Japa Group

Eventually The Mind Cooperates

2012-01-31T20:05:00.001-02:00

"Just keep chanting Hare Krishna and moving the beads and focus on listening to the syllables of the Holy Names. As the mind wanders, we shouldn’t get agitated. Just keep chanting; don’t give up the process and eventually the mind cooperates."

Radhanatha Swami

The Effects Of Japa

2012-01-30T19:30:00.001-02:00

Recently I was reading a sankirtan story which talks about the effects of chanting and how some people take up Japa from all walks of life.

I was in Kensington this week and the cold would not allow me to stand at one place, so I was walking around trying to stay warm. That’s when I saw 3 ladies I had seen a little while ago and wanted to talk to them but missed the opportunity. So this time I said Hi and introduced myself.
The slightly older lady seemed interested and told me how she was into meditation and then stopped. So I showed her the books and when she finally decided to take the book, I decided to probe deeper. So I started to ask her about what kind of meditation she was doing?
She told me a few years ago she had heard a mantra at some program and then she told me she had been chanting this mantra (the Hare Krsna mantra) for a year and then life got busy and she stopped for a while and now recently she wanted to chant again and was looking to join some meditation program. I explained to her how she had met the right people and got the right book to fulfill her desires. It was magical to see how Krishna arranges these sankirtan encounters.

This story gave me faith that the chanting of Hare Krsna is a very powerful weapon in the age of Kali and by this chanting the effects of the material world can be reduced and eventually vanquished.

So You Continue In This Way

2012-01-29T17:01:00.001-02:00

"So you continue in this way, always thinking of Krsna, chanting 16 rounds, reading the books, and doing your daily chores all on behalf of Krsna."

Letter to Hladini Devi Dasi
28 January, 1973

Humility And Genuine Desire For A Service Attitude

2012-01-28T19:41:00.001-02:00

"Many great saints descended on the earth to teach us this higher principle of developing love for God by sincerely chanting the Holy names of the God. However, we cannot really chant the names of God from our hearts unless we have humility and genuine desire for a service attitude towards others."

Radhanatha Swami

Sticking To Resolutions

2012-01-27T19:19:00.000-02:00

Hare Krsna my dear devotees, I hope your week of chanting has been blessed and you are able to concentrate. We are now at the end of January and I presume you are still sticking to your resolutions for this year, remember that resolutions are not only something you wish but something you act on every day. You need to create momentum and make your new dreams your everyday life.

If you had some resolutions about improving your spiritual practices, that was a great choice and the main thing is to choose a specific time during the day to dedicate to this area of your life and stick to it, maybe reading the scriptures, or chanting early in the morning or doing some service to the Deities. Keep on doing it and remember progress is important if you do not progress you won`t see the meaning of it, and chanting is progress everyday in life. So if you chant with your heart in it, you will see your life improving in all areas and you will change completely.

Make chanting your number one priority and remember to put your heart into it, every single day.

your servant,

Aruna devi

Slow Down And Be Patient

2012-01-26T18:40:00.001-02:00

“Chanting japa is my solemn duty. Even if you get up late, you have to chant your japa, gradually catching up with the quota. Don’t be sloppy because it’s late. Slow down and be patient and execute the yajna with a sane mind. Repeat the syllables patiently."

From Japa Transformation
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

Please Join Us In The Japa Group

2012-01-25T14:17:00.001-02:00

Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction message and I will be happy to make you a member:

rasa108 {at} gmail.com

ys

Rasa Rasika dasa

Japa Realisations

2012-01-24T19:07:00.001-02:00

Often I find myself struggling to think of new things to say about Japa that haven't been said already - I try to use quotes from Srila Prabhupada or senior devotees and occasionally video and audio but still it can be a struggle.
Actually, the whole reason I started the Japa Group all those years ago was because of a quote I read where Srila Prabhupada was saying that we should write each day about our realisations in Krsna consciousness.

I don't have many, but I have a few about Japa and one thing is for sure - we need to take Japa very seriously and make it the priority in our day over everything else....we need to focus and give respect to the Holy Names - we need to connect with the Holy names in a very deep way, and by our serious efforts and by the mercy of Guru and Krsna, we can achieve this.

You Can Concentrate In Chanting And Hearing

2012-01-23T20:01:00.000-02:00

"...if you can sit, it helps you. It helps you. If you can sit straight like this, it will be very nice, it can help, yes, you can concentrate in chanting and hearing. Therefore these things are required."

