CHANTING ON BEADS - JAPA-1

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The first principle in devotional service is to chant the Hare Krishna

maha-mantra (maha means “great " ; mantra means " sound that liberates the

mind from ignorance " ):

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

You can chant these holy names of the Lord anywhere and at any time,

but it is best to do it at a specific time of the day. Early morning

hours are ideal.

The chanting can be done in two ways: singing the mantra, called

kirtana (usually done in a group), and saying the mantra to oneself,

called japa (which literally means " to speak softly " ). Concentrate on

hearing the sound of the holy names. As you chant, pronounce the names

clearly and distinctly, addressing Krishna in a prayerful mood. When

your mind wanders, bring it back to the sound of the Lord's name.

Chanting is a prayer to Krishna that means " O energy of the Lord

(Hare), O all-attractive Lord (Krishna), O supreme enjoyer (Rama),

please engage me in Your service. " The more attentively and sincerely

you chant these names of God, the more spiritual progress you will make.

Since God is all-powerful and all-merciful, He has kindly made it very

easy for us to chant His names, and He has also invested all His powers

in them. Therefore the names of God and God Himself are identical. This

means that when we chant the holy names of Krishna and Rama we are

directly associating with God and being purified by such communion.

Therefore we should always try to chant with devotion and reverence.

The Vedic literature states that Lord Krishna is personally dancing on

your tongue when you chant His holy name.-- LET US NOT MAKE OUR STOMACH A GRAVEYARD. LET US NOT EAT FLESH. LET US BE VEGETARIANS AND STAY HEALTHY. Animals are to be loved, not eaten. Eating flesh is good neither for the mind nor for the intellect, not even for the body. It distorts the basic character of human. Think Soul is Soul and it came from the Supreme Soul...God Head Krishna

Chant:Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare HareHare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare