Ajapa

Ajapa

अजपा, ajapā

Literally translated as "non-repetition of the mantra". This is the state when the mantra merges with the breath and with consciousness (with Atman) and is experienced spontaneously, naturally, without any effort from the practitioner. During this practice of mantra, perception moves from the level of pashyanti to para-vak, revealing the experience of non-duality. Nathas relate this to the practice of sahaja.

The term "ajapa" is more commonly used in the phrase "ajapa-japa", which means the simultaneous "non-repetition and repetition of a mantra," and this can refer to any known mantra. It is believed that the repetition of any mantra can lead to ajapa-japa when it is repeated spontaneously.

There is also Ajapa-gayatri, which usually means the mantra of our breath "So Ham".