Lecture on BG 6.46-47
February 21, 1969

Chanting Is The Prime Necessity

2012-01-22T20:53:00.001-02:00

It’s such a good thing when you chant your japa decently. It brightens your day. You feel hope for the ultimate goal. After all, chanting is the prime necessity, the easiest way to achieve love of God. In fact, it’s the only way in Kali-yuga.

From Japa Transformations
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

Pronunciation Helps Concentration

2012-01-21T20:00:00.001-02:00

From time to time I receive messages from devotees who are struggling with their Japa - it's usually connected to inattention and the wandering mind.
Lately I've been changing my pronunciation of the word Rama....I used to say just Ram but now I am making an effort to pronounce the whole word and it's working wonders for attentive Japa.

My realisation is that we if really concentrate on the words and give an effort to hear them clearly, inattention dissolves and we can get fully absorbed in the Holy names and not our mind.

The Lake Of Mind Will Eventually Settle Down

2012-01-20T18:11:00.001-02:00

"During the japa session, as the mind howls, don’t give up the chanting. However bad the mind's demands, don't give in; let's keep chanting till we complete our daily quota. The lake of mind will eventually settle down. But be rest assured, tomorrow as you sit for another japa session, the mind will once again agitate. Again the solution is the same; do not react."

Radhanatha Swami

Give Chanting Your All

2012-01-19T19:44:00.000-02:00

Hare Krishna my dear devotees. I hope your week has been blessed by the Lord and your chanting inspirational.

New year comes with new goals and new attitudes - some are already changing their lifestyles....maybe new jobs, courses, homes and also many are coming back from holidays or vacation.
Here in my country some are still having their relaxing and vacation time enjoying the hot weather on the beaches. Talking about relaxing, I have read that meditation is a very good medicine for the heart and that the ones who follow spiritual life and engage in some congregational activity have less chances of dying from heart diseases or cancer.
This is very nice to know because I thought about devotees chanting in both ways, Japa and kirtan, and how we engage in devotional service helping each other to achieve the Supreme.

Changes come first from inside and then it can change our outside, so when we think of chanting we think of changes happening, we see our interests in material enjoyment going away and our desire to serve more increasing - so it means our heart is changing and this is the main characteristic of a devotee - eagerness for service and spiritual development, loving qualities toward others and softness of the heart so he can be able to chant the maha mantra forever in his life.

Besides all the changes you have made this year, give chanting your all - improve it, seek for this time with the Lord and your life will be complete and fulfilled.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

Aruna devi

Please Join The Japa Group

2012-01-18T17:56:00.001-02:00

The Key For Good Chanting

2012-01-17T19:48:00.000-02:00

"Patience and perseverance is the key for good chanting. We may chant attentively and excitedly one day but the next day we may feel lethargic and disinterested. The secret of successful chanting of Hare Krishna lies in disregarding our mood and maintaining consistency. Even if we feel bored and uninspired, if we keep chanting daily, we’ll eventually achieve victory over the mind. Regularity in chanting assures success in the long run."

Radhanatha Swami

This Will Keep You Strong In Spiritual Life

2012-01-16T16:25:00.000-02:00

"Always be sure to chant 16 rounds and study my books daily. This will keep you strong in spiritual life."

Letter to Locanananda das
16 January, 1975

No Time

2012-01-15T18:30:00.000-02:00

"We have so many things to do just to survive that sometimes we feel we have to sacrifice japa and prayer as mere luxuries. Here again a balance is required, but we owe it to ourselves not to be forced into a situation where we find ‘no time’ for basic, daily devotions."

From Vandanam
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

Chant At Least 16 Good Rounds

2012-01-14T19:50:00.000-02:00

"You must make sure that all of these devotees are following the regulative principles very nicely. Everyone must rise early, take bath attend mangala arati, chant at least 16 good rounds, attend class, and follow the four regulative principles strictly. If these things are lax, then there is no question of spiritual life."

Letter to Abhirama das
16 January, 1975

Please Do Not Fail To Chant 16 Rounds

2012-01-13T11:37:00.000-02:00

Please do not fail to chant 16 rounds, rise early, read my books carefully and follow all the regulative principles.

Letter to Gandharva das
12 January, 1975

Simple and Precious

2012-01-12T21:50:00.001-02:00

Hare Krishna my dear devotees.

