Silence The Mind

Being talkative for Krsna and silent for maya is our aim. One of the 26 qualities of a devotee is that he is silent, he just engages his tongue in talking about Krsna, chanting the Holy Names and eating prasadam. But how can we be silent while chanting? When we chant we try our best to listen to the mantra and focus on the sound vibration, so we can't be distracted by what our minds want to say, however the mind keeps on talking.

First our mind presents those to-do lists....saying you have to do this or that....you can't forget this or that, you should do this or that.

Then you start preaching to the mind..."No I can do this later, I am chanting now"....and at the same time you keep on reminding yourself that you need to focus on the mantra.

The names sometimes go faster and you can't even hear what you chant because you want to fill your mind with the names, but then you say again: "I need to slow down" then it seems the mind has another opportunity to talk..."Ahh I think you are speeding too much, by doing this you can't focus on the names and you may lose concentration, do this another time, you are not into chanting now"....then you stop....make a prayer....try to forget the continuous dialogue of the mind and use the strategy of reading the mantra on your mind.

Well, subduing the mind is hard, we can't do it ourselves, maybe we should always take shelter of the Holy names, by praying to our spiritual master and Lord Chaitanya.

Everyday seems to be a new struggle with the mind, trying to silence the mind through hearing the sound of the mantra, the only way to assure that we are in the right path is when we don't want to stop chanting....like I heard in a lecture yesterday, nice chanting brings more chanting, when we feel like chanting more and more means we are on the right path with our japa....means we are able to listen to the mantra and not to the talkative mind anymore.

Haribol

Aruna dd

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Chanting to Please The Lord

As Janmastami progress's today and I chant extras rounds, I had this thought about Japa and how Krsna is very pleased when we chant the Holy names....if Krsna sees that our efforts are serious, then He reciprocates in a serious way - bestowing the nectar for which we are always anxious.
The taste for chanting comes from the Lord and when he sees we are genuinely trying to chant the Holy names to our best ability, He bestow this mercy on us and we make progress by steady purification.

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Chanting vs Seva

There is no better service than serving the vaisnavas. I experienced this during this Radhastami and for me it was an amazing experience. I was on the farm near my city and all the devotees needed someone to cook...others to decorate the temple, others for garlands and even to be a messenger and take information from one devotee to another....I managed to do a little bit of everything and I felt so complete. You may ask what has this to do with chanting and I can say that during the festival you chant after mangal arati...the ones who are supposed to help for the festival need to do other services and chanting needs to be done later.

So it came to my mind "Wow what can I do now?"..... I need to chant in the morning and I also want to do some seva, since it's a great occasion to serve the vaisnavas and the Deites.

I went for doing service but didn't miss any of the program and whenever I had time I chanted....that's what many devotees were doing, since nobody had much time.

Another thing I was thinking about is how can I concentrate on my chanting....having many other things to do and devotees doing bhajans...other friends coming to me to talk - so I had to surrender to the Lord and ask Him to help me to concentrate.

The atmosphere of a temple is perfect for chanting, but we have always to have in our mind the proposal of having attentive and good chanting otherwise it's so easy to talk, forget to hear the mantra and then our devotional life can lose  quality because it all depends on this basis. The most important thing is that the Lord shows us the way, anytime you want to get advanced and also surrender to Him.

Hare Krsna

Aruna dd

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Applying The Philosophy

We already know how difficult is to apply the philosophy to our lives....like realising we are not these bodies, subdue our minds and acting in our constitutional position of eternal servants of Krsna. Srila Prabhupada says in the Bhagavad Gita As It Is in the introdution that we are meant to serve. We are always trying to serve someone - some people who are alone they serve their dogs, cats, cars, houses etc. We need to serve, cause unless we are not serving the Supreme we need to get our soul engaged in serving. But why we spend our precious time and don't realise our spiritual position. Maybe because Krsna hasn't revealed Himself to us, we haven't got the taste of serving the proprietor of everything, the one who lives in our hearts. We are still covered by all the dust of births and births thinking we can be in Krsna's place. The only way to encourage the position of eternal servant is through serious chanting - engaging the tongue in eating prasadam and chanting the Holy Names. We can see that described in the Nectar of Instruction 5:

"When one fully engages in chanting the Hare Kr��s��n��a mah��-mantra, he gradually realizes his own spiritual identity. Unless one faithfully chants the Hare Kr��s��n��a mantra, Kr��s��n��a does not reveal Himself: sevonmukhe hi jihv��dau svayam eva sphuraty adah��. (Bhakti-ras��mr��ta-sindhu 1.2.234) We cannot realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead by any artificial means. We must engage faithfully in the service of the Lord. Such service begins with the tongue (sevonmukhe hi jihv��dau), which means that we should always chant the holy names of the Lord and accept kr��s��n��a-pras��da. We should not chant or accept anything else. When this process is faithfully followed, the Supreme Lord reveals Himself to the devotee."

Haribol

Aruna dd

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Morning Japa

We usually say that whatever we do, we should do it for Krsna . So the same thing for Japa.��We chant the Holy Name for Krsna's pleasure. And it is��more pleasing for Krsna if we get up early and chant our rounds before sunrise.

We should say that "If I get up early to chant then it will please Krsna."

Haribol.

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Open Your Heart to Krsna

Today I want to stick again to the point of chanting with our hearts opened. I got so inspired with this topic, made me listen to lectures and try to get some knowledge from it. This is the first step, to understand how we can apply some nice behavior in order to attract Krsna's heart. All come back to devotees, service, opening the heart to a vaisnava helps us to open our hearts to Krsna. But how can we manage to do it if some of us are so shy to share realisations, maybe we don't want to bother vaisnavas who are completely engaged in service, or maybe we won't feel comfortable to say we lack on understanding the philosophy and can't follow the process as easier as others.

Yes, that's true, we really feel ashamed of our own obstacles, we feel ashamed of not being able to chant our rounds nicely, of not waking up early, of thinking in many other things instead of the Holy Names and what we may not know is that this is so common that happens with many of us all the time.

So it's not a shame to hide it from our devotee friends and seek for advice, look for help - by doing this we will be able to overcome these obstacles and chant better. I think I already told here how important is association of devotees, sometimes in a mood of being instructed, sometimes for sharing realisations....there will be times we will just wish to share a problem or a hardship we may have passed through and it's valuable - it says devotees are our friends, they are meant to be our best friends.��

That's the remedy to get Krsna's love and association, being connected to His devotees, being friends, opening our hearts to them, listening to them and giving association also. This will help us to serve more, develop humility and learn how to approach the Lord with love and a proper mood for relationship, since we learned with our spiritual friends, the vaisnavas.
Wow, we could last forever here talking about how to make our hearts ready to receive Krsna, so our chanting would be completely devoted to the Supreme in terms of Bhakti yoga.

Hare Krsna

Aruna dd

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Japa Preparations

Jaya Srila Prabhupada.

How you start your morning has a lot of influence on the rest of the day. It is best to rise immediately when the alarm clock rings - using snooze 3-5 times and wandering in semi-sleep for an hour is not the formula for success. After a shower, putting on tilak and dressing, I place my little asana in the temple room - I like to sit with a little rised asana, sometimes using thick wool or silk chadar or a yoga-block and some wool cloth over that.

