Taking Shelter Of The Holy Names

Someone asked in the Japa Room this weekend a very nice question:

"How do we take shelter of the Holy Names?"

Well, wow, I just loved that question because on the surface, taking shelter of the Holy Name would seem like a rather abstract concept... right? I mean, how do you "take shelter" of a "Name"?

So I had a great time answering this question, I was pointing out to this person all the practical ways we can "take shelter".... by doing everything we can to arrange our lives so that we can chant quality Japa without distraction....avoid the ten offenses....follow the regulative principles....chant early in the morning....chant a fixed number of rounds (at least 16 if you are initiated) etc.
Then, when you are actually chanting your Japa, being totally attentive to Krishna, putting aside all other things and just focusing on Krishna and nothing else. Krishna's name is non-different from Krishna Himself, so we are associating directly with Krishna during this time....why would you want to do anything else or pay attention to anything else?

 

It's Krishna! Wow, what mercy that He gives us this chance to associate with Him directly just by chanting this Maha Mantra! Those are some ways to "take shelter" of the Holy Name....

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

Navasi

Comment on this Post