I hope your week has been blessed and you have been able to chant properly. Tomorrow is my brother's birthday - he is a devotee too...actually he was the first devotee of the family and after him came me and then my mother and sister became devotees. He loves preaching and distributing Srila Prabhupada's books. He loves sankirtan and also he learned how chanting is as important as devotional service.

These days I was in his home and he said he had made a new bhakta and when he invited him to the namahatta at his place, the bhakta said he did not know any of the mantras they were chanting in the kirtan only the Hare Krishna maha mantra. So my brother told him that it's the main one and actually if you chant Hare Krishna and perform devotional service you have everything.
So the bhakta became happy and now he is having a namahatta at his place and is very enthusiastic about spiritual life. He became eager to help my brother in book distribution and preaching.

Chanting of the Hare Krsna maha mantra is very powerful and is the way we have to connect ourselves to Krsna - when we chant we are asking for service so we can develop and improve our eternal relationship with the Lord.

Wishing you a great weekend with lots of service.

your servant,

Aruna devi

Please Join The Japa Group

2012-01-11T18:25:00.000-02:00

Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction message and I will be happy to make you a member:

rasa108 (at) gmail.com

ys

Rasa Rasika dasa

This Is The Greatest Gift

2012-01-10T18:00:00.001-02:00

"Srila Prabhupada, please bless us with a taste for the nectar of the holy name. This is the greatest gift. If we can carry on without your personal presence, but be aware of the power of the name, then it will be good for the whole world. Then we could serve you as we should."

From Here is Srila Prabhupada
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

That Is The Way The Mind Works

2012-01-09T11:20:00.000-02:00

Radhanath Swami advises us to ignore the mind while chanting Hare Krishna, lest it deludes us and distracts us from the path of spiritual progress:

“In life, some of the most dangerous enemies cannot be seen, we don’t even know they are there; we may even consider them as our friends. That is the way the mind works.” Radhanatha Swami

Just Keep On Chanting

2012-01-08T20:40:00.001-02:00

Whatever our situation - whatever the material energy conjures up in our lives, we need to keep on chanting regardless. It's something I was meditating on today after I finished my last 2 rounds - Maya may make so many disturbances in our lives, and it can become a very big distraction in our minds.

Regardless of these disturbances, we need to keep on chanting the best way we can and keep connected with Krsna.

The First Medicine

2012-01-07T18:09:00.002-02:00

"So the first medicine which you should be concerned with is to chant Hare Krishna and to become increasingly steady in Krishna Consciousness."

Letter to Upendra
January 6, 1969

Sweet Experience With The Names

2012-01-06T17:56:00.001-02:00

Hare Krsna everyone, I hope you are having a wonderful year and that all your new resolutions for the year are coming true by the Lord's mercy.

Last weekend I went to my brother's house to wish him and his family a nice year and I was amazed by his service and how everyone is engaged in service. It was nice to see that every time he said the name Krsna to his 6-month-daughter Laxmi, she looks straight to the Lord's picture and starts smiling at Him.
It was nice because she is listening to the Holy Name of the Lord and responding to Him as if He was there - for her the picture, form and names are the same.

This is what we have to feel when we chant - that the Lord is there with us, we have invited Him and He is giving His association through the Holy names.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend of chanting.

your servant,

Aruna devi

If One Chants Japa Regularly

2012-01-05T21:56:00.001-02:00

"If one chants japa regularly to please the Supreme Lord, then the Supreme Lord, being pleased, will increase one's spiritual advancement and give one the eternal liberation."

Hari Bhakti Vilasa

Please Join The Japa Group

2012-01-04T19:46:00.001-02:00

Japa Poem

2012-01-03T20:05:00.002-02:00

Chanting nicely and trying
to catch up. Get twelve
rounds done before your
walk. Keep troubles off
your mind and just
chant and hear. Nothing
should disturb you
in the early morning
hours. Whatever it
is, it can be put aside
while you favor Harer
Nama. No troubles
or plans for travel
or writing worries should
usurp the sacred
mind-space of
chanting and hearing.
Yes sir, I will
obey.

Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

Why Our Japa Goes Through A Ritualistic Phase

2012-01-02T14:17:00.000-02:00

"One reason why our japa goes through a ritualistic phase is the deep rooted tendency in our hearts of wanting to be in control of things. This is merely a reflection of our propensity to be the enjoyer, the root cause of suffering in this material world."

