Thought of the week: Improving our chanting

[Guest guest]

Chanting or japa is the basis of Krishna consciousness. If the chanting is

good, the consciousness reflects this as an increased attachment to chanting.

If the chanting is not good, then that will manifest as a loss of taste for the

holy name. For an aspiring devotee this is very serious, and he must

immediately endeavor to rectify this situation. He must reform.

 

There are three stages of chanting. In the beginning one tends to chant

inattentively, and this stage is called the offensive stage. In the Nectar of

Instructions, Srila Rupa Goswami compares this stage to that of a patient of

jaundice, who afflicted by the disease will find even sweet things, like rock

candy, to taste bitter. However as he persists, then the same rock candy will

cure the disease and begin to taste sweet. Similarly, when one sincerely

endeavors to chant, even without much natural attraction to the holy name, the

transcendental potency of the holy name will cause to develop within the person

an attraction for the holy name. This is the second stage, called the clearing

stage, where one is gradually freed of the offenses and begins to relish the

holy name. The final stage, called the transcendental stage is one of

spontaneous attraction to the holy name. This is the ultimate goal of chanting.

Thus, the holy name is the process and the destination.

 

Chanting is the life breath of devotional service. If chanting ceases then

devotional service will cease. So, the constant mediation of a devotee should

be: 'Is my chanting good? How can I improve my chanting?'

 

Understand the goal

*******************

When one is chanting the maha-mantra, 'Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna

Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare' then one is praying

that 'O Srimati Radharani, the internal potency of Krishna, the most attractive

and the source of all pleasures, please engage me in His devotional service.'

All service to Krishna is performed under the guidance of Srimati Radharani,

and when one is chanting, one is praying to Srimati Radharani to be given an

opportunity to render service to Krishna.

 

Thus chanting cannot be done in vacuum, but within the framework of devotional

service and the regulative principles. One must not become a devotee of

chanting sixteen rounds, but a devotee of the Vaishnavas, the spiritual master

and Krishna. Chanting must be done with the understanding that the goal of

spiritual life is to render service to Krishna and the process to become

qualified to render this service is offenseless chanting.

 

The goal of chanting is not to 'charge the batteries,' or 'clear the mind.'

These may be side-effects of chanting, and if present can be leveraged for

devotional service. However, one must not settle for iron when a process can

yield gold. Chanting is not a cheap thing, it is completely spiritual and its

reward is Krishna prema, pure love of God.

 

Understand the process

**********************

One must understand very clearly what offenseless chanting is in order to work

towards it. Offenseless chanting is when one chants in a mood of helplessness,

like that of a child crying for its mother. Offenseless chanting is in a mood

of desperation, understanding that one's life may end any time and this may be

the last opportunity to chant. Offenseless chanting is with the understanding

that Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the most powerful, the

greatest, without an equal, is personally manifest in each and every syllable

of the maha-mantra. That is the mood that one must strive to cultivate.

 

Chanting begins as 'vaidhi bhakti' or devotional service performed according to

rules and regulations. From offensive it becomes offenseless and from

offenseless it becomes spontaneous. Therefore with the understanding of the

goal, one must first try and perfect the process. The transition from

offenseless chanting to spontaneous chanting is only by the mercy of Krishna,

but we have to first reach the stage of offenseless chanting, by our own effort

and determination.

 

There are no hard and fast rules for chanting. It can be done by anyone,

anywhere, anytime. However for a seriously aspiring devotee practicing

sadhana-vaidhi bhakti, rules and regulations are like training wheels on a

cycle., they provide support until a natural sense of balance comes to the

rider.

 

Improving chanting:

 

Controlling the mind

********************

The greatest problem in chanting is inattentiveness. As so as one begins to

chant, the mind immediately begins to traverse on multiple tracks, thinking

about problems of the past, planning for the day ahead and simply roaming all

over the universe. Controlling the mind is so difficult that even one of the

stature of Arjuna expresses his inability to do so. However in response Krishna

counsels that while it is indeed difficult, with practice it is possible.

 

So one must practice sincerely. One must not lament about the wandering mind,

but diligently bring it back every time it does wander. Just like controlling

the car, the hand has always to be on the steering. If the mind becomes very

noisy, demanding too much attention, then one should simply ignore it. One must

not chant passively, letting the senses roam freely, but rather one must chant

actively like a general defending the fort - constantly vigilant and pushing

out unwanted intruders.

 

Enunciation

***********

Chanting is kirtana (speaking) and sravana (hearing), the two fundamental forms

of devotional service. The potency of the chanting comes from the

transcendental nature of the sound vibrations created when each and every

syllable is pronounced clearly and distinctly. One must chant slowly and

clearly, careful not to slur the words and one must try and hear each and every

word that is being spoken. Then and only then is one considered to be chanting.

