In the Japa Room this week we were talking about re-applying the basic guidelines as outlined by Srila Prabhupada....Srila Prabhupada mentions some useful tips here:
"One should note in this connection that chanting involves the activities of the upper and lower lips as well as the tongue. All three must be engaged in chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. The words Hare Krishna should be very distinctly pronounced and heard. Sometimes one mechanically produces a hissing sound instead of chanting...with the proper pronunciation with the help of the lips and tongue. Chanting is very simple, but one must practice it seriously."
Chaitanya Charitamrta - Adi 17.32 purport
"Chanting japa should be done early in the morning with full concentration preferably during the Brahma Muhurta time. Concentrate fully on the sound vibration of the mantra, pronouncing each name distinctly and gradually your speed in chanting will increase naturally. Do not worry so much about chanting fast, most important is the hearing."
Letter from Srila Prabhupada 6/1/72
Devotee: "Srila Prabhupäda, it's very difficult to control my mind when I chant. It wanders."
Srila Prabhupada: "So what is the controlling of mind? You have to chant and hear. That is all. You have to chant with your tongue, and the sound you hear. What is the question of mind?"
Comments
Keep the Mind Engaged
I have just read a lecture from my gurudev, Giriraj Swami where he states a story from Srila Prabhupada talking about the mind. His conclusion on the lecture is the following:
"If we don't keep the mind engaged, the mind will turn on us and murder us. So we have to keep the mind engaged. We can keep the mind engaged in so many tasks, but ultimately we need some engagement that will always keep the mind busy. This going up and down—this is our japa-mala. Going up and down the trees is going around our beads. So Srila Prabhupada said that we should always keep the mind engaged, and if there is nothing else to keep the mind engaged in Krsna's service, then chant Hare Krsna. That will keep the mind engaged, and that will fulfill the definition in the verse (bhajanty ananya-manaso); it will make us mahatmas, and dear to Srila Prabhupada and Srimati Radharani."
San Diego - September 21, 2004
Up and Down the Tree
This story is very nice - the genie that represents the mind, and how we need to keep it engaged always....otherwise as you say, it will become our enemy....thanks for these comments Aruna dd
A Pure Devotee Never Forgets Krsna
"As indicated by the words satatam and nityaśaḥ, which mean "always," "regularly," or "every day," a pure devotee constantly remembers Kṛṣṇa and meditates upon Him. These are qualifications of the pure devotee for whom the Lord is most easily attainable."....."A pure devotee cannot forget the Supreme Lord for a moment, and similarly the Supreme Lord cannot forget His pure devotee for a moment. This is the great blessing of the Kṛṣṇa conscious process of chanting the mahā-mantra — Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare."
Haribol.
Aruna dd
Great Blessing
Nice quote Aruna dd....it is a great blessing of the Hare Krsna mantra, that we will come to the stage where we cannot forget Krsna for a moment
Good Strategies
Another great topic described on Srila Prabhupada statements is that concentration on the sound vibration, chanting and hearing the sound is one of the aspects that solve the wandering mind obstacle. The last to be attained and the most difficult. There are so many strategies to try to stop the mind from wandering, but concentration is the most recommended, hearing the mantra, pronoucing properly and being with your senses engaged in this chanting. Praying before, is also considered valuable, cause you put yourself in a humble position to ask the Lord to assist you on the process. We all depend on the Lord´s mercy to achieve our goals on chanting, by His mercy we can serve better and then become advanced.
Haribol
Aruna dd
Depending on the Lord's Mercy
Nice comments Aruna dd....we are definitely totally dependant on the Lord in all situations and we need to pray for assistance in our spiritual lives....a personal calling out for the Lord to help us.
Very nice blog
Reading Srila Prabhupada's words seem fresh and vibrant to me everytime i read it. what beautiful understanding and what a way of expressing it..simply marvellous.
Thanks for sharing the mercy with us Prabhu.
Hare Krishna!
Srila Prabhupada's Words
Thankyou koolkannan....we need to take these words very seriously if we want to make progress in our spiritual lives....the words of the pure devotee are non-different to Krsna, so here Krsna is revealing through His pure devotee how we can become advanced and go back to Godhead.
Basic but Important
Thats amazing to see how Srila Prabhupada explains some basic things but important and effective to our daily chanting. Sometimes we tend to see chanting as a basic process, that we dont need to take too much attention, actually it is simple but we need to take it seriously, he says. Its always necessary being reminded of these guidelines so they become fresh in our minds and we can look forward to applying them.
Thank you for making us in contact with these preachings.
Hare Krsna
Aruna dd
A Simple Process
Thanks for this Aruna dd....the process is simple but we need to take it very seriously if we wish to make advancement in our spiritual lives...these precious instructions from Srila Prabhupada need to be preserved within our minds and for future generations of devotees in this world.
Re-applying the basics.
Hare Krsna Rasa Prabhu,
Thanks ever so much for posting this blog. It serves as a reminder; the basic principles in chanting. Engaging in sravanam kirtanam is a complete process whereby one can connect with Krsna. If it is done sincerely, filled with love, effort and determination then one may begin to understand Krsna. Also one can begin to love Krsna. By engaging in this process one is re-establishing one's relationship with Krsna. One's relationship with Krsna, ofcourse is centered on serving Krsna. This is the devotees' mission serving Krsna nothing else.
Haribol
Julia
Re-establishing One's Relationship
Thankyou for the comment Julia...it's true that we have to re-establish our relationship with the Lord by making an effort to follow the simple instructions of Srila Prabhupada and our spiritual master.