Radhanatha Swami

Inspiration To Chant

2012-01-01T19:31:00.001-02:00

Hare Krsna everyone. Here we are in the new year 2012 with more to offer to the Lord - what can we bring from our last year and what can we improve in our service to the Lord this year?

Today I received an email from a reader saying she always felt enthused by my posts and this inspired her to chant with more affection. I feel happy to hear that because that is the only reason for these articles, to inspire devotees to chant with more affection and develop at a certain stage pure love for Krishna.

Yesterday a devotee in the Japa Room said how the sessions helped him to improve his chanting and he could chant 16 rounds in one go - something he said he could not attain before the coming to the sessions of the Japa Room.

I feel inspired to see that, and my resolution for this year is to be a good example for other devotees to chant. For that I need to improve my own chanting and have all the love and affection I have for cooking focused on chanting.

Hoping your year started full of love and heart-felt chanting,

your servant,

Aruna devi

Japa Resolutions 2012

2011-12-31T20:17:00.002-02:00

Today was the last Japa Room of the year - we shared with everyone about our Japa Resolutions for 2012. It's very important to resolve to make positive changes in our Japa, not just for the New Year, but every single day of our spiritual lives.

Here are some of the very nice comments made.

"I pray that I can chant the Holy Names with Great Enthusiasm and Resolve."

"My resolution for the New Year is to dive more deeply into the Holy names and not just licking the outside of the Honey jar....I resolve to avoid offenses and to chant 12 rounds before I do anything else."

"Little by little I have been able to get to 16 rounds, today all at one go. I had to use many of the tools we have learned here in the Japa Room, especially chanting loudly"

"Iam going to take a resolution to chant 16 rounds only in the morning, starting at least before 6 am"

What is your Japa Resolution for 2012?

Greed For The Name Will Lead To Other Spiritual Greed

2011-12-30T17:05:00.000-02:00

"I like to hear the truth, that our destination depends on our sadhana and bhajana. It makes me think that my remedial practice of japa is right. It is the way to go to the topmost stage because I first have to attend to the crucial deficiencies in my foundation. Greed for the name will lead to other spiritual greed."

Begging For The Nectar Of The Holy Name
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

Making Japa A Priority

2011-12-29T21:57:00.001-02:00

Hare Krsna my dear devotees. I hope your chanting has been focused in the end of this year. Everyone makes resolutions to the New Year - some want more money, a new job, the dream house....sometimes some devotees wish for more service, move to another temple, find the love of their lives and so on.

We all have dreams and we all want the best to our devotional and material lives, but we can never forget about our chanting, which is the basis activity of our lives. We should remind ourselves to make japa priority in this New Year that is coming, have some quality time chanting and dedicate more to our japa period.

For sure our connection with Krsna will be increased and we will definitely feel more peaceful, all our problems will disappear and all the other dreams will just come by the Lord`s mercy, we don't even need to think about them.

Wishing you a wonderful and blessed 2012, hoping all your spiritual and material dreams come true by the Lord`s mercy.

your servant,

Aruna devi

Please Join The Japa Group

2011-12-28T17:37:00.001-02:00

These Sixteen Words

2011-12-27T21:31:00.000-02:00

"These sixteen words - Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare - are especially meant for counteracting the ill effects of the present age of quarrel and anxiety."

Kali-santarana Upanishad

One Will Certainly Be Delivered From The Clutches Of Maya

2011-12-26T19:08:00.000-02:00

It is to be concluded that with a strong vow, one should chant the holy name of the Lord - Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare - for thus one will certainly be delivered from the clutches of maya by the grace of Krishna.

Srimad Bhagavatam 6.3.23–24 purport

Tips For Chanting

2011-12-25T15:47:00.000-02:00

My suggestion is that you begin your more concentrated practice of chanting Hare Krsna by going through the helpful tips, which are given in the "Nectarean Ocean of the Holy Name". That is:

Focus your mind on chanting concentrated rounds the day before
Go to bed early.
Rise early and start your practice by sincerely begging for the mercy of the Holy Name.
Chant the Panca-tattva maha-mantra.
Chant in the mood of ayi nanda-tanu ja (5th verse of the Siksastakam).

From a letter by Sacinandana Swami

Real Meaning Of Love

2011-12-24T21:11:00.000-02:00

Hare Krsna dear devotees, I hope your week of chanting has been peaceful and devotional. Today everyone celebrates Christmas and all families get together to open gifts and reunite.

