It is my first time to do my Japa chanting and I want to do it right.
How do people do when they are going to do the the Japa chanting for the first time?
How do they prepare them self for it?
Do they just shower and find a quiet place and then everything is right?
Is it okay to also make a personal pray after the chanting if there are a special wish?
Please help me.
japa
haribol ruslana!
yes having a shower and finding a quiet place are the way to go. i have found, too, that i end up chanting more rounds than usual if i do them while out on a walk. walking in a quiet neighborhood or park puts me in a very contmplative, relaxed mindset and i find it even easier to count japa than sitting; my mind wanders when i sit for too long!
hare krishna hare krishna!
Hare Krishna Mataji, Please
Hare Krishna Mataji,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Lord Caitanya has said that there are no hard and fast rules for chanting. Chanting is part of the practice of spiritual or bhakti-yoga, the process of which is to always meditate on Krishna. The Hare Krishna maha-mantra helps to revive our transcendental, Krishna consciousness, so if you think the mantra this is beneficial too.
It's advised to chant the mantra as well as meditating on the form of Krishna. I will often chant while seeing a picture of Krishna.
Thinking the mantra is beneficial, too; chanting is advised because it engages the sense of hearing as well, and it also is the method for controlling the tongue.
Chanting the mantra and meditating on Krishna is a big part of the practice of Bhakti-yoga. There are many spiritual practices-- Buddhists have meditation practice and mantras, too-- and some of them are beneficial, but the maha-mantra is the most beneficial. It is like how many spiritual disciplines are hitting near the mark, but yoga is the exactly right thing to do.
It's important to focus on the mantra, on Krishna, since it is a meditation. The perfection of yoga is to always be meditating upon Krishna, and to do everything for Him. The perfection of life is Love of Krishna, which is transcendental bliss and knowledge. Krishna consciousness is therefore Love of Krishna, and transcendental bliss and knowledge. Krishna consciousness means that we are experiencing bliss, the rasa or mellow of devotion, and it also means that we are purified. The maha-mantra can do all of this. And again, the main goal is Krishna consciousness.
I hope I haven't gone on too long, and I hope I've helped, some... to the extent of my knowledge, yoga and chanting the mantra is for awakening our transcendental consciousness, and it is also a personal relationship between one and Krishna.
Hare Krishna, thank you for reading my rambling thoughts on Krishna.
Haribol
Personal Prayer
Recently here on krishna.com, Mahatma prabhu was discussing about prayer and how we can pray to Srila Prabhupada (and your own diksa guru if you are initiated) and the Lord to assist us with overcoming the shortcomings in our chanting....it was a very interesting discussion and he mentioned that we need to make an effort to chant seriously, and at the same time ask the Lord for help....a prayer before starting or after as you say in your post....if you wish the Lord to help then it is nice to ask for that through this personal prayer.
There is a recent post here containing some simple instructions and guidelines from Srila Prabhupada: Re-applying the Basics
I hope your are able to make positive progress with your Japa...please keep us posted on how you are going.
Japa
You have the right idea Ruslana.
Shower and find a quite place where you will not be disturbed or distracted while chanting. That's the most important thing, being able to be attentive.
As far as personal prayers while chanting, it's good to realize that the mantra is itself a prayer. It's a prayer to Krishna asking to be engaged in His service, so it's good to just focus on that prayer alone while you're praying it.
Chanting japa is in essence praying this prayer "please Krishna, engage me in your service".
Hare Krishna,
Navasi