Thought of the week: Improving our chanting

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--- ISKCONDC <mail (AT) iskcondc (DOT) org> wrote:

>

> 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

>

=== message truncated ===

 

 

=====

Caroline Brooks

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