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the ascent of the consciousness out of the body And after a while everything is put back in
and the descent of the higher consciousness order. And simultaneously, of course, the precise
into the body (7).” knowledge of what lies behind the disorder and
what I must do to set it right comes to me. But
The Mother says that japa is “an almost physical quite apart from this, the mantra acts directly
discipline. Moreover, I have seen that the japa upon the pain itself (9).”
has an organizing effect on the subconscient, on
the inconscient, on matter, on the body’s cells Quite apart from anything, whenever I work
— it takes time, but by persistently repeating on the body, it is the japa that helps to keep my
it, in the long run it has an effect. It is the same consciousness firmly placed upon it. Without
principle as doing daily exercises on the piano, it, there would be little focus. Otherwise the
for example. You keep mechanically repeating surface mind gets crowded with random and
them, and in the end your hands are filled useless thoughts and the physical mind will
with consciousness — it fills the body with project its futility onto the work. By calling
consciousness (8).” Them, It no longer remains my action. It is out
of my control: I am simply asking the Mother
Japa benefits the whole nature in a myriad of to walk my steps. This is the aspiration behind
ways, but its greatest boon is offered to the the words and the final result is always in
body. There can be no more meaningful work Her hands.
than this because the physical consciousness
yearns for light and refinement. There is a There are times when the calling can become
secret aspiration there that drives our lives barren and dry and there are times when the
forward in the fullest and most integral way. practice requires some support:

For one practising the saadhanaa of the body, “The japa is usually successful only on one or
it is indispensable because no other tool two conditions — if it is repeated with a sense of
can tackle these nether regions in a similar its significance, a dwelling of something in the
manner. When the japa is directed down onto mind on the nature, power, beauty, attraction
the body the body starts calling itself… of the Godhead it signifies and is to bring into
the consciousness, — that is the mental way;
“This is the main reason for my japa. There’s or if it comes up from the heart or rings in it
a power in the sound itself, and by forcing the with a certain sense or feeling of bhakti making
body to repeat the sound, you force it to receive it alive, — that is the emotional way. Either
the vibration at the same time. But I’ve noticed the mind or the vital has to give it support
that if something in the body’s working gets or sustenance. But if it makes the mind dry
disturbed and I repeat my mantra in a certain and the vital restless, it must be missing that
way — still the same words, the same mantra, support and sustenance. There is, of course,
but said with a certain purpose and above all a third way, the reliance on the power of the
in a movement of surrender, surrender of the mantra or name in itself; but then one must go
pain, the disorder, and a call, like an opening on till that power has sufficiently impressed its
— it has a marvelous effect. The mantra acts in vibration on the inner being to make it at a given
just the right way; in this way and in no other. moment suddenly open to the Presence or the

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