| Weekly | Gaudya Vaishnavism | Authentic Meditation | Sacred Initiation | Guru | Life-Style | Purification | Dharma | Karma | Bhakti |
| Home | Philosophy | Vegetarianism | Reincarnation | Secrets | Vedic Literature | Ekadasi | Links | Contact Us | Donations |
Focus and Attitude
Focus
* You have to chant and hear each mantra. Right here and now.
* Focus on this bead you are now holding between your fingers, this mantra that is now being uttered from your
lips and now entering into the ear.
* And then move onto the next mantra, which you must focus on in the same way… and the next… and the
next.
* This may work for 10 or 15 mantras, maybe even 30, and the mind will become diverted again. Then you
have to pull the mind back and set to it again.
* Continue to do this and you will succeed
* At the end of each round, take stock of how well you did, and resolve to make the next round even better:
“This time I am going to concentrate fully on each and every mantra of this round – all 108.”
* The attitude is, “Right now, this is the only round that counts.”
Practice this for each and every mantra of each and every round. You will see steady improvement.
Pronunciation:
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 mantras. Chanting is very simple, but one must practice it
seriously. Although different tongues pronounce the mantra a little differently and the sastra does state that the
holy Name is still effective even if improperly pronounced, it is still beneficial to concentrate and practice clear
pronunciation.
Reading:
You can write the mantras on paper and hang them on the wall somewhere. Try reading it while you are chanting
it. With each syllable of the mantra that you are chanting, follow it on the wall with your eyes. This way, you are
engaging one additional sense in helping you to concentrate.
Chanting speed
Ultimately it is individual, but many devotees find that speeding up increases the intensity of their chanting and
their concentration level. If your rounds are taking too long, it could mean that you are distracted. Try to maintain
good, clear pronunciation with a good speed.
Posture
One's mental and physical state is affected by one's bodily posture and can be altered by changing the posture.
You can affect the mind's ability to concentrate by remaining peaceful and adopting a good posture. Perhaps you
have already experienced the difference between chanting sitting in a conventional chair (legs down) and sitting
cross-legged. Try sitting cross-legged with a little extra support under your bottom. The back and neck should be
erect in a straight line, the head up. Breathing should be deep and rhythmic.
Common pitfalls
“Prajalpa-japa”: Unnecessarily talking while chanting.
“Dive-bomb japa”: Falling asleep while chanting (head nodding off).
“Radar japa”: constantly looking around.
“Machine-gun japa”: much too fast while shaking the finger.
“Jibber-japa”: it is just gibberish, no one can understand it.
“Day-dreamy japa”: not concentrating, following the wandering mind.
Chanting in unison:
Form a group (or pair) and chant a round or two in unison. The collective strength of multiple individuals and
trying to keep the same pace really helps in conquering the mind's failing attention span.
Four Steps:
1) First of all, make sure you are well rested.
2) Make sure you have proper pronunciation.
3) Make sure you are not being distracted by anything.
4) Then fix on your concentration.
Attentiveness
This is the most essential part of chanting: how attentive are you? Imagine you are driving a car and you have a
passenger sitting next to you. The passenger is continually pointing things out and trying to draw your attention
to them: “Oh, look there's a shoe sale on! Look at those nice shoes! Ah, look at that guy with the funny hat! Are
those your gloves on the back seat? Look out, no, no, turn left! Oh, I thought we had to go left. Look at the TV
shop — is that your favorite football team playing? Uh-oh, check this out: there's a guy getting arrested over
there….” If you keep getting distracted by what your passenger is saying, you're going to crash the car. The
passenger is like your mind, and driving the car is like chanting your rounds. However, if someone keeps talking
to you and you continuously ignore them, eventually they are just going to shut up. That is the best way to deal
with the mind: just ignore it and keep your attention on “the road”, the distractions will eventually fade.
An interesting exercise
Keep a list of all the subjects brought up by the mind during your japa and then review it at the end. Usually you
can just throw away the whole list because you didn't need to think about any of these things at all. It is a very
graphic way of proving to yourself that you don't always need to take the mind so seriously.