Then I do acamana, short pranayam and then chant some prayers before starting japa. It takes a little extra time but I have noticed that if I stick to my rituals, it increases the mode of goodness and it is easier to concentrate on japa.

We may not have the eyes to see directly how all the small details have a subtle influnce to us but the more devotees compromise with satvic principles, the more tendency there is  to be sleepy or restless.

Your servant

Muniraja dasa

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My Experience With Chanting

I wanted to share some of my realisations with chanting....we have been listening everyday about the mind and how to have it engaged in chanting and hearing the Holy Names during japa, however we may not apply those facts to our lives. That's what happened to me these days, I can say my mind was really taking over the situation, I was feeling weak everytime I took my beads, I was getting frustrated for not having the desire to chant, I was thinking that I could control everything and I wasn't giving too much attention to the basic guidelines.

My japa was fast and mispronounced - so I said to myself, this situation needs to end and I must fix it, I can't let the mind control it. So I started looking for lectures on the topic, applied some exercises on concentration - reading the mantra while chanting, visualizing it on my mind sometimes. Everytime I took my beads I prayed for assistance and commited myself to chant most of my rounds before work.

Wow I am experiencing the results now, I am feeling so well that I don't want to have any other feeling but this in my life. The names really make difference when you can feel the presence of the Lord. I am another person, now blessed by the power of proper chanting. I need to pray every day so I can mantain this vow and have it for a lifetime. I just want to always have intelligence given by the Lord to overcome obstacles and have a new experience with Him everytime I take my beads.

Hare Krsna

Aruna dd

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Good Chanting Produces More Good Chanting

How do I know I have chanted good rounds? One of the best indicators for me is that when I finish my rounds I want to keep chanting because I am getting such a nice taste.��If I am relieved to put my bead bag down after my last round, that's an indicator that my chanting is not being done properly.��Good chanting always produces a taste to chant more. Prabhupada said sixteen rounds is the minimum; constant chanting is the goal.

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Making The Heart Softer

I am going to try here to talk about a very advanced topic in Krsna Conciousness and also in chanting....I think it's one or maybe the last stage of chanting because we must be surrendered to have this chanting. Chanting with the heart is for the ones who have their hearts opened, soft and that can be touched by the Holy Names of the Lord. It's important to say here what makes the heart softer and what makes it harder.

The material energy makes our heart harder, being far from devotees or not engaged in spiritual life makes it harder and harder. Hearing about the Lord, chanting properly without offenses and in the proper mood makes the heart softer....engaging in the Lord's service makes it softer.

But for the ones who can't stay in a temple 24 hours a day doing devotional service how can we open our hearts, there is an answer... it's only by serving the devotees, opening our hearts to them, having their association and giving our association too. That's perfect!! I can say that if it's not 100%, at least 99% of our spiritual life depends on a good association and this leads us to a proper mood for chanting leads to service, to analyse ourselves and see if we are making advancement, if we are commiting offenses or if we are avoiding them.

All is included in association - Japa is even better when we have support of the vaisnavas, so we can share experiences and have the opportunity to serve. As I have said before Lord Chaitanya asks us to chant and serve the vaisnavas....this is a simple process but needs to be taken seriously. Well in the beginning I said it's a hard topic to discuss but we can share realizations about it in our next posts. Hoping you all have nice association who enthuse your chanting to be with opened heart and in the proper mood.

Hare Krsna

Aruna dd

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Chant Nicely Everywhere You Go

Reading the post from Muniraja Prabhu I can say that I agree with him on saying that my home is the best place for chanting. I had an opportunity to chant in the temple, with others in front of Tulasi Devi, but I still prefer my home.

First because I feel more confortable to pray before chanting....nobody disturbs me. For sure I won't be distracted by anything else but my own mind, so in this case I think that for my spiritual life a place where I can  really feel confortable for chanting is important, so I may  avoid offenses like inattention and japa talk.

I know we can't be attached to this aspect to chant, we should be capable to chant nicely everywhere, but I think that it takes time to get used to control our minds and feel like chanting in a strange place.....what to speak of the devotees that go on sankirtan and travel around places and chant nicely...wow I think they are so advanced because they can connect and concentrate nicely on their rounds everywhere they go.

I offer my obeisances to those devotees that are able to chant nicely everywhere they are and don't get distracted easily.

Hare Krsna

Aruna dd

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Glories of Chanting

Everyone is looking for pleasure in this material world. Our soul is willing to have a relationship with the Lord...we have the potency of the maha mantra, these names connect us with the Supreme, that is why even by commiting offenses we still can feel some bliss and start a relationship with the Lord. Connection is the word that was stated this weekend in Japa Room and made me think if we want to have a good connection with the Lord we may have good results.

Our chances of improving in spiritual life will increase and be stable....in other words if we maintain a weak connection by not giving too much attention to improve  it may fail sometimes and we may even get disconnected and lose contact with the Lord.

The Holy names are so efficient that even a chanter who pronounces them for the first time receives the gift of getting purified. Everyone can feel pleasure in Krsna conscious, starting from hearing the mantra and then chanting makes this pleasure stronger because we are using our senses in this process. I found a great verse from Sri Krsna Namastakam that states some of the glories of this chanting.

"O Harinama, who are sung by the sages! O You who have assumed the form of transcendental syllables that bring great happiness to all people! Even if You are spoken only once, and even if You are spoken disrespectfully or in jest, You at once remove the many terrible sufferings of everyone."��Sri Krsna Namastakam Verse 2

Hare Krsna

Aruna dd

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Offenseless Chanting

In relation to the ten offenses I found something from Srila Prabhupada talking about the first offence:

"The sincere devotee who wants to attain a perfection (Siddhi) for himself by the process of chanting the Name of the Lord must refrain from the ten kinds of offences which are quoted below from the ���Padmapuranam.���
The first and foremost offence is the act of defaming the great saints who have glorified the chanting of the Name of the Lord by example in their own life and precepts. According to ordinary moral principles no one must be defamed for serving any ulterior motive.
But still according to the gravity of different offences, defamation of Saints who have done much for the propagation of the Name of God and His Fame must be considered the gravest of all offences. Those who are therefore accustomed to defame such saints, are spiritually great offenders and such persons can have no access to the transcendental Name of the Lord. We should therefore be guard against such offence."

The Science of Congregational Chanting of the Name of the Lord
Back To Godhead, 1944

Haribol

Aruna dd

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Vishnujana Swami Speaks on Japa

"One has to chant personally for his advancement in             Krishna Consciousness, 16 rounds daily on his beads.  There are             helps in chanting attentively.  One of these helps obviously is             simply the beads.  The beads are given to you by the Spiritual             Master, and you chant Hare Krishna, paying attention to each bead.              And this vow of chanting attentively, on each bead, this vow             impresses the Supreme Lord.  He sees that you are serious, and             He gives you realization.  It's that simple.  You chant in             regulation and vow; the Supreme Lord sees, "Oh, he is serious.              He's keeping his vow," and then He gives you realization. If             you don't chant attentively, if you don't, you're thinking of making             the 10 kinds of offenses while chanting, then the Lord will see that             you're desiring something else. After all, you can't fool Him -             He's living right there within your heart.  He knows your             desire before you even speak or think.  So, if while you're             chanting you're committing offenses, thinking of sense             gratification, being attached to material objects, then the Lord             will know what you really want, and therefore you won't feel the             bliss of chanting offenselessly.  The Lord won't allow you to             feel that, because you are desiring other things.  See, the             main thing is to realize that "I'm dealing with Krishna."              That's the main thing.