The optimal time for completing a round is somewhere between 6-7 minutes. If

one is finishing rounds in less than 5 minutes then it means that the chanting

is too fast or beads are being skipped. Both are offenses that should be

carefully guarded against.

 

Time

****

The early morning hours are the best for chanting, since the overall

consciousness at the time is conducive to spirituality. The Brahma-muhurta,

from 4AM to 7AM is ideally suited for chanting. Practically also at this time

of the day, the attendant problems of life have yet to manifest, the

environment is calm and soothing and the possibility of interruptions are the

least. Chanting late at night, when the modes of passion are prominent, or

after meals, when the mind becomes sluggish is generally not very good.

 

Place

*****

The consciousness of the place has a distinct effect on one's own

consciousness. Chanting in the temple, close to the deities, close to a Tulasi

tree, by flowing water, in peaceful natural surrounding helps concentrate on

the holy name. On the other hand chanting in a busy public place, on a bus or

train, at work, at places where the modes of passion is strong tends to agitate

the mind and results in offensive chanting. It is also best to chant alone or

in the association of devotees. Also, putting on a tape of one's spiritual

master or Srila Prabhupada chanting helps a lot.

 

Posture

*******

One may chant sitting or walking. While sitting one must try to sit in a lotus

or semi-lotus position (ankles crossed over) and a straight back. This is a

common yogic position and promotes the flow on internal energy in a manner that

is conducive to meditation. If one does prefer to walk, then it should be in a

way that the walking does not take one's mind away from the chanting. Chanting

while lying down or sitting in a very comfortable posture tends to make one

drowsy. One could change postures or alternate between sitting and walking to

keep drowsiness away.

 

Chant with feeling

******************

The maha-mantra is the sound incarnation of the Lord and it is our only hope in

this age of Kali. At the time of death it is this constant practice that will

enable us to call out for Krishna. If one were to chant mechanically like a

parrot, then when death has us by the throats we will simply 'caw-caw' like a

parrot. We may chant mechanically for many life times with no hope of progress,

but all it takes is a moment of pure, offenseless chanting to get the attention

of Krishna.

 

Disciplic succession

********************

In the Padma Purana it is said, 'Sampradaya-vihina ye mantras te nisphala

matah.' The knowledge of the Supreme received from such a sampradaya, or

disciplic succession, can give one enlightenment. If one does not take to the

path of disciplic succession, it is not possible for one to understand the

Supreme Personality of Godhead. One begins to seriously chant under the

instructions of the spiritual master, and along with these instructions is also

the mercy of the entire disciplic succession that enable one to chant sincerely

and offenselessly.

 

Respect

*******

Chanting should become a way of life, as or even more fundamental than eating

or sleeping. Haridas Thakura would forget to eat and sleep since he was so

absorbed in chanting. While that is a very elevated stage, we should at least

give all our respect to chanting. We must not think, 'while driving I am free,

so I will do my rounds.' Or try to finish the rounds while reading, watching

television or carrying out a conversation. This is most disrespectful to the

holy name. Rather we should organize our lives in such a way that our most

productive time of the day is devoted to the most important activity of the

life, chanting.

 

Krishna is most merciful. But more merciful that Krishna is His name. If one

offends Krishna one can take refuge of His name. But if one offends the holy

name, then the only refuge is the holy name. The only cure for offensive

chanting is chanting itself. Chanting is not a technique that is practiced

externally, but a way of life that comes from the heart. Even with all our

sincerity we should understand that without the mercy of the spiritual master,

the mercy of the Vaishnavas and the mercy of Krishna, we cannot chant. So we

must constantly pray to them to improve your chanting.

 

Reference: Japa Reform by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

 

----- Festivals over the next week ------

*** Note all times are for Washington D.C, USA, EST ***

Jun 21 2001, Thursday Disappearance Sri Gadadhara Pandita (Fast)

Disappearance Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Gundica Marjana

(Fasting till noon)

Jun 22 2001, Friday Disappearance Sri Svarupa Damodara Gosvami

Disappearance Sri Sivananda Sena

Ratha Yatra

(Hera Pancami after 4 days)

(Return Ratha after 8 days)

-

---------------

This Email has been sent to you by the ISKCON temple of Washington D.C.

Our contacts are:

Email : mail (AT) iskcondc (DOT) org

Web Address : http://www.iskcondc.org

Postal: 10310 Oaklyn Drive, Potomac, MD 20854

 

In order to be removed from this mailing list please reply with the word REMOVE

in the Subject.

-

----------------