It's very nice to see peace and love but at the same time we lose the concept of love for God, Krsna.
If we do not remember to glorify His names - if we just enjoy ourselves and forget how we have to praise Him and serve Him through chanting His glories and holy names, then we forget the meaning of life and love - our hearts become empty.

So I hope to always have this on my mind and life, the eternal chanting of Krsna's holy names and remember that real pleasure is when we can please the eternal couple Radha Krsna.

Wishing you a great weekend.

your servant,

Aruna devi

Creating The Right Mood Before Japa

2011-12-23T18:47:00.001-02:00

I have been thinking about this today. We can create in our mind the right mood for chanting, before we start our Japa....praying to the Lord for assistance and re-affirming the basics so we can avoid offenses to the Holy names.

An example could be something like this: "Today I will avoid doing anything else at the same time as chanting Japa" - by this positive affirmation we can create a goal in our minds and we can make our minds ready to overcome this obstacle and we can pray to Krsna "Please help me chant your Holy names attentively".

We Must Stay Strong In Our Determination

2011-12-22T20:39:00.000-02:00

My thought today was based on how I sometimes feel about Japa - we feel like we just don't want to spend the time and effort to chant rounds - there are so many other things in life to be done and the mind tends to latch onto that excuse - "You can finish them later, you have all day....now you need to do more important things before it's too late".
This is our mind taking the role of an enemy - Maya enters through our thoughts and it can sweep us away.

Srila Prabhupada established the regular morning program for this very reason - so that we can become regulated in our sadhana and stick to it every day. Even if we can't attend the morning program at the temple, we can have our own morning program of chanting Japa and reading etc.

We must stay strong in our determination to carry on with good quality sadhana....chanting is our life and soul.

Please Join Us In The Japa Group

2011-12-21T17:12:00.001-02:00

Chanting All The Time

2011-12-20T21:28:00.000-02:00

Hare Krsna my dear devotees.

I hope your week has been nice and your chanting powerful. Today we lost a wonderful devotee, Yamuna devi who was so special to Srila Prabhupada and also to us as a great cook and singer....who doesn't remember her cooking books and her voice singing - such precious gifts to our lives. She maybe cooking with Srimate Radharani, helping to serve Lord Krsna somehow.

Another important topic we have to remember is that we should always be prepared to die, always chanting and being connected to the Lord so when this time comes we just accept and know we will be serving the Lord everywhere....nothing will change and it will be a very smooth experience. I fear death, because I still need to develop a stronger faith in chanting and the process, but I know the importance of chanting all the time.

Hope your week of chanting is peaceful and joyful.

your servant,

Aruna devi

Showing Krishna That We Are Valuing Our Session

2011-12-19T19:57:00.001-02:00

When the mind conjures up ‘important’ proposals, we can patiently tell the mind to listen to the mahamantra and also reassure him that after the japa session you shall certainly address the issue.

Before we sit to chant, we can resolve to chant a certain fixed number of rounds in that sitting. Say for example you resolve to chant six rounds without a break. Till the six rounds are done you should then refuse to look at the watch or put things on the planner. Whenever the mind protests, just reassure him that after the six rounds are done you shall certainly work on the concerns expressed by the mind. This way we are showing Krishna that we are valuing our session with him and are not looking to end the meeting.

Radhanatha Swami

Association Is Important

2011-12-18T17:47:00.003-02:00

Yesterday I had a nice message from a regular Japa Room devotee who mentioned he had visited the temple recently and was inspired by talking with a devotee about Japa.

It reminded me of the importance of good devotee association and how that can inspire us in our spiritual life. There is a very good analogy Srila Prabhupada uses to describe this - he told us that one twig alone is easy to break, but many twig together is very hard.

Reason For Chanting

2011-12-18T16:44:00.000-02:00

Hare Krsna dear devotees, I hope your week has been blessed and your chanting peaceful. Today it is a very hot day here in my city - we are in the summer, while in other cities it is freezing cold.

The same way it is sometimes difficult to face the difficulties of this world and our body we know that we always have a great reason to continue chanting. First because with the Holy names we are never alone and we can always count on that. Second because when we chant we advance - actually in all aspects and this chanting even gives peace to our hearts and makes us healthier and more lively.

The love we develop for Krsna starts coming and all the contamination is cleansed - we become bhaktas and servants of Krsna, devoted and opened to receive His mercy of more service.