That this chanting - "I'm             being with Krishna; therefore I have to be very careful."             Krishna can't be fooled like you can fool me.  You can easily             fool me, that you are chanting attentively, you see.  That's             easy to fool me because my senses are imperfect... [break]             ...Actually, if you see me come in the room and you are thinking             something nonsense and doing something nonsense, and immediately you             feel ashamed, actually you should feel that way twenty-four hours a             day, because Krishna is always there, witnessing.  You know how             it is that you'll be doing some nonsense and you're thinking that no             one is watching.  "No one knows what I am thinking."              But as soon as your godbrother comes in and suspects you, then             immediately you feel ashamed, "Oh, I'm doing something which is             not good."  Now, the difficulty here is that you don't             realize that it's not good for you.  It's not that you're             offending me; you're hurting yourself -- this is what they don't             understand, you see. This means that he doesn't understand that he's             hurting himself.  So herein lies a great difficulty: there's a             blind spot in our consciousness, that we don't know that our actions             are directly harming our development in Krishna Consciousness, if             we're not humble in dealing with Krishna at every moment. We don't             understand that.  We don't give that value, you see, we think             we're simply socially existing. That if I do some offense, then my             godbrother will criticize me and I have to bear his criticism.

No. You're hurting yourself for not realizing that you're dealing with Krishna. That is the worse suffering.  That's the worst illusion, you see.  Therefore japa is meant as an individual practice of Krishna Consciousness. So that for some time, at least two hours during the day, you stop socially dealing. You understand? You stop socially dealing and you realize that "I am dealing with Krishna." If I make offense in thought, well here's the holy name right on my lips; the Lord is right there, and He is witnessing.  You can easily fool me as we're going through the day's activities, if you're looking lustfully on a girl or this or that.  That's easy, you see, and if I catch you, you can feel that "Oh, Vishnujana has caught me," or this or that. But the difficulty is that you don't realize that you're dealing with Krishna. Therefore one of the beautiful aspects of japa is it forces you to realize that "When no one else is around, and I'm chanting Hare Krishna, I'm dealing with Krishna." And, "Unless I do it properly, then I'm being offensive to the Lord."  There's no one else to hurt but me. I can't hurt Vishnujana, I can't hurt this one, I can't hurt that one, you see.  I can't offend them, all I can do is offend God and myself.  Therefore, this solitary chanting of japa is also recommended.  Japa is done individually.  Sometimes I see devotees, they have a collective japa class.  No, japa means individually, we are chanting, for two hours.  So try to utilize that time, scrutinizingly...."

Bhagavad-gita Class 4.36 - St. Louis, Missouri -- March             27, 1973

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Japa Katha

Over the last few days I have been having intense discussions about all the ins and outs of chanting Japa....it's been very satisfying and purifying for my devotee friend and I.
This then reminded me of the importance of Krsna katha, in this case Japa katha. I have noticed a boost of enthusiasm with my chanting over the last few days since the Japa discussions began...I have been very enthused to nail down my chanting and get it as good as I can...no distractions, mind focused, hearing well and pronouncing properly...in the zone of the Holy name.
The importance of Krsna or Japa katha can't be stressed enough, it definitely has a positive effect.

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Motivation For Chanting

I can say that there are many kinds of motivations to become better in our chanting. I myself look for it in many sources like association of devotees who are also interested in improving, listening to lectures concerning japa, reading Srila Prabhupada lectures, remembering my vows with my gurudev, and many others.

This week I went to a site where a devotee talked about his daily japa, he wanted to have all his rounds chanted by 6 am...by reading his experiences I felt enthused because this is also what I am trying to do sometimes - with his example I got strengh to apply this to my chanting.

Another thing that made me more aware of my chanting this week was the post I read here in the Japa Group where the devotee compares chanting in the morning (during brahma muhurta time) as sweet as a gulab jamun.

I thought "Wow this sweet is one of my favourites and I do want to  feel this taste while chanting...the taste of a sweet preparation, the taste of love for Krsna".

In the beginning we know it's very hard to get it but our motivation may drive us towards the best quality chanting. I can't forget to mention that having my son back home from Mayapur gurukul also enthuses me, seeing him chanting with my brother early in the morning wearing tilaka then making bhajans around the house. Wow, this is really amazing!
May our Lord always lead us to the right sources of motivation so we never stop our chanting efforts.

Hare Krsna

Aruna dd

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Everything Depends On Krsna

Our Japa Room today was very nectarian, with lots of good realisations from devotees. We can see how each one of us is developing our chanting. Becoming more aware of offenses, being attentive of how to chant constantly, paying attention to each word, pronouncing them distinctively and also concentrating on the sound vibration. Those basic topics are so important that just by hearing we can apply all the others easily.
Our japa should be the best time of the day...when we dedicate our time to the Lord so for sure we will be occupied in His devotional service because this is the meaning of this chanting.
These names are the beginning of our spiritual life and at the time of death they should to be the last thing  to remember.
The results of this chanting were also discussed and the conclusion is that we are dependant on the Lord, we just need to be engaged in this process and if the Lord wants to reveal Himself to us He will. Time to experience this  taste and just depend on Him and that's the real meaning of tolerance - being  always humble to understand that we can't control things but surrendering will make us achieve pure devotional service. Like it says in this verse from the Siksastakam:

"I know no one but Krsna as my Lord, and He shall remain so             even if He handles me roughly by His embrace or makes me brokenhearted             by not being present before me. He is completely free to do anything             and everything, for He is always my worshipful Lord, unconditionally."

Haribol

Aruna dd

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Blessings of the Guru

In the yoga-sutras, Patanjali says one can control the vrittis(though waves) by fixing the mind on one who has transcended human passions and attachments(vita raga-visayam ca cittam). So by thinking of a liberated soul or by looking at his picture, one can pacify the mind, purify the heart and increase one's concentration on japa. Remembering an advanced soul also purifies the mind: "One gets one-hunredth portion of the religious merit of a person by thinking of him." (Padma P. Uttara-khanda ch. 112v. 9-29)

From Art of Chanting Hare Krsna by Mahanidhi Swami

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Chanting is a Privilege

The days have been quite busy for the last month. Maha-cleaning of the temple, festival management, distributing prasadam in the Etno Festival, cooking, visiting sadhus, Ratha-Yatra, Millions of e-mails and phone-calls. Basically everyday something new and unexpected appears, hardly any time for reading.
When I am not able to chant in the morning, my quality usually goes down. When you have less time available, good chanting is a challenge but on the other hand you become more appreciative for good time and a place for nice chanting.
After a busy day, in the late evening when you can just sit down and chant for 20 minutes, you immeadiately feel your mind becoming peaceful and satisfied.
Chanting the Maha-mantra is the greatest blessing - chanting is a privilege.
If you have the time, please chant Hare Krishna.

ys

Mrd

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Krsna Is Our Friend

This weekend in the Japa room we shared our prayers, some devotees were asking for strengh to chant in the proper mood, others asking to help with offenses, attain love of God, taste for chanting and even association of pure devotees.
Sharing prayers drives us to a sense of humility towards the spiritual master and makes us aware of the importance of being situated in a lower position in relation to the Lord. We understand that we need the shelter of the Supreme everytime and as soon as  we surrender we really experience Krsna taking good care of us.
I learned that daily prayers help us depend on the Lord more and with this state of mind we are more keen to tolerate our struggles and accept what comes in our lives. It's also important to be aware of what motivation we have when praying, if certain thoughts are for material or spiritual acquisitions.

