```json
{
    "title": "Japa Thoughts: Yogic Chanting",
    "url": "https://wavesofdevotion.com/2007/10/26/kartik-journal-japa-thoughts-october-26-2007/",
    "datePublished": "2007-10-26",
    "dateModified": "2007-10-26",
    "language": "en-US",
    "description": "Kartik begins today. I will try, as I have done for the past five years, to share a regular journal of japa thoughts and other realizations. I have doubts about…",
    "author": "Dhanurdhara Swami",
    "publisher": "Waves of Devotion"
}
```

# Japa Thoughts: Yogic Chanting

*Kartik begins today. I will try, as I have done for the past five years, to share a regular journal of japa thoughts and other realizations. I have doubts about how much more I can say, but at least here's something to help begin Kartik.*

Kartik Journal
October 26, 2007

*Japa*

Thought:

Yogi chanting: Focus on the holy name, stop the mind, reveal the soul. Yoga, in its classical definition, is not a particular philosophy, but a psychosomatic process. The mind is a mirror for the conditioned soul to observe its consciousness, to see its soul. When that mirror is dirty the image is distorted. We see a controller, not a servant, and don't feel the soul (pure devotion, happiness). The dust is our material thoughts, decisions and self-conceptions. Stop that and the pure soul is reflected in the mind. So I focus on the name, stop the mind, reveal the soul and feel relief. What a relief! Our only relief - basking in the soul! But the dust of the mind, the sense of being not the soul, says, "No, let me enjoy and suffer." How unfortunate!