hi guys i need your help . how do i go about making a routine for japa so that i can get to 16 rounds?? i am having trouble with determination and with giving up smoking. I just cant seem to stop do you think staying as a guest at bhaktivedanta manor were i don't have any choice to smoke is a good idea??
Your Spiritual Life is at Stake
I was once there. I smoked drugs and cigarettes.
Krishna has freed that vice.
Chanting is powerful.
You are fortunate an opportunity has arisen where you can associate with pure devotees at The Manor. Take it.
By all means you can smoke. Krishna gives that choice.
I stopped however cos I don't want to be animal anymore.
Hare Krishna!
"May the Kirtan in every town and village"
association
i found mixing with devotees done the trick... when i first started chanting i had beads in one hand spliff in the other and a can of beer on the table in front of me... All this gradually reduced when i started regularly mixing with devotees, attending regular programs etc... until one day those things just had no appeal it was like magic, amazing, i'd tried to stop loads of times before and nothing worked...
so a stay at the manor will definately help... go for it... and then keep up some sort of association that's the key...
and chant hare krishna as much as you can and you'll get there...
tipping the scale
Hari Bol, Firstly I am not even qualified to speak on this matter, however I have been there and could only offer this suggestion and a few words quoted by HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami.
Going to Bhaktivedanta will help to a certain extent only. If you really want something(a cigarette) then you definately going to get it and no one will stop you. You have want to stop and by you asking for assistance that is the first step to quitting.
"Its like this you read a magazine (Mens Health) for 1/2 hr so you read some spiritual literature for 1/2 hr. You watch TV for 1 hr you watch a HK DVD or listen to a devotional CD for 1 hr. You continue balancing the two and eventually you will gradually tip the scale in favour of spiritual life."
My suggestion and what I have being doing and I don't smoke anymore, cut down one cigarette a time. You smoke a cigarette you chant a round. You smoke 2, you chant 2 and gradually you will tip the scale in the favour of chanting because it is most pure. Try and associate with people and devotees who do not smoke. Wear (Thulasi Mala(neck beads), thiluk , devotional attire) this would help because you do would not want the public saying "Hey that Hare Krsna is smoking". So what happens, you end up hiding just to smoke which becomes a botheration and trust me on this. You don't want to hide !You don't want to chew bubblegum it is most vile! It makes you unsociable. Nicotine is the most addictive substance in the world therefore people find it hard to leave. If I feel like smoking even now ,I think about Srila Prabhupada, Krsna,and think about what they have done for us.Do I really want to dissappoint them!No I don't! I also put on a CD or take out my bead bag. I know this hard however sincerity, perseverance and sadhu sanga will develop your chanting and thus eventually you will give up smoking.I hope this helps in some way.
hare krsna
Uagan Chetty
You can do it!
Hare Krishna!
I know quitting smoking is very difficult. I have been there. And just with chanting, it is more effective to start small. Just like it is so hard to just quit "cold-turkey", it is hard to start by chanting 16 rounds per day. You need to gradually quit smoking, and gradually start chanting more. There are some great tips for chanting in the back of the book, The Journey of Self Discovery. In a nut shell it says to chant once a day, then when that becomes easy chant another round. Over time your chanting will increase to 16 rounds if you maintain your progress. Quitting smoking cannot be rushed, and neither can chanting the 16 rounds. If you need help quitting, a local hospital may also have a smoking cessation program. Take care, hari bol!!!!!
Ys,
Josh
Please Stay
Please stay at Bhaktivedanta Manor.
You're idea is wonderful to do that.
As you've said you've already tried to give up smoking and been unsuccessful, you are well aware of how your mind will "entice" you into "not giving it up".
The first enticement would be "not going to Bhaktivedanta Manor to stay".
You obviously have the opportunity to go, or you would not have asked us "should I go?".
Please act on that.
You will be benefited by staying there in so many other ways that have nothing to do with smoking (on top of that benefit) which is another reason I said (below) "YES, go".
You will get help with your japa, and your spiritual programs, and get strengthened by the direct association you can only get from staying there.
So, I hope you will go stay there. It's the very best thing you can do. Don't allow your mind to tell you otherwise.
Navasi
Make rules for yourself
Hare Krishna!
I too feel that staying in manor would be a good idea. But...
In first place, if you dont happen to go to Bhaktivedanta Manor and stay there to get rid of smoking then I would advice you to give it up gradually. Like if you smoke some 7-8 cigrettes per day, for first week cut the number down to just 2 cigrettes per day. Then next week give it up completely.
If you have decided on 2 cigrettes per day, and you happen to smoke the third one then make a donationation of 10 pounds that day. So may be you make a rule for yourself 10 pounds per extra ciggrette you somke than you have decided.But whatever you plan to make a rule as, see to it you follow it sincerely.
This technique can be used to give up any bad habit you want to.
Haribol
Snehal
Hari Bol
I understand about the smoking. i am trying to quit myself.
i just got off a three day fast and put the smokes aside
sofar so good
keep chanting it will fall into place
Gary
YES
Go to Bhaktivedanta Manor and stay there.
They will give you a program while you are there about your rounds.
Stay there and chant your rounds for as long as you can, and you will have no choice about the smoking.
When you leave, you will be tempted again, go back, and stay some more.
Keep chanting.
Tell us how you're doing and we can make some more suggestions and give more help.
But first, yes, go and stay at Bhaktivedanta Manor.
Excellent idea.
Navasi
Come on someone help us here
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