As I heard in a lecture recently, it's really nonsense to pray for material things that are only for our sense gratification, knowing that the Lord already sees our necessities and will supply our needs and maintain what we have. There is no need to be concerned, although Krsna is our friend and if we sometimes have fears or want to share with Him our problems, praying for assistance is the best thing so we can be relieved and the japa time will surely be peaceful and effective. Hoping you all have a blessed week!!

Haribol

Aruna dd

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The Mind Can Trick Us

Recently in the Japa Room I was discussing with the members about the nature of the mind and how it can trick us.

Even if we are reforming our Japa and have aquired good habits to overcome inattention, pronounciation and hearing etc. after sometime the mind may start to talk to us - "Don't worry about all those guidelines, your advanced in Japa now, you have reformed yourself....just let your mind wander and think of other things, don't worry about pronounciation or hearing, your on a higher level so it doesn't matter"....the mind can present these thoughts to us but it's essential everyday and for every mantra to preserve the basic guidelines given to us by Srila Prabhupada.

Before we start our chanting we can pray to the Lord for assistance with our Japa.....we can also remind ourselves about the quality and how we need to maintain that....I personally reflect on what I need to strengthen in my Japa and make a mental note before I start chanting.

I know some devotees like to make notes about their Japa, normally after their Japa session....notes that they can read over later and reflect on.

If we remain humble, realising that we can always make improvements in our spiritual lives, then we will give ourselves the best chance to make advancement.

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Daily Prayer

This weekend in the��Japa Room we talked about what to include in our prayers so we can make our chanting more effective and directed to our goals. It's very common for everyone to pray for some lack even in material life, we are conditioned to many things and we sometimes want to share with the Lord what we need and ask for assistance, maybe pray for other devotees or family members and so on.

For sure our Lord knows what we need and He provides us with everything already, just like the father that knows what his child needs and the kid won't need to ask for it. A kid may ask for something, the father may think its unfavorauble and won't give it and this is right....but the child at the beginning won't understand, just like us, maybe the Lord will supply us with what is favourable to our spiritual life and not for material life.

Concerning japa, we may ask for help for our common obstacles like innattention , wandering minds, not  hearing the mantra properly,  from commiting offenses and looking forward to having spiritual emotions while chanting.

All of these can be included in our daily prayer and maybe something else we may lack in our spiritual path or wish to achieve. The mood of chanting should be always in a humble state and prayer puts us in this position just by addressing the Lord as the mantainer and the Supreme and we as fallen souls asking to be blessed with pure devotional service towards Him.

Hare Krsna

Aruna dd

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Sambandha: The Relationship with Lord Krsna

This is another important article from Sacinandana Swami's site which made me feel very enthused to apply to Japa:

"Let us think about our relationship with Krishna. Sambandha is the joining of the Lord and jiva-atma. How can we put Krishna in our spiritual practices? What does it mean, for instance, to put Krishna in kirtan? What does it mean to put Krishna into japa?
If you want to put Krishna into your chanting, you need to give Krishna one gift. It is your full attention. In the Shrimad Bhagavatam it is said: ���Therefore, with single-minded concentration the devotee should chant My name, the devotee should hear about Me.�������Thus, we should think affectionately of the meaning of the mantra: ���O my Lord, please engage me in your service.���
When you do kirtan you must really enter the chanting of the holy name, otherwise you are left with only the banging of metal and vibrating of leather and clay. You must learn to give your attention to Krishna while you do this or any other service that you do for Krishna.
There is a very important meditation that Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura gives in a commentary on the Srimad Bhagavatam. You must think: ���O my dear Lord I brought this thing to You. Please accept.��� Prabhupada gave one lecture about offering food to Krishna and he said: ���My dear Lord, I brought this thing for You. Please accept this.��� Prabhupada was crying. This is how you can invite Krishna into your desertlike material life. You must give attention when you do your japa and you must do service in a conscious way. "My dear Lord, I am so insignificant. I brought this other insignificant thing for you. Please accept it." This is the meaning of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.
Developing this relationship to Krishna is an ongoing challenge that one must think about every day of one��s life. This sambandha is not just made when we join the movement and do prescribed activities. Sambandha is something that we have to think about every day, in each of our spiritual practices. Only then are we Krishna conscious. In order to develop sambandha with Krishna, one must leave kama (lust) and dambha (pride). There is one very important instruction in the Kena Upanisad. "

If you want to read the other part of this article which is an amazing topic please go to:

http://www.saranagati.net/index.php?S=3&Article=407&mpage=1

Hare Krsna

Aruna dd

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Quality Chanting

It is very important to chant all 16 rounds very nicely but qualitatively. Quality is a very important factor in terms of Japa. Prabhupada says that quality is not cheap but it does not mean that we should not strive for quality chanting.
One of the most important and practical ways to improve our Japa is to get up early in the morning and complete our 16 rounds before sunrise. Then this practise will in itself helpful for us in quality chanting.
Second most important point in chanting is that we should follow the four regulative principles very very strictly or else the quality will not come and we will just chant mechanically.

If we get up early and complete our 16 rounds before sunrise then we will see that following the four regulative principles will become easy.

Iam telling this according to what I have experienced.

Hari Bol

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Travelling Japa Diary

We have free accomodation in a place of one friend who has a tattoo studio��in his home. Not the most typical place for brahmacaris but it is quite neat��and clean and free of charge. Our friend has spent maybe a year's budget��from a poor country to collect all kinds of underground art, weapons, metal-music, films etc.

Again I was not able to avoid looking a little bit at his latest��investments. I read some pages from "Heroine Diary" by Nikki Sixx - somewhat��shocking reading. This is what happens when sense gratification turns into the extreme - at least everybody can become convinced that one cannot��become happy by using drugs.

The next morning this prajalpa was in my mind but��I thought that "Wow! If I could become equally addicted to the maha-mantra��as these crazy rock-stars are to drugs, it would be the perfection of life."

yhs

Mrd

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Importance of Concentrated Japa Time

The following is a letter that Sacinandana Swami sent to a community member about chanting. Hoping it  would enrich our Japa I decided to share it.

