Monthly Archives: April 2023

Date: 3 April 2023

How to improve your chanting.

Hare Krishna, Gauranga

Today is Dvadasi as yesterday was Ekadasi. I did not speak yesterday. For some time now on the occasion of Ekadasi, we have been taking introspection, simhalokan. How has our performance been for the last two weeks? We have been practicing this for some time now or have been saying this on the occasion of Ekadasi. Since, I did not deliver a talk yesterday, we can have some discussion on this topic today.

Instead of reviewing the progress, I would give you all a task to be done as homework. This homework will be your performance in this task in the upcoming two weeks, namely by next Ekadasi and then there will be a review. Are you understanding my point of view? There are some smart devotees who have quickly understood it, but I have not completed yet. In the coming two weeks, the key task for homework is: “How can I improve or reform my chanting? How to improve ones Japa?” This is not a japa retreat right now, but rather a delivery of key points and what is to be done?

There is attentive chanting. There are some rules and regulations, some do’s and don’ts.

You should all take notes, on what is the right way to chant and what are the rules for this homework.

If you are a srutidhara, one who listens once and is able to grasp and remember it instantly, then it’s okay to only listen. Otherwise you should take notes. A srutidhara means a person who remembers after hearing only once. You decide, whether you trust your memory or you need to take the help of some notes or record what I am saying? Prabhupada always said, “If you want to remember it, write it down.” Now you check for yourself what is good for you, while the japa talk is going on.

In order to improve your japa today, you need to prepare for it the day before or even a few days earlier. The quality of your japa depends on how you spent the earlier part of the day. Preparation for the next morning’s chanting is done the previous day. Your mood, mindset, thoughts, depend on the activities of the previous day or night, what rules and regulations we have followed. Many types of things affect our japa. Based on your lifestyle, your activities, who you meet, all reflects on the quality of your chanting the next morning. How to make our lifestyle and routine favourable for good quality chanting?

evaṁ kāyena manasā
vacasā ca mano-gatam
paricaryamāṇo bhagavān
bhaktimat-paricaryayā

Translation
Anyone who thus engages in the devotional service of the Lord, seriously and sincerely, with his mind, words and body, and who is fixed in the activities of the prescribed devotional methods, is blessed by the Lord according to his desire. [ŚB 4.8.59]

This is your homework. How seriously and sincerely are you are engaging in devotional service of the Lord. Your dealings and speech are very important aspects for this. There are many others points also.

Speaking is a very important aspect while chanting. What if you do not utter the names, or get spaced out or sleep while chanting? You should sometimes record your chanting. Upon listening you may discover that there are blank minutes when you were not chanting. You will realise that for some time you had not been chanting as there is no voice. You realise that you could have been sleeping. When you sleep you are oblivious of everything. You can also ask some other devotee to check your chanting and give you feedback.

This is a practice in foreign countries. Behind trucks you can read a sign – ‘How is my driving?’ Then a phone number is given to report the driving. Is it lane driving or insane driving?

Similarly, you can also ask devotees close by or your counsellor to check your chanting and give feedback.

Many times, while chanting fast we miss some names in the maha-mantra. How many names are there in the maha-mantra? There are 16 words and 32 syllables. Some of us are chanting only 14 or possibly just 12 names. We eat or gobble up some names while chanting. This is an offence. We should ask. Are we really chanting all 16 words perfectly? This can be realised if you attentively listen to your own chanting.

We should check that we utter all 16 names clearly. If we are hearing what we speak, then we can monitor it. This can assist us in chanting attentively.

What are these 16 words? We are addressing these names, the names of Radha Krsna. We are addressing Them. We are calling out to Them. For example – Sita or calling Sitaaaaaaaa. This is known as sambodhan, the vocative which is used in addressing a person. If we say Rama, it is not vocative, while Raaaammm is vocative. In case if you are calling using Sita, you are not addressing it properly.

yaṁ pravrajantam anupetam apeta-kṛtyaṁ
dvaipāyano viraha-kātara ājuhāva
putreti tan-mayatayā taravo ’bhinedus
taṁ sarva-bhūta-hṛdayaṁ munim ānato ’smi

Translation
Śrīla Sūta Gosvāmī said: Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto that great sage [Śukadeva Gosvāmī] who can enter the hearts of all. When he went away to take up the renounced order of life [sannyāsa], leaving home without undergoing reformation by the sacred thread or the ceremonies observed by the higher castes, his father, Vyāsadeva, fearing separation from him, cried out, “O my son!” Indeed, only the trees, which were absorbed in the same feelings of separation, echoed in response to the begrieved father. [ŚB 1.2.2]

In Srimad Bhagavatam when Srila Sukadeva Goswami was born, he started running towards the forest. Then Srila Vyasadeva started chasing him. He called out loudly, “Putra – O Son” ….You call out …

When a son says, “Mommy” may be she doesn’t respond. But when the volume rises, when the calling is loud, she definitely answers.

tata – that; maya – full of; tana-maya – fully absorbed

Srila Vyasadeva is saying “putreti tan-mayatayā taravo”

He was calling his son with full absorption – putra iti—O my son, tat-mayatayā—being absorbed in that way.

