The first lifestyle niyama is japa. It is interesting why japa has been placed as the first niyama. By doing japa, you develop the ability to disconnect from the outside world.

That is the only way by which you can isolate yourself from the external world and become stable inside. Mantra is the first yogic initiation and also the final one.

When people commence japa sadhana, repeating the mantra with the mala, for many it is the first time they disconnect from the external world of senses and sense objects, for the first time they close their eyes and focus on an activity which is non-sensorial and non-mental.

Mantra does not require thinking, therefore it is non-mental. Mantra has nothing to do with the sense organs, therefore it is non-sensorial. The body is connected to the world through the senses; the mind is connected to the world through its own thought tentacles. The sensory tentacles are physical and the mental tentacles are internal.

Japa is the only practice that gives you the ability to disconnect voluntarily and consciously from outside and go in and become aware internally. The ability to do this is the first process that leads you to inner discovery and deeper meditative states.

These are the first yama and niyama not of raja yoga, kriya yoga, kundalini yoga, karma yoga, bhakti yoga or jnana yoga, but of yoga lifestyle. By following them you create the right mood which allows you to become receptive to the teachings of yoga vidya.

Therefore, it is a task for each one of you to follow manahprasad, the first yama, and japa, the first niyama. Increase the moments of happiness and disconnect from sensorial and mental tentacles to experience stillness and silence

From the book “Progressive Yoga Vidya Training, Satsangs 2016”, pg. 8, Sw. Niranjanananda Saraswati