Srila Prabhupada Japa tape - a reply to Gd

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> > Thank you for your somewhat angry opinion and chastisements concerning

> > our recent discussions about the origins and use of Srila Prabhupada's

> > Japa Tape.

> >

> > Perhaps you have over-reacted a tad.

> >

> > For your information, I personally know a number of senior Sanyasis and

> > Gurus who also prefer NOT to have Srila Prabhupada's wonderful japa tape

> > playing loudly while they chant their japa. Are these men enamored by

> > the material energy?

> >

> On the other hand, I have seen so many sanyassi-gurus who had their japa

> tapes made and being heard by their disciples during japa time. I have

> personally heard these in quite few occassions. Of course it is an

> imitation of Srila Prabhupada's japa tape, hearing which can increase

> one's absorption in the holy name.

 

I think that the original Kurma prabhu's point was not about whether

Prabhupada's japa tape helps someone to become more absorbed into his

personal chanting of maha-mantra or not, but about making it a standard

practice within our temples. Apparently we don't have any direct

instructions either from Srila Prabhupada or from our acaryas on the matter.

So in my humble opinion introducing any new things into our basic sadhana

requires sabda pramana. To introduce a new standard in our temple rooms

without any scriptural support just on pretext that it helps someone to

become more absorbed (and that's quite subjective feeling) is somewhat

speculative and goes against the principles given by Srila Prabhupada

himself. Perhaps if someone feels that playing the tape really helps him to

concentrate upon HIS chanting he would have to do it separately, in the

association of those sharing his view. After all why not to play the japa

tape in our temples at other times while chanting without beads?..

 

Your servant

Visista dasa