There are different forms of Maya – tan-maya; ananda Maya – full of bliss; Vrinda maya; kripa maya – full of blessings; daya maya – full of mercy and so on.

If you break these sentences into small couplets you will understand the meaning of the words. So when you perform japa be in tan-maya.

tat-mayatayā—being absorbed in that way

Maya means full of, engrossed. So when you chant you should be tan-maya – engrossed in it.

Here Srila Vyasadeva is saying, “putreti tan-maya” putting all his attention towards his son in calling him, He was absorbed in his son. This is the crux of the matter.

This is our goal. How should we perform japa? One should be in an attentive mood or be chanting attentively. Srila Prabhupada said that before starting your chanting, you must know who you should be meditating on?

There are many who focus on a lamp light. There are many who wish to merge in the transcendental effulgence like the Brahmavadis or Mayavadis. Our goal is be fully absorbed in Sri Radhe Krishna (Radha Krishna maya). We must meditate on Them, Their form, name, place (dhama) and pastimes with Their devotees. Keeping this in view one should perform offence-less chanting. Our goal is to chant attentively.

Our mind usually keeps wandering during chanting. It goes to different places and different events. It goes to what we were doing yesterday, what we said yesterday, what we ate or even what we had been doing since time immemorial. Our mind wants to re-visit that again and again and then we are given homework. You all know that the sixth chapter of Bhagavat Gita is entitled Dhyana yoga or Astanga yoga. This is a very important chapter and should be studied by those who are Japa yogis or Dhyana yogis. Especially for the study of our mind. How does it work? It is very turbulent and obstinate.

cañcalaṁ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa
pramāthi balavad dṛḍham
tasyāhaṁ nigrahaṁ manye
vāyor iva suduṣkaram

Translation

The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Kṛṣṇa, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind. [BG. 6.34]

Since our mind is very restless, turbulent and obstinate, Lord Krishna advises,

yato yato niścalati manaś

yato yato niścalati
manaś cañcalam asthiram
tatas tato niyamyaitad
ātmany eva vaśaṁ nayet

Translation

From wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady nature, one must certainly withdraw it and bring it back under the control of the Self.. [BG. 6.26]
You need to study and understand your mind. Wherever your mind goes, you need to bring it back. Wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady nature, one must certainly withdraw it and bring it back in the service of the Lord – ātmany eva.

This is very important homework for the devotees who are performing japa. One does not have to just sit; we have to be very active – mentally and intellectually. It is not a job for a foolish person.

kṛṣṇa yei bhajei sei hayata catur
māyā jei bhaje sei hayata phatur

Translation
Those who worship Krsna are indeed the wise. Those who worship māyā are indeed poverty-stricken.

This is a very important task for a person who is willing to engage in chanting

kāyena manasā buddhyā
kevalair indriyair api
yoginaḥ karma kurvanti
saṅgaṁ tyaktvātma-śuddhaye

Translation
The yogīs, abandoning attachment, act with body, mind, intelligence and even with the senses, only for the purpose of purification. [BG 5.11]

Lord Krishna says, “Abandon attachment, act with body, mind, intelligence and even with the senses.” Then there are various asanas.

kāyena manasā buddhyā, The mind plays a very important role in our spiritual life, especially in our japa. In our mind we are always engrossed by our resolves of what to do or our imagination, fantasy to perform and achieve an objective (sankalpa and vikalpa). Always busy thinking to do this or not to do this. kevalair indriyair api yoginaḥ karma kurvanti Now who will take this decision. We have to use our intelligence. We need to monitor and control what we are doing and where our mind is going. Who is the guard while we are performing japa? It is our intelligence – buddhi. “Watch your mind”. Where is your mind? Who is going ti answer this? Your intelligence will.

Like this manasendriyair vā buddhyātmanā

kāyena vācā manasendriyair vā
buddhyātmanā vānusṛta-svabhāvāt
karoti yad yat sakalaṁ parasmai
nārāyaṇāyeti samarpayet tat

Translation
In accordance with the particular nature, one has acquired in conditioned life, whatever one does with body, words, mind, senses, intelligence or purified consciousness one should offer to the Supreme, thinking, “This is for the pleasure of Lord Nārāyaṇa.” [ŚB 11.2.36]

In Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 11 it is said that we should use our intelligence for bhakti yoga and japa yoga. How to perform Japa? Use the purified consciousness when one is addressing during chanting,

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

This needs to be offered in a purified consciousness to the Supreme. A parrot calls out from its throat, does lip service. Chanting is a service – “śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ”

śrī-prahrāda uvāca
śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ
smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ
sakhyam ātma-nivedanam

Translation

Prahlāda Mahārāja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Viṣṇu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one’s best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words) — these nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service. [ŚB 7.5.23]

So this is call of the purified consciousness.