Wishing you a great weekend of service.

your servant,

Aruna devi

The Vibration Is Sure To Act

2011-12-17T18:53:00.000-02:00

"...therefore, if you chant Hare Krishna offenselessly, that is to say, avoiding the 10 kinds of offenses, the vibration is sure to act."

Letter to Gurudasa
December 14, 1968

With Patience And Forbearance Like A Tree

2011-12-16T12:31:00.000-02:00

"You should always chant the transcendental name of Godhead with patience and forbearance like a tree and humbleness like a straw . . . There are many amongst you who are well qualified and able workers. We have no other desire whatsoever."

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura

Please Join The Japa Group

2011-12-15T18:10:00.001-02:00

One Must First Give Up Sadhu-ninda

2011-12-14T18:43:00.001-02:00

"Without developing a spirit of service, chanting the holy name is in vain. Real devotion can be cultivated only when one receives the blessings of an unalloyed devotee. . . . Therefore to give up namaparadha one must first give up sadhu-ninda, or finding faults with the devotees."

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura

Raise Your Family To Be Exemplary Vaisnavas

2011-12-13T12:41:00.000-02:00

"Raise your family to be exemplary Vaisnavas by yourself following the regulative principles and rigidly chanting Hare Krishna mantra, and without any doubt they and yourself will become all of you firmly situated on the path back to home, back to Godhead."

Letter to Candrabali
13 December, 1972

Will Gradually Clear Everything In Due Course

2011-12-12T18:54:00.000-02:00

"...the difficulties of life may come as seasonal changes but we should not be disturbed by all those difficulties. Our process is to chant and that process will gradually clear everything in due course."

Letter to Mukunda
6th June, 1967

He Is Elevated Step By Step

2011-12-11T20:18:00.001-02:00

"Everyone begins his devotional life from the neophyte stage, but if one properly finishes chanting the prescribed number of rounds of hari-nama, he is elevated step by step to the highest platform, uttama-adhikare."

Nectar Of Instruction
Verse 5 puport

This Very Chanting Will Give You All Peace And Prosperity

2011-12-10T20:07:00.001-02:00

"Please go on chanting Hare Krishna Hare Krishna as you are doing now and this very chanting will give you all peace and prosperity both in this life and the next."

Letter to Ballabhi
April 22, 1967

Overcoming Inattention

2011-12-09T20:27:00.001-02:00

Hare Krsna my dear devotees, I hope your week of chanting has brought you nice realisations. Here is a quote from the Harinama Cintanami about how advanced devotees avoid laziness in chanting.

Overcoming laziness Inattention arising from laziness (jadya) prevents a person from relishing the nectar of the holy name. He is slow to chant and remember the holy name. Even after trying, he very soon finds the effort unendurable and wants to sleep or otherwise engage himself in frivolity.
Advanced devotees are cautious against such an offense. They never waste a single moment in useless talks or activities. Their meditation on the Lord's holy name is unbroken. They are so absorbed in the nectar of the holy name that they do not want anything else. One must therefore aspire to associate with such rare devotees and follow their example, thus ridding himself of his laziness.
It is the nature of saintly Vaisnavas to be always engaged in devotional activities. They never waste time uselessly. One should become attracted to this devotional trait. One should ask himself how he also can become like these devotees, immersed in meditation upon the holy name; how, from this very day, he can increase his chanting step by step until such time as he can actually chant three lakhas of holy names with inspiration and eagerness. When Lord Krsna sees such enthusiasm, He reciprocates by removing the neophyte's mental inertia with the power of His name, and by allowing him to remain in the association of His advanced devotees.

Wishing you a powerful chanting during the weekend.

your servant,

Aruna devi

Japa Group Approaches Hundred Thousand Hits

2011-12-08T15:51:00.000-02:00

Recently I was viewing the statistics for the Japa Group and discovered that we are currently on 95,499 visits over the past 2 years. Thanks to all of you who have continued to come here, please continue to take advantage of the Japa Group articles and invite devotees to visit also.

ys

Rasa Rasika dasa

Please Join The Japa Group

2011-12-07T17:49:00.001-02:00

Overcoming Distraction

2011-12-06T21:02:00.001-02:00

Hare Krsna my dear devotees. I hope your week of chanting has been marvelous and you are connected to the Lord through His Holy names. Today I was reading the Harinama Cintamani and there is a nice quote about distraction and also how to avoid that. Here it is:

Overcoming distraction
Distraction in chanting breeds illusion which becomes the cause of further serious offenses against the holy name. This illusion, difficult to overcome, engenders attraction to wealth, women, position, success and the cheating propensity. When these attractions cover the heart, the neophyte becomes neglectful of the chanting of the holy name.
One must make a constant effort to try and drive such attractions away from the mind by diligently following the ways of Vaisnava culture. This will bring back his good fortune.