"Srila Rupa Gosvami says that we can chant in all situations of life, whether loud, softly, while working, while going, etc. But there is great benefit, when one sits down, chants before a little home altar and concentrates the mind deeply on the sound vibration.
I believe that one���s personal qualities of japa will influence the rest of ones devotional service. Japa does not mean a tongue exercise but it is only effective when we put our mind where the sound is. We need really be present with our mind in the sound, so that the sound can vibrate everything unpleasant out of the mind. For this we really need to give first and a topmost priority for chanting. When chanting I always feel that I am entering a sacred room. The doors to the world close behind, and I am sitting facing the altar of the Holy Name which are the Lords form, qualities and pastimes.
Let us always remember that we are pioneers with a very high spiritual goal. Just like pioneers need to sometimes do things on the side which are only indirectly related to their goals (like building bridges over ranging rivers etc.) we also as pioneers need to try different things to get an understanding. Our pioneering will only be successful however if we do not loose our goal out of our eyes. For this end it is very important to have an concentrated private japa time and reading time. I suggest for your reading Brihad Bhagavatamrita because that book [...] is defining the goal and the meanings to get to it."

Letter from Sacinandana Swami 02-07-08

Hare Krsna

Aruna dd

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Praising The Lord Before Japa

I was thinking today about what should be our state of mind when we pray before Japa....listening to a lecture I found out that we should first of all praise the Lord while praying, recognize that He is superior maybe even quoting the sastras and Brahma Samhita.

In the Brahma-sa���hit�� (5.33) we have information of many, many incarnations of the Lord. It is stated there:

"I worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda [K���������a], who is the original person ��� absolute, infallible, without beginning. Although expanded into unlimited forms, He is still the same original, the oldest, and the person always appearing as a fresh youth. Such eternal, blissful, all-knowing forms of the Lord are usually understood by the best Vedic scholars, but they are always manifest to pure, unalloyed devotees."

After praising the Lord we should state our disqualification towards Him and pray for mercy. Here is another example by Narottama dasa Thakura:

" The treasure of divine love in Goloka Vrndavana has descended as the congregational chanting of Lord Hari's holy names. Why did my attraction for that chanting never come about...Day and night my heart burns from the fire of the poison of wordliness, and I have not taken the means to relieve it."

Ista-deve Vijnapti -��Verse 2

The best prayer is the one that comes from the heart and it's important to have some feeling with it, then we can be prepared to chant with feeling, with our hearts opened to hearing the names and experience the bliss we are looking for.

Hare Krsna

Aruna dd

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Endeavor on the Path of Surrender

This is a very nice article from Sacinandana Swami and I am sure there is a lot to add to our spiritual path.

"This little historical story (when Draupadi turned to Krsna for protection when disrobing threatened her) tells us a little bit about endeavor. It��s not enough to just chant Krishna��s name, you need to also surrender. If you just chant without surrender, Krishna does not hear you, but if you chant with surrender, Krishna will hear you and come to your aid. Whose prayers does the Lord hear? Well, the answer to this question is: He hears those prayers that are offered by the devotee who is practiced in the art of saranagati, or looking for shelter. We cannot do much on our own; we are quite helpless. But we can endeavor to take shelter at Krishna��s lotus feet by accepting those things that are favorable and rejecting those things that are unfavorable. We can endeavor in these directions. We can also endeavor to conduct ourselves in a humble way and we can similarly take shelter of Lord Krishna. I have seen in my life and in the lives of many devotees that Krishna seems to wait for the moment when we profoundly approach Him and take shelter. Only then will Krishna listen to our prayers and come to our aid. If there is an empty heart or proud heart that thinks "I can do everything on my own," then Krishna does not rush and does not come, but the moment the devotee endeavors to take shelter at Krishna��s lotus feet and surrender, at that moment Lord Krishna easily rushes to the aid of His devotees. The drama of our life, the history of our life, the particular story of our own journey is always a story about our own decision to surrender to Sri Sri Radha Govinda. This is always at the nucleus of our spiritual endeavor. I would like to ask all of you in this month of Kartik to sincerely think about your endeavors on the path of surrender because it is very necessary to show Lord Krishna that we are not indifferent to His mercy and that we sincerely wish to have His mercy. I ask you to make a plan about how you can conduct your devotional life in such a way that your endeavor to surrender is very strongly manifest."

Hare Krsna

Aruna dd

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Our Relationship With Krsna

This week we are surrounded by messages talking about Lord Krsna's advent. The one we have been dedicating our lives as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the one we pray everyday before our chanting, the one we share our problems...who speaks in our hearts...who bless our daily life. He is the all attractive - He has all six opulences: all wealth, strengh, influence, knowledge, renunciation and beauty.

He is known as Madana Mohana, the one who enchants even cupid and His consort Srimate Radharani is Madana Mohana mohini, the enchanter of the enchanter of the cupid. For the inhabitants of Vrindavan He is just a cowherd boy and for mother Yasoda He came as a son who she treats as a common child - this is pure love. All the inhabitants of Vrindavan are pure devotees of the Lord and have been engaged in pure devotional service. This should be our desire, our natural wish when we chant....it's mine...everytime I take my beads I think of a relationship I could have with the Lord, even if I am not prepared to perform it yet. According to our founder acarya  Srila Prabhupada, pure devotional service is only attained by strong desire to have it.

I hope this week fills us with this wish of serving our Lord and everytime we chant on our beads we remember we can develop a relationship with Him based on love and service, so maybe one day our chanting can become pure and complete...that everytime we pronouce Krsna's names we can experience His presence and feel true bliss.

Hare Krsna

Aruna dd

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It All Starts With Chanting and Hearing

Reading the Teachings of Lord Chaitanya Chapter 13, I found a very nice and important quote that I am sure can be very useful in our everyday devotional life. Here follows the quote:

"If, due to some righteous activities which provoke devotional service, one is influenced by the service attitude and takes shelter of the good association of pure devotees, he develops attachment for hearing and chanting. By developing chanting and hearing, one can advance further and further in regulative devotional service to the Supreme Lord. As one so advances, his misgivings about devotional service and his attraction for the material world proportionately diminish. By advancing in hearing and chanting, a devotee becomes more firmly fixed in his faith, and gradually his initial faith develops into a taste for devotional service, and that taste gradually develops into attachment. When attachment becomes pure, it exhibits the two characteristics of bh��va and rati. When rati increases, it is called love of Godhead, and love of Godhead is the ultimate goal of human life." TLC Ch.13

The process of devotional service starts with chanting, the maha mantra is the basis of our spiritual lives. What called my attention to this quote is the emphasis given to chanting and hearing. We always stick to the point that when we chant, we need also to hear to the sound to get the results. By doing this we will be able to attain pure love of God, which is the ultimate goal of life. Another important aspect that comes before  this is proper association - taking shelter of pure devotees...the ones who dedicate their lives to following the principles and are really serious about getting advanced. Following these simple guidelines we  for sure will have support and a desire to develop this taste.

Hare Krsna

Aruna dd

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The Precious Jewel

We had amazing sessions this weekend in the Japa Room. The topic was about the importance of composing a prayer for reciting before Japa....then we were taught the emphasis of developing a relationship with the Lord, first by positioning ourselves in a humble way towards the Spiritual Master prayer, Panca Tattva and also our personal prayers which will be the topic of next week.

