To someone who asked about how to keep the japa of Soham in time with the breath going throughout the day.
It is natural that you will in the beginning have difficulty in remembering the Soham japa. All of our life we have let our minds rove anywhere and that has become a habit, but one that can be lessened and then eliminated.
The japa of Soham in time with the breath is itself a factor in your eventually unbroken remembrance. Just breathing will in time cause Soham to come to mind.
When I was beginning japa (unfortunately not Soham) about sixty years ago, I used to put a small pebble in my shoe so the slight discomfort would remind me to do japa, which fortunately I realized was absolutely necessary to continually keep up. From a pebble I went to a single bead which I would just turn with my fingers as though it was a regular japa mala. People thought it was just a habit and never remarked on it.
Even now I keep a small japa mala on my wrist at all times and use it when my hands are not otherwise occupied. If you will do an internet search for “27 bead wrist malas” you will find many to choose from.
Recommended reading:
- Living the Yoga Life: Japa with the Breath
- Japa and Sound (Shabda)
- Light of Soham: The Life and Teachings of Sri Gajanana Maharaj of Nashik