Wishing you have a nice week in devotional service.

your servant,

Aruna devi

Varshana Japa Retreat

2011-12-05T12:10:00.001-02:00

Very nice Japa Retreat with Sacinandana Swami in Varshana 2009.

Automatically The Appreciation Is There For God

2011-12-04T15:20:00.001-02:00

"...the example may be given of where one person is appreciating that water is very nice and another is tasting water. So when we taste water the appreciation automatically is there and when we have taste for chanting, automatically the appreciation is there for God."

Letter to Sivananda
December 4, 1968

Faith Through Prayer

2011-12-03T20:51:00.001-02:00

Today in the Japa Room we had a very enlivening discussion about re-establishing and increasing our faith in the Holy names.

As we all may have experienced, after some time our Japa can become something we take for granted....the mind becomes familiar with the Holy names and we continue dutifully without much thought about the effects of chanting.
Prayer is an important aspect of our sadhana....prayer means we have faith that Krsna will reciprocate with us and protect us materially and spiritually.
This same faith we develop through prayer can also be experienced through Japa...after all we are praying to Krsna when we chant the Hare Krsna mantra - we simply need to have the faith that the Lord will reciprocate with our efforts for attentive and good quality chanting.

The discussion reminded me of a very nice quote from Srila Prabhupada:

Krishna is there in your heart and the more you surrender to Him, the more He takes charge, and seeing your sincerity, He will give you all facility for increasing your service more and more.

Letter to Meenakatan
February 24, 1971

Good Practice Brings Perfection

2011-12-02T18:28:00.001-02:00

Hare Krsna everyone, I hope your week of chanting has been fantastic and you have been able to chant with your heart.

Talking about heart chanting...why is it so difficult to chant with the heart? Why it is easier to be in a kirtan and put all your energy in it and it is not easy sometimes to have a good and concentrated japa?

There maybe many reasons why, but the main thing is that we need to have faith in the chanting of the holy names and that our efforts to be good chanters are never in vain and the Lord will be always looking after us and filling our hearts with eternal bliss. Everything starts with a good practice, even if we don`t feel anything in the beginning we need to sit in a straight position, close our eyes and hear the mantra while chanting. Following the steps of the acaryas we will feel ecstatic.

Wishing you a great weekend of service.

your servant,

Aruna devi

Japa Seminar Level 9

2011-12-01T15:05:00.000-02:00

Please Join The Japa Group

2011-11-30T17:41:00.000-02:00

I am Very Much Pleased

2011-11-29T18:42:00.000-02:00

“You are chanting. I am very much pleased. That’s all. I came to your country to chant, that ‘You chant also along with me.’ So you are helping me by chanting. So I am pleased.”

Srila Prabhupada Lecture
July 16, 1971

How Attentive Are You?

2011-11-28T11:28:00.000-02:00

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. If you keep talking to someone and they are continuously ignoring you, eventually you 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”, it will eventually shut up.

The Importance Of Sraddha

2011-11-27T18:33:00.001-02:00

Hare Krsna dear devotees, here are two very nice quotes about initiation and the importance of sraddha (faith) in chanting.

Srila Haridasa Thakur said, "O Lord Caitanya, in Your instructions to those You have ordained to propagate the holy name, You specifically give warning about this. Preachers may instruct the glories of the holy name only to the sraddhavan (persons with sraddha)." Harinama Cintanami

"This the way by which the whole world will be inundated with the chanting of the holy name: with loud congregational chanting, the holy name is to be propagated widely among the masses. Those who are faithful will come forward and choose a bona fide spiritual master, receiving instructions and initiation in the name from him. By sincere chanting they will surely obtain love of Godhead, Krsnaprema." Harinama Cintanami

Wishing you have a great week of chanting.

your servant,

Aruna devi

Convinced Of The Power Of The Hare Krsna Mantra

2011-11-26T17:39:00.001-02:00

"Everyone of you should be thoroughly convinced of the power of the Hare Krsna mantra to protect you in all circumstances and chant accordingly at all times without offense. Then advancement will be swift and you will gradually come to see everything clearly so that you may act for the pleasure of the Lord without uncertainty. When one is spontaneously engaged in this way, always in the service of the Lord and anxious to avoid all mundane activities, he is actually experiencing the taste of bliss in Krsna consciousness."