There is much more to be said, but I have somehow given you a crux of the important points. This is a reminder to all of you, even though you have been hearing about attentive chanting during various morning sessions of japa conference.

I am also thinking and what I am thinking is only the truth. What I am thinking is not speculation. It is from my heart. Why do we say that it is from our heart? Our consciousness resides there. What the mind says may not necessarily be true, but what our heart says is always true. We should learn to identify this. Hence, we say, “From my heart or the voice from my consciousness.” For some time, I was thinking what was the voice of the consciousness. What is my heart saying?

If we improve our chanting and it is good, everything will be good, all aspects of life will be good. We will see good, blissful days.

In case our japa is not good, we will not progress in life. Japa is very important. If you continue in this way from one Ekadasi to another, it will impact your life and in future and blissful days will come.

In the life of the devotees, this chanting is very important. It is said “ harer nāmaiva kevalam “

If we improve our chanting everything will improve.

harer nāma harer nāma
harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva
nāsty eva gatir anyathā

Translation

“ ‘In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.’ ” [CC Madhya 6.242]

If we improve our chanting everything will improve

This is the homework. We will take stock of this next Ekadasi. Was there any impact on your chanting? What are your difficulties, your experiences? We will hear from all of you on the next Ekadasi. What were your efforts and what challenges did you face? How did you overcome?

Are there any quick questions or comments?

Question: If one is committing offences (aparadhs) while chanting, how to overcome that?

Answer: As we have mentioned we should monitor our activities from the previous day. If there was any offence committed the day before while performing service to any Vaisnava or performing any other service it will impact your chanting the next day. Be very careful and cautious the entire day and save yourself from nama aparadha and Vaisnava apradha or even offences while performing vigraha service or dhama aparadha, even any service in ISKCON temple. This is also a Dhama. One should be very cautious and alert not to make any offences to impact your japa.

Question: While we are chanting, how do we come to know we are going wrong?

Answer: Let your counsellor monitor some of your rounds sometimes. You may record your chanting. Try to monitor yourself. You will be able to do it if you honestly listen to your heart. Contemplate on it, review and analyse yourself. Lessen your wrong dealings. The change will not be overnight. Rome was not built in one day. Practice it day in and day out. You need to monitor, discover and make efforts to remove it. Review what offences you are committing? This can be done on a weekly or even daily basis. What is the frequency and intensity of your offences? How have you been dealing with people or devotees. Check the intensity and frequency. Check the degree of the offence. Is the graph going down for the offences? Only when you reduce it gradually, will it end someday. If it is diminishing, it will vanish one day. Take baby steps. When a baby stands up, we clap and are happy. When he takes his first step it’s a celebration, then one day when he runs a marathon, he is the best.

Question: As you have being using this phrase “aya Rama gaya Rama” sometimes we are very enthusiastic and sometimes we are very low in enthusiasm. We have seen this also in our devotional path. For a few days we are very enthusiastic performing all regulative principles and sometimes we lose focus and we are also afraid because of this we are committing offences like nama aparadha.

Answer: It is good sign that you are afraid of committing offences, otherwise you will without hesitation go on committing them. Be cautious in all your dealings. Tell yourself – Whatever I am going to do needs to be done very cautiously.

To not commit nama aparadha I will not chant. Is this a solution? To avoid committing offences against the guru I will not take initiation or follow a spiritual master. New People come up with these arguments, but that is not the way forward.

The maha-mantra has the potency to uplift us. If we are willing and putting in the right efforts then Harinama will purify us. Protect us from offences.

By chanting offencelessly, Nama Prabhu will definitely help in minimising our offences. You may commit a offences, but never stop chanting.

ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ
śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam
ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaṁ prati-padaṁ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaṁ
sarvātma-snapanaṁ paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam

Translation
“ ‘Let there be all victory for the chanting of the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa, which can cleanse the mirror of the heart and stop the miseries of the blazing fire of material existence. That chanting is the waxing moon that spreads the white lotus of good fortune for all living entities. It is the life and soul of all education. The chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa expands the blissful ocean of transcendental life. It gives a cooling effect to everyone and enables one to taste full nectar at every step.’ [CC. Antya 20.12]

Hari Hari It is time for sringar arati of Sri Radha Govind Dev. We shall stop now. If you have any other questions, you can ask your counsellors. Hare Krishna! We will meet again for the review on the next Ekadasi.