We were reminded about the essential guidelines of attentive chanting that can be aquired through reading the mantra while chanting at the same time...always bringing the mind back to hearing the mantra and concentration on the sound vibration.

It was stated how the Lord helps in our path when we pray for assistance....by taking shelter of the Lord we can really feel His presence. The Holy names are for very few - for sure the desire of Lord Chaitanya is to spread this Sankirtan Movement but still very few have this opportunity of taking advantage of chanting the Holy names.

We are these few, so why not taking full advantage of this process and dedicate ourselves 100% to it then we can receive all the benefits of this precious jewel and develop a real relationship with Krsna. We have learned that this is a very rare opportunity and we should take it seriously if we want to see Krsna face to face in this life.
Hope you have wonderful chanting this week and maybe be able to concentrate and relish the power of these names in your daily life.

Hare Krsna

Aruna dd

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Janmastami Japa

It was Janmastami, the appearance day of Lord Krishna. Devotees rushed to the temple during Mangal Aarti. It was great to see such a large number of devotees chanting and it was blissful. During festivals, it would be wonderful to chant extra rounds, to get that extra special mercy!

I sat down with my beads and started chanting my rounds. Immediately after a few minutes, many devotees joined me and we all chanted with full concentration and it was so powerful! That was the day...I could relish the nectar of the Holy names....of course, association is very powerful.
By mercy of Guru, Panca Tattva, and Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha I chanted the whole day and by the end of the abhishekam, I was able to chant 108 rounds of the Maha Mantra (thanks to Rasa Rasika prabhu for his encouragement always).

Even after I was done with my chanting, the Holy name was still vibrating on my lips. That is the nectar of the Holy name. We want to experience the bliss every single moment....so good chanting really produces more chanting. This is surely a sign of advancement. Whenever I feel low or don't feel like chanting I just remember that day of Janmastami bliss and yeah, the taste is back again. That is the power of the Holy name.

There is a beautiful reply by Srila Prabhupada on japa:

"Regarding your first question, is it offensive to think of Krishna's Pastimes while chanting, I think you should know that it is not offensive, but rather it is required. One must try for the point when he simply hears Krishna and immediately all of Krishna, His Pastimes, His Form, His Quality, are in his thoughts. So to always be immersed in thoughts of Krishna this is our process. When we are full in Krishna then where there can be any chance for maya in us? So this is our duty to remember Krishna's Pastimes. One who cannot remember Krishna, let him always hear Hare Krishna and then when he has perfected this art, then always he will remember Krishna, His Activities, His Qualities, etc."

Ref:(SPL 68/12/4)

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Chant 16 Rounds

From all regulatives principles, the chanting of 16 rounds a day is the most important. This is the faith Srila Prabhupada always had in the Holy names. He revealed that if a devotee chants he will definitely follow all the other principles.

Listening to a lecture from my Gurudev yesterday given this month in a Japa Retreat in Georgia, he was talking about this faith that Srila Prabhupada had in the Holy names and how he wanted everyone to chant the maha mantra.��He used to be so strict to devotees having to chant their 16 rounds and said once that if this was not followed it meant they were committing offense towards the spiritual master by not folowing his orders.

Another thing my gurudev commented was about the offenses and how difficult is sometimes to avoid them. There was a word that I can't forget from his preaching, that we should at least try - this attempt to follow our spiritual master's instructions pleases the Lord and when Krsna is pleased everything happens.

The Lord promises to make the word of his pure devotee happen so it's so true that if we chant 16 rounds and follow the regulative principles we will go back home, back to Godhead, just because that's what our Founder Acharya promised and that's what will happen by the Lord's mercy. This is the power of the maha mantra, it can turn our fallen existance into a blissful life of nonstop devotional service to Krsna.

Hare Krsna

Aruna dd

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Japa Diary

Our humble obeisances - Jaya Srila Prabhupada.��This is from the recent kartika diary of one of our sadhus - I think he likes to stay anonymous...

To chant with affection one must be conscious that chanting should be done not��only in the mood of purification for oneself, but also done for the pleasure of��Krishna. We must thus make our chanting sound as sweet and heartfelt aspossible for His delight.
October 19, 2008

Sri Govardhana

The chanter of the holy name should always be connected to the name by��remaining mindful of what he is doing. We can remain connected by thinking of��the relevance of the name ��� that it will clean the heart and extinguish the��fire of material existence. We can remain connected by thinking of the meaning��of the name ��� a call for service. We can remain connected by relationship with��the name ��� loving the holy name. At least we can remain connected by being��humbled before the name ��� lamenting our lack of attraction for the holy name.

Japa Thoughts III

October 17, 2008

Sri Govardhana

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Home Sweet Home

The previous post was very inspiring...just a small comment that although I am very fond of travelling, my home temple is my favourite place for japa. I am a bit neurotic about hearing unnecessary sounds during japa, and I easily get carried away by sounds of a fan or even by devotees loudly pacing back and forth. Large number of devotees chanting together is inspiring, but there is also special nectar when there are just a few serious chanters in a same temple room.
Of course it is one of the tricks of the mind that you think that you have to get somewhere else to chant nicely. There is some external disturbance everywhere - in Mayapur it maybe too hot or too many insects, in another temple too many sounds of traffic, in the Himalayas it is too cold and windy etc.

Ys

Mrd

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Japa Prayers

This is a rather long post - and for that I apologise. However it has helped so much with my japa. It is taken from Mahanidhi Swami's book, entitled 'The Art of Chanting Hare Krishna.' There are prayers for before, during and after japa (although honestly I've thought of the prayers during japa of more of a mood). It helps keep me focussed and makes my japa more meaningful. I hope it will inspire and help others with their japa.

BEFORE JAPA:
"The beauty of bhakti-yoga, unlike other yoga systems, is that all progress depends more or less on the mercy of Guru and Krsna. In other yoga paths, one attains success by his personal prowess, austerity and endeavor. On the bhakti-marga, however, attaining the goal oiprema does not depend on the mechanical system of hearing and chanting; it depends solely on Krsna's causeless mercy. Lord Gauranga says, guru-krsna-krpaya: by the mercy of guru and Krsna. When Sri Guru and Krsna are fully satisfied with one's sincere efforts, one may be blessed with divine wisdom and spiritual perfection. It is simply a question of mercy and nothing else. The path of devotion (bhakti-marga) depends completely on the mercy of the Lord. Therefore, one must seek the mercy-beg for it, hope for it and pray for it. Gaudiya Vaisnavas understand this principle, so they always pray to Sri Guru and the merciful Vaisnavas past and present for mercy, blessings and guidance. This especially applies to chanting the holy name for which we have little or no taste or attraction. Heartfelt prayers will draw the attention of Krsna and His devotees. By their causeless mercy one will attain the power to chant and the taste to sustain it.

ekaki amdra, nahi pay a bala, hari-nama-sahkirtane
tumi krpd kori', sraddha-bindu diyd, deho' krsna-nama-dhane