The big picture
Chanting is just not about getting the technique right. It is just as important to not lose sight of the big picture.
We are ultimately not independent of Nityananda Gauranga Krishna, and we must always humbly pray to Him and
seek His shelter and guidance. We must always see that we have to get to the platform of taste in our chanting
and ultimately attain love for Nityananda Gauranga Krishna.
Attitude
Your mood, attitude, or mentality is also very important while chanting. Chanting is not just a mechanical process.
It must be accompanied with the appropriate feelings, performed for the right purpose, and with proper
consciousness.
Enthusiasm
One should realize that love for Gauranga Krishna is the ultimate goal. He should have total eagerness to attain
it, even to the point of crying for it, like a baby. That is the price one must pay.
Prayer
Remember that the mantras are also a prayer. Remember the meaning of the prayer, and offer it in a prayerful
mood: a communication between you and God — a very personal experience.
Dependence
A devotee feels helpless without the Lord's mercy and feels dependent on the holy Names.
Humility and Reverence
When we take darsana of the Deity, we must first take our shoes off, ring a bell, bow down, conch shells blow,
the curtains are drawn — we are seeing the form of the Lord. The same respect and reverence should be given to
the holy Name.
Service
Chanting is a kind of service. It should be performed in a serving mood, serving the holy Name by uttering it very
nicely.
Gratitude
Be thankful to the Lord for the mercy that He is bestowing upon you and all the fallen souls in the form of His holy
Name
Tolerance
All difficulties and obstacles of the mind must be tolerated. One may not have any taste for chanting or find the
process hard to follow. All discomforts must be tolerated for Gauranga Krishna's satisfaction.
Patience
It may take a lot of practice before one gets better at japa. One must patiently continue to endeavor. We are
eternal, so there is no need to panic.
Determination
Never become discouraged. Always continue with determination knowing that success is ultimately guaranteed.
Remember the importance of japa
Be conscious of the importance of this japa meditation. Remember that it is essential to our spiritual advancement.
Faithfulness
We must cultivate our faith in the holy Name and put our trust in it.
Please let me in
Ask Gauranga Krishna to allow us to enter into the inner realizations of chanting the holy Names.
TOP
* You have to chant and hear each mantra. Right here and now.
* Focus on this bead you are now holding between your fingers, this mantra that is now being uttered from your
lips and now entering into the ear.
* And then move onto the next mantra, which you must focus on in the same way… and the next… and the
next.
* This may work for 10 or 15 mantras, maybe even 30, and the mind will become diverted again. Then you
have to pull the mind back and set to it again.
* Continue to do this and you will succeed
* At the end of each round, take stock of how well you did, and resolve to make the next round even better:
“This time I am going to concentrate fully on each and every mantra of this round – all 108.”
* The attitude is, “Right now, this is the only round that counts.”
Practice this for each and every mantra of each and every round. You will see steady improvement.
Pronunciation:
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 mantras. Chanting is very simple, but one must practice it
seriously. Although different tongues pronounce the mantra a little differently and the sastra does state that the
holy Name is still effective even if improperly pronounced, it is still beneficial to concentrate and practice clear
pronunciation.
Reading:
You can write the mantras on paper and hang them on the wall somewhere. Try reading it while you are chanting
it. With each syllable of the mantra that you are chanting, follow it on the wall with your eyes. This way, you are
engaging one additional sense in helping you to concentrate.
Chanting speed
Ultimately it is individual, but many devotees find that speeding up increases the intensity of their chanting and
their concentration level. If your rounds are taking too long, it could mean that you are distracted. Try to maintain
good, clear pronunciation with a good speed.
Posture
One's mental and physical state is affected by one's bodily posture and can be altered by changing the posture.
You can affect the mind's ability to concentrate by remaining peaceful and adopting a good posture. Perhaps you
have already experienced the difference between chanting sitting in a conventional chair (legs down) and sitting
cross-legged. Try sitting cross-legged with a little extra support under your bottom. The back and neck should be
erect in a straight line, the head up. Breathing should be deep and rhythmic.
