru Siyag consistently over a period of a few weeks, the mantra Japa (mental chanting) becomes effortless, and is chanted within involuntarily. The seeker only needs to pay attention to it. This state is known as Ajapa Japa. Kriyas are induced by the Kundalini without the will or effort of the practitioner. Similarly, Ajapa Japa is one of the many divine experiences effected by the Kundalini. Ajapa Japa is experienced by all those practitioners who chant Guru Siyag’s mantra dedicatedly over a consistent period of time. There is no specific duration (since commencement of chanting) within which this experience occurs; it differs for each individual. What is certain is that it is experienced by those practitioners that chant constantly as much as possible throughout the day (see our earlier post about round-the-clock chanting). If there is a break of a few days between chanting, then the practice is inconsistent, and it takes the practitioner that much longer to experience Ajapa Japa
Japa means chanting of a mantra. It is the first and foremost tool for the practitioner to use on the spiritual path to reach higher consciousness toward the ultimate goal of Moksha.
The practitioner is required to repeat the mantra relentlessly in the initial stages of practice. This is done to establish in the mind of the practitioner awareness of the mantra and the divine force it represents. Sustained chanting eventually leads to the mantra getting repeated without any conscious efforts on the part of the practitioner. He then becomes fully conscious of the constant presence of the mantra in his mind. This can happen in a matter of weeks, depending on the determination and devotion of the practitioner. This is called Ajapa Japa. The prefix ‘A’ before the word Japa literally means chanting that takes place without the practitioner’s own conscious efforts.
Ajapa Japa is usually referred to as “automatic” chanting. However, what really happens at this stage is that the practitioner becomes fully aware of the divine word which is eternally present and which pervades and resonates spontaneously in the inner consciousness of all beings. Ajapa Japa is a vital threshold, after which the practitioner moves on to higher levels of spiritual consciousness.
To experience this stage, the disciple must chant (mentally repeat) the mantra relentlessly during his waking hours while going about his routine chores and activities (eating, bathing, running, driving, cooking etc). Since chanting is done silently in the mind, it doesn’t interrupt the practitioner’s activities nor does it disturb others around him. When the Japa is heartfelt (rather than mechanical), the practitioner notices significant changes in the personality early on in the practice.