"On my own, I have absolutely no strength to chant the holy name ** Please, O Vaisnava Thakura! Be merciful by giving nd grant me the great treasure of the holy name of lord hari. Please, O vaisnava Thakur! Be merciful by giving me one drop faith, and grant me the great treasure of the holy name of krishna (saranagati)

One will quickly attain spiritual perfection by selflessly worshiping the six G's: Guru, Gosvamis, Gauranga, Giriraja and Gandharvika-Giridhari. Realizing this, Krsna dasa Kaviraja prayed to the six Gosvamis to remove all impediments to his writing of Caitanya-caritamrta. In the following purport, Srila Prabhupada describes how the six Gosvamis assist devotees by protecting them, destroying obstacles, and arranging for their service to Krsna."If a devotee seeks shelter at the lotus feet of the six Gosvamis, the merciful Gosvamis will certainly give the Lord's servitor all protection. It is not astonishing that impediments are placed before those who are spreading the Krsna consciousness movement all over the world. Nevertheless, if we adhere to the lotus feet of the six Gosvamis and pray for their mercy, all impediments will be annihilated, and the transcendental devotional desire to serve the Supreme Lord will be fulfilled." (Cc. Antya 1.3-4 p.) Devotees who understand the great power of the six Gosvamis will always pray for their mercy. Ours is the path of mercy, the path of grace, and there are no more merciful devotees than the six Gosvamis. May everyone receive the causeless mercy of the six Gosvamis, and go back home, back to Godhead. In order to chant without offenses, subdue impediments, and progress steadily on the path oiprema, acaryas advocate reciting the following prayer to the six Gosvamis ten times every morning before chanting japa:

sri-rupa sanatoria bhatta-raghundtha, sri-jiva gopala-bhatta dasaraghundtha
ei chay gosdir kori carana vandan, jaha hoite bighna-nas abhistapuran

By the causeless mercy of the six Gosvamis-Sri Rupa, Sanatana, Raghunatha Bhatta, Sri Jiva, Raghunatha dasa and Gopala Bhatta-the obstacles to devotion can be removed, the service of Radha-Govinda Yugala can be attained, and all one's personal desires for Service can be fulfilled. (Nama-sankirtana, Narottama dasa Thakura)

One can also pray to Lord Nrsimhadeva to remove anarthas and aparadhas from the heart. The auspicious and most merciful Lord Nrsirhha has unlimited power to purify the heart, destroy obstacles to devotion, and bestow attraction for chanting Hare Krsna. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura shows the relationship between Nrsimhadeva's mercy and Radha-Govindaprema:

In Navadvipa-dhama, at the abode of Lord Nrsirhha known as Nrsirmha Puri or Devapalli, I will roll on the ground in ecstatic love, begging for unalloyed love of Krsna. In my heart reside duplicity, insincerity, the desire for fame, and the six enemies: lust, anger, greed, envy, illusion and madness (kama, krodha, lobha, matsarya, moha, mada). I will pray at the feet of Lord Nrsimha, therefore, to purify my heart and give me the desire to serve Krsna. Weeping, I will beg at the lotus feet of Nrsimha that I may worship Radha-Govinda in Navadvipa, free from all obstacles. When will that Lord Hari, who strikes fear in fear personified, be pleased and bestow His mercy on me? Although this form of the Lord is terrible for the evil, He is exceedingly auspicious for the devotees headed by Prahlada. When will Nrsimhadeva become pleased to mercifully speak to me, a worthless fool, and remove my fears?

"Lord Nrsirhha will say, 'Dear child, stay here happily in Gaura-dhama. Worship Radha-Govinda and develop attraction for the holy name. By the mercy of My devotees all obstacles will be transcended. With a purified heart just worship Radha-Govinda-the abodes of sweet nectar After speaking in this way, when will Lord Nrsirhha joyfully place His feet upon my head? At that moment, by the Lord's mercy, I will exhibit symptoms of ecstatic love for Radha-Govinda, and roll on the ground before the door of His temple." (Navadvipa-bhava-taranga)

After praising Sri Guru, the Gosvamis and Lord Nrsirhha one should pray to Gaura-Nitai and the Panca-tattva for the ability to chant suddha-nama. Krsna dasa Kaviraja says the holy names Caitanya and Nityananda will quickly remove nama-aparadhas from faithful chanters:

caitanya-nitydnande nahi esaba vicara
natna laite prema dena, vahe asrudhara

"One will be cleansed of all offenses very quickly just by chanting the holy names of Caitanya and Nityananda with a little faith. Then as soon as one chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, he will attain prema and tears will flow from his eyes."(cc. Adi 8.31)Every night during the Kartika month, a kirtana party walks around Radha-kunda. With wompers, mrdangas and contagious enthusiasm they wildly sing, "Jai Caitanya! Nitai-Caitanya! Jai Caitanya-Nitaiii!" When one hears this kirtana, he instantly feels lighthearted and flushed with joy. Without thinking, one starts singing responsively. By the influence of Caitanya-Nitai, the maha-mantra soon pours out in waves of sweetness. All glories to the causeless mercy of Caitanya-Nitai!

sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nitydnanda sri-advaita
gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda.

"There are offenses to be considered in chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, but there are no such considerations in chanting the names of Gaura-Nityananda. Therefore, if one chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra but his life is still full of sinful activities, it will be very difficult for him to achieve the platform of loving service to the Lord. But if in spite of being an offender one chants the holy names of Gaura-Nityananda, he is very quickly freed from the interactions of his offenses." (ccAdi 8.31 p.) It is difficult to keep the rascal mind fixed on the sound of Krsna's holy name while chanting;'apa. And remembering Krsna's pastimes while chanting is even more difficult. Therefore, one may feel discouraged in his attempts to rise to the platform of pure chanting in the face of so many anarthas and aparadhas. Fortunately, however, one can call upon "five friends" for help in chanting. By receiving the causeless mercy of Lord Gauranga and His associates a blind chanter can see the Lord in the heart, a lame offender can scale a mountain of aparadhas, and a foul-mouthed fool can recite the honey sweet words of madhura-nama.

Reciting the following prayers before chanting japa will purify the mind, create a feeling of humility, and establish the mood of service (seva-bhava) in the heart. Meditate deeply on the meaning of these important prayers and try to memorize them. One can maintain the proper mood of humility during japa by remembering the meaning of these prayers while chanting Hare Krsna.

naharh vipro na ca nara-patir napi vaisyo na sudro
ndharh varni na ca grha-patir no vana-stho yatir va
kintu prodyan-nikhila-paramdnanda-purnamrtabdher
gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor ddsa-dasdnudasah

I am a pure spirit soul. I am not a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya or a sudra. Nor am I a brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha or sannyasa. I am nothing more than a servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Sri Krsna, the maintainer of the gopis. Krsna is an ocean of nectar and the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He always exists with brilliance, (cc. Madhya 13.80) I am by nature the eternal servant of Krsna. But because of my bad fortune, I have been inimical toward Krsna from time immemorial. Identifying with my body, I have been continuously wandering in the cycle of birth and death in the material world, suffering the burning three-fold miseries. As a result of some unimaginable good fortune I have attained the mercy of my spiritual master, and now I know that I am Krsna's eternal servant. I am an infinitesimal spiritual being completely apart from the gross and subtle body. I have obtained the good fortune of serving the lotus feet of Sri Guru. Under his order, I am following in his footsteps to serve the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Gandharvika-Giridhari [or the names of the your personal Deities],

