Repetition of the Name (Japa)

Japa is the repetition of a sacred sound — a mantra or a name of God — recited over and over to gather and steady the mind. It may be spoken aloud, murmured under the breath, or repeated silently within, the last being the most prized; a rosary of beads often keeps the count. In the meditative traditions it concentrates attention; in the devotional ones the repetition of the holy name becomes a loving practice in its own right, held capable of carrying the devotee all the way to the goal.