Hour 38 Meditation – Ajapa Japa – The Hamsa-Soham Meditation
Ajapa Japa – The Hamsa-Soham Meditation
Overview: From Acting to Existing
The majority of meditation practices necessitate an effort—a discipline, a method, or a doing. However, what if you didn’t have to “do” meditation at all?
The link between effortlessness and effort is Ajapa Japa. It is the silent movement of the mantra with the breath, echoed in your very inhalations and exhalations rather than chanted out loud. It occurs naturally and without stress. The seeker discovers how to just listen and be in the moment with the inner chant that was always there.
This is at the core of Hamsa-Soham Meditation, a technique that is revered in many yogic traditions and has been lovingly rediscovered by countless ancient sages as well as masters like Osho, Swami Sivananda, and Swami Satyananda.
Ajapa Japa: What is it?
- “A” denotes not
- “Japa” refers to chanting or repetition.
Therefore, the literal meaning of Ajapa Japa is “non-recitation of recitation,” or fluid, unplanned repetition.
In this technique, the mantra—more especially, Soham or Hamsa—repeats organically with the breath:
- Breathing in: “So”
- “Ham” is the exhalation
or the opposite:
- Breathing in: “Ham”
- “Sa” is the exhalation.
Different traditions use both forms. The meaning is profound regardless of the order:
- “Soham” translates to “I am That.”
- “Hamsa” means “That I am.”
The Hamsa-Soham Elements’ Symbolic Significance:
| Element | Symbolism |
| Hamsa (swan) | The pure soul that can distinguish between milk and water—between reality and illusion |
| Breath | The eternal companion, ever-present |
| Mantra | Your cosmic origin’s subtle connection |
| Ajapa | The path from internal surrender to deliberate effort |
Gliding on the lake of consciousness, the Hamsa is the bird of the soul, constantly resonating, “I am that. I am that.
The Reason Ajapa Japan Is Special
- Whether we realize it or not, it always occurs.
- There is no need for outside effort, in contrast to traditional Japanese.
- Mantra and breath merge into a single, smooth stream of consciousness.
- Like the heartbeat, it eventually continues on its own.
Ajapa Japa Practice Stages
There are five stages of evolution for Ajapa Japa:
| Stage | Experience/Focus |
| 1. Awareness of breath | Taking note of the inhalation and exhalation |
| 2. Awareness of sound | Syncing “So” with the inhale and “Ham” with the exhale |
| 3. Deep internalization | Without conscious repetition, the mantra flows. |
| 4. Mantra merges with breath | Breathing becomes mantra; duality dissolves |
| 5. Mantra continues in silence | It endures even when you’re sleeping or in complete silence. |
Ajapa’s journey is from noise to silence rather than from ignorance to knowledge.
The Yogic Scriptures’ Ajapa Japa
| Scripture/Tradition | Reference / Insight |
| Shiva Samhita | Mentions the Hamsa mantra as the breath of God |
| Hatha Yoga Pradipika | Describes Ajapa Japa as essential for Kundalini arousal |
| Kularnava Tantra | Says the highest sadhana is the awareness of breath |
| Osho | Taught Ajapa Japa as an “inner music” that transforms unconscious breathing into meditative breathing |
| Swami Satyananda | Called it “the natural meditation” |
Advantages of Practice in Ajapa Japa
| Physical Benefits | Mental & Emotional Benefits | Spiritual Benefits |
| Lowers blood pressure | Reduces anxiety & mental agitation | Deepens meditative absorption (Dhyana) |
| Balances nervous system | Sharpens focus and memory | Awakens subtle prana and inner silence |
| Promotes restful sleep | Harmonizes breath-mind connection | Leads to Self-realization and inner bliss |
How to Prepare for Ajapa Japa
Practice:
- Pick a peaceful, quiet area
- Maintain an upright spine while sitting in any meditative position.
- Shut your eyes and focus on your breathing.
Method:
| Step | Description |
| 1 | Pay attention to the breath’s natural flow; there is no control, only awareness. |
| 2 | Begin linking mantra with the breath |
| – Inhale: “So” (or “Ham”) | |
| – Exhale: “Ham” (or “Sa”) | |
| 3 | Let the mantra flow with the breath, not forcing anything |
| 4 | Gradually transition to pure witnessing—the sound, the silence, and the breath—by letting the mantra flow with the breath without pressuring it. |
| 5 | Let go… In complete silence, the mantra will continue on its own. |
If necessary, use a mala in the beginning, but as the mantra develops into an internal river on its own, the mala eventually disappears.
Kundalini and Ajapa Japa
- The central energy channel, sushumna nadi, is activated by Ajapa Japa.
- The spiritual pulse created by repeating “So-Ham” gently awakens the dormant Kundalini energy.
- Ajapa harmonizes all chakras and is safe, natural, and subtle in contrast to forceful methods.
Sincere Ajapa Japa practice has the power to awaken the soul itself, resulting in a profound inner blossoming of bliss and silence.
Adaptation to Everyday Life
After your practice session, Ajapa Japa doesn’t stop. It starts to carry you through the day:
- Walking: Steps flow with the mantra
- Working: Emotions are balanced by breath awareness
- The mantra hums in the background while you sleep.
- Stress: Soham’s voice brings you back to reality
This is the grace of Ajapa—you carry a shrine of stillness within you, wherever you go.
Introspective Questions for Self-Reflection
- Even when I’m not meditating, can I feel the mantra Soham shifting with every breath?
- Does Ajapa Japa cause a slight tremor in my heart or spine?
- Since starting this practice, has my breathing gotten quieter and smoother?
- Do I perform Ajapa with loving awareness or as a robotic routine?
- Can I rest in the mantra as a witness, rather than a doer?
Conclusion: Ajapa is the Soul’s Silent Music
Chanting is not necessary. You don’t have to exert yourself. You just have to pay attention to the breath, the pause between breaths, and the truth that reverberates with each inhalation and exhalation: “Soooo.”
“Soooo…”
“Haaam…”
“I am That… That I am…”
Ajapa Japa turns into your living meditation when the mantra turns into a whisper inside your breath, and the breath turns into a prayer inside your being.