O Radha-Govinda! I will adorn my neck with the incomparably beautiful garland of Your holy names. Please make tears fall uncontrollably from my eyes. Please once and for all free me from illusion and submerge me repeatedly in the waves of the nectar ocean of Your holy names. Please protect me and give me unflinching devotion to Your lotus feet. I offer my continual obeisances Unto You. (paura Govindarcana Smarana Paddhati)
Oh glorious holy name of Krsna! Only you have the power to conquer lust, hatred and all other vices. Oh glorious holy name of Krsna! Make me forget the dualities of material existence arising from this material body. Oh glorious holy name of Krsna! Help me to forget the material world and reveal to me the sweet splendor of the spiritual world. Oh glorious holy name of Krsna! Please take me to a secluded grove in Vrndavana wherein the fair and dark complexioned lovers are manifesting Their wonderful pastimes."(yadavana-mahimamrta, Sataka 7.40)

tvarh gopika vrsaraves tanayantike 'si
sevadhikarini guro nija-pdda-padme
dasyarh praddya kuru mam vraja-kanane sri-
rddhanghri-sevana-rase sukhiriim sukhdbdhau

O beloved spiritual master! You are always serving the lotus feet of the splendid gopika named Radha, the darling daughter of Vrsabhanu Maharaja. Please give me the qualification to serve your lotus feet, which are the abodes of pure devotional service. By your mercy I will attain the eternal service of Sri Radha in the beautiful groves of Vraja-dhama. While serving the lotus feet of Radha I will taste a variety of blissful mellows (seva-rasa), and thereby drown in an ocean Of joy. (Pancaratra Pradipa)

DURING JAPA:
In the Caitanya-caritamrta, Ramananda Raya states that the names of Radha-Krsna (yugala-nama), or the Hare Krsna mantra are the topmost objects of worship:

'updsyera madhye kon upasya pradhdna?'
srestha upasya���yugala 'radha-krsna' nama'

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, 'Among all worshipable objects, which is the chief?' Ramananda Raya replied, 'The chief worshipable object is the holy name of Radha-Krsna, the Hare Krsna mantra.' (cc. Madhya 8.256) In this regard, Sanat-kumara-samhita states that recitation of the following five prayers quickly awards one the direct service of Radha-Krsna. Since the Hare Kimamaha-mantra is ayugala-man-tra, non-different from Radha-Krsna, one can also offer these prayers to the maha-mantra. In this japa meditation technique, one should mentally repeat these prayers while simultaneously chanting japa.

1.0 Radha-Krsna, please rescue me from the ocean of birth and death. Please save me from the problems born of home, family and friends. Please break to pieces the fears of Your surrendered devotees.
2. O Radha-Krsna, today I place myself and everything I possess in this life or in the next at Your lotus feet.
3. O Radha-Krsna, I am an abode of all offenses. I have abandoned all spiritual duties. I have no shelter. O Radha-Krsna, O My Lords, please give me Your shelter.
4.0 master of Radha, I am Yours. O beloved of Lord Krsna, I am Youis. I offer my thoughts, words and deeds to both of You. You both are the goal of my life.
5.0 Radha-Krsna, You are like two great oceans of mercy. Please be merciful to me. I take shelter of You and surrender unto You. Although I am a sinner and an offender, please engage me in Your divine Service. (Sanat-kumara-samhita)

AFTER JAPA:
In a purport describing the nine forms of bhakti, Srila Prabhupada said, "One should chant the following two prayers composed in glorification of the holy name to become free from offenses at the lotus feet of the holy name: " (SB 7.5.23-24 p.)

nikhila-sruti-mauli-ratna-mala dyuti-riirajita-pada-parikajanta
ayi mukta-kulair upasyamanarh paritas tvath hari-ndma sarhsrayami

O Hari-nama! The tips of the toes of Your lotus feet are constantly being worshiped by the glowing radiance emanating from the string of gems known as the Upanisads, the crown jewels of all the Vedas. You are eternally adored by liberated souls such as Narada and Sukadeva. O Hari-nama! I take complete shelter of YOU. (Ndmastaka l)

nivrtta-tarsair upaglyamdndd bhavausadhac chrotra-mano-'bhiramat
ka uttamasloka-gundnuvdddt pumdn virajyeta vind pasughndt

Glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is performed in the parampara system; that is, it is conveyed from spiritual master to disciple. Such glorification is relished by those no longer interested in the false, temporary glorification of this cosmic manifestation. Descriptions of the Lord are the right medicine for the conditioned soul undergoing repeated birth and death. Therefore, who will cease hearing such glorification of the Lord except a butcher [animal killer], or one who is killing his own self? (SB 10.1.4)

The two prayers above and the others mentioned below can be chanted after completing sixteen rounds of Hare Krsnayopa. Chanting these prayers will refresh the mind and remove offenses from the heart.

aparadha-sahasrani, kriyante 'har-nisarh mayd.
ddso 'ham iti mam matvd, ksamasva madhusiidana.

Day and night, I make thousands of offenses. Oh Madhusiidana! Thinking of me as Your servant, kindly forgive them.

pratijha tava govinda, na me bhaktah pranasyati.
iti samsmrtya samsmrtya, prdndn sahdharayamy aharn

O Govinda, Your promise is that Your devotee will never perish.By remembering this over and over again, I am able to retain my life-airs.

sthitih seva gatir ydtrd, smrtis cintd stutir vacah.
bhuyat sarvatmana visno, madiyam tvayi cestitam.

O Lord Krsna! Let my normal condition be service. Let my movement be holy pilgrimage. Let my thought be remembrance of You. Let my words be glorification of You. O Krsna! May all the activities of my mind, body and soul be ever engaged in Your service. (Hari-bhakti-vilasa 4.3l) Although I am the lowest and You are the highest; although I am a fool and You are the greatest hilosopher; although I am wicked and You are the most saintly; and although I commit offenses when I think of You, still, O Radha-Govinda, the shadow of whose holy name delivers one from a host of sins, please be kind to this person who Sometimes Chants Your holy names. (Karpanya-panjika-stotra, Srila Rupa Gosvami)

Upon finishing sixteen rounds of japa, one should not immediately get up and run through the day. Sit quietly for at least five minutes. Close your eyes and fix the dazzling forms of Radha-Syama in your mind while reflecting upon Their infinite sweet love and compassion. You belong to Them and They belong to you. Offer a short personal prayer to Radha-Syama, your own Deity, or to Sri Nama Prabhu [sample below]. Afterwards, offer obeisances to Sri Nama Prabhu and your spiritual master, and then execute your prescribed duties."Oh most beautiful and merciful Radha-Syama! Please accept this offering of japa, which I tried my best to chant for Your plea��sure. Please forgive me for all my offenses and inattention. Please engage me only in Your service, and teach me how to increase my attachment and love for You. Please protect me from maya. Please help me remember Your beautiful names, forms, and pastimes throughout the day."

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

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