Letter to Damodara
January 10, 1971

Today in the Japa Room I used a quote that I have used many times - it talks about the power of protection and how we should be convinced....you may also notice "and chant accordingly at all times without offense" - this is important.

For us to become convinced of the power of the Hare Krsna mantra, we need to make a big effort to avoid offenses, beginning with inattention. Inattention is the root cause of the other offenses, if we can overcome this offense, it will easier to overcome the others.

I hope you week of Japa was rewarding and you could feel the Lord's spiritual energy in your chanting.

Krishna Is Pleased With Our Repeated Attempts

2011-11-25T18:05:00.001-02:00

"Even if our japa is filled with distractions, Krishna is pleased with our repeated attempts to bring the mind back under the control of the holy name."

From Vandanam: A Krishna Conscious Handbook on Prayer
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

Don't Listen To The Mind - Listen To The Mantra

2011-11-24T17:42:00.001-02:00

This is my mantra when I broadcast the Japa Room but it's easier said than done...generally during our Japa we are listening to the ramblings of the mind and occasionally we hear the mantra, then back to the all-pervasive mind.

This is a big test for most chanters, we have that choice for each bead, each mantra....the choice to listen to Krsna in His Holy names, or listen to what we have to buy at the shop, or something that happened yesterday or something that is coming up next week.

When we feel ourselves listening to all these mental thoughts, then like a switch....we need to switch back to the sound of the mantra and keep doing this time and again until the mind gives up. At this point we will start to feel something from the chanting....we will feel the Lord's spiritual energy enter our hearts and our minds. This is all the Lord's mercy on us....when we make this effort to focus on Krsna through the sound, then the Lord sees our attempts and bestows upon us this eternal spiritual energy.

Let us all try, for each and every bead....to bring our mind back to the sound of our chanting, and become absorbed in the Lord's nectarian blissful energy.

Please Join The Japa Group

2011-11-23T17:28:00.001-02:00

Jayapataka Swami Japa Workshop

2011-11-22T20:43:00.001-02:00

A very powerful Japa seminar by Jayapataka Swami in Fruska Gauranga, Serbia

Don't Stop Chanting

2011-11-21T19:44:00.000-02:00

Many times we just don't feel like chanting - it's common amongst devotees, despite the number of years we've been engaged in reciting the Holy names.

If we have doubts about chanting, it means we don't feel anything and it's become mechanical or ritualistic....something we do because we have to do it not necessarily because we want to.
There is hope for us all....if we simply pray to the Lord for help each day - ask the Lord to give the inspiration to continue with our chanting and to overcome obstacles like the mind or other things.
I read a very nice quote the other day in this regard.

“...even if there may be some problems, always try to remain in Krsna consciousness. Do not give up chanting the Hare Krsna mantra simply due to some external difficulties. Under all circumstances you should always chant Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. This will protect you from all danger of being influenced by maya or the material energy.”

Letter to Sudhindra Kisora Raya,
10th June, 1975

If The Chanting Of Hare Krsna Is Not There

2011-11-20T18:29:00.001-02:00

This is the meaning of plain living and high thinking. If the chanting of Hare Krsna is not there, then there will not be any high thinking.

Letter to Jayatirtha das
20 November, 1975

Being Grateful

2011-11-19T17:45:00.001-02:00

Hare Krsna my dear devotees. I hope your week of chanting has been fine and that you have entered the weekend full of nice realizations on spiritual life and with lots of energy to chant the holy names of the Lord.

Once I have heard that when we move towards the Lord once, He moves many times towards us - this means that any effort we make to improve our service Krsna reciprocates tremendously with His mercy and love in our direction. We will never be lonely and we will always be protected. When we forget about our service and when we do not dedicate to our chanting, actually we are moving away from Krsna but He is not, He is always there for us waiting for a tiny opportunity to reciprocate with our love.

I am not talking about all the great vaisnavas that dedicate their lives to Krsna and spend hours serving the Lord....thinking of Him and preaching to others about the Lord`s glories, these ones are so protected that they can`t even imagine how precious they are to the Lord.

This month some countries are celebrating Thanksgiving and it's a month to be grateful for something we have, definitely we should be grateful all the time but if we can choose this time for that, I can say that I am so grateful I have got this chanting of the Holy Names, that I have devotees's association