People who have never tried the practice of reapeating the name of God are apt to scoff at it: it seems to them so empty, so mechanical...
...we are (usually) in a state of reverie--a mental fog of disconnected sense-impressions, irrelevant memories, nonsensical scraps of sentences from books and newspapers, little darting fears and resentments, physical sensations of discomfort, excitement or ease... If we introduce into this reverie the repetition of the name of God, we shall find that we can control our moods, despite the interference of the outside world...
Mere repetition of God's name is, of course, insufficient...We must
also meditate upon its meaning.
But the one process follows naturally upon the other.
If we persevere in our repetition, it will lead us inevitably into mediation.
Gradually, our confused reverie will give way to concentrated thought.
(p. 40-42)