Common pitfalls
“Prajalpa-japa”: Unnecessarily talking while chanting.
“Dive-bomb japa”: Falling asleep while chanting (head nodding off).
“Radar japa”: constantly looking around.
“Machine-gun japa”: much too fast while shaking the finger.
“Jibber-japa”: it is just gibberish, no one can understand it.
“Day-dreamy japa”: not concentrating, following the wandering mind.
Chanting in unison:
Form a group (or pair) and chant a round or two in unison. The collective strength of multiple individuals and
trying to keep the same pace really helps in conquering the mind's failing attention span.
Four Steps:
1) First of all, make sure you are well rested.
2) Make sure you have proper pronunciation.
3) Make sure you are not being distracted by anything.
4) Then fix on your concentration.
Attentiveness
This is the most essential part of chanting: how attentive are you? Imagine you are driving a car and you have a
passenger sitting next to you. The passenger is continually pointing things out and trying to draw your attention
to them: “Oh, look there's a shoe sale on! Look at those nice shoes! Ah, look at that guy with the funny hat! Are
those your gloves on the back seat? Look out, no, no, turn left! Oh, I thought we had to go left. Look at the TV
shop — is that your favorite football team playing? Uh-oh, check this out: there's a guy getting arrested over
there….” If you keep getting distracted by what your passenger is saying, you're going to crash the car. The
passenger is like your mind, and driving the car is like chanting your rounds. However, if someone keeps talking
to you and you continuously ignore them, eventually they are just going to shut up. That is the best way to deal
with the mind: just ignore it and keep your attention on “the road”, the distractions will eventually fade.
An interesting exercise
Keep a list of all the subjects brought up by the mind during your japa and then review it at the end. Usually you
can just throw away the whole list because you didn't need to think about any of these things at all. It is a very
graphic way of proving to yourself that you don't always need to take the mind so seriously.
The big picture
Chanting is just not about getting the technique right. It is just as important to not lose sight of the big picture.
We are ultimately not independent of Nityananda Gauranga Krishna, and we must always humbly pray to Him and
seek His shelter and guidance. We must always see that we have to get to the platform of taste in our chanting
and ultimately attain love for Nityananda Gauranga Krishna.
Attitude
Your mood, attitude, or mentality is also very important while chanting. Chanting is not just a mechanical process.
It must be accompanied with the appropriate feelings, performed for the right purpose, and with proper
consciousness.
Enthusiasm
One should realize that love for Gauranga Krishna is the ultimate goal. He should have total eagerness to attain
it, even to the point of crying for it, like a baby. That is the price one must pay.
Prayer
Remember that the mantras are also a prayer. Remember the meaning of the prayer, and offer it in a prayerful
mood: a communication between you and God — a very personal experience.
Dependence
A devotee feels helpless without the Lord's mercy and feels dependent on the holy Names.
Humility and Reverence
When we take darsana of the Deity, we must first take our shoes off, ring a bell, bow down, conch shells blow,
the curtains are drawn — we are seeing the form of the Lord. The same respect and reverence should be given to
the holy Name.
Service
Chanting is a kind of service. It should be performed in a serving mood, serving the holy Name by uttering it very
nicely.
Gratitude
Be thankful to the Lord for the mercy that He is bestowing upon you and all the fallen souls in the form of His holy
Name
Tolerance
All difficulties and obstacles of the mind must be tolerated. One may not have any taste for chanting or find the
process hard to follow. All discomforts must be tolerated for Gauranga Krishna's satisfaction.
Patience
It may take a lot of practice before one gets better at japa. One must patiently continue to endeavor. We are
eternal, so there is no need to panic.
Determination
Never become discouraged. Always continue with determination knowing that success is ultimately guaranteed.
Remember the importance of japa
Be conscious of the importance of this japa meditation. Remember that it is essential to our spiritual advancement.
Faithfulness
We must cultivate our faith in the holy Name and put our trust in it.
Please let me in
Ask Gauranga Krishna to allow us to enter into the inner realizations of chanting the holy Names.
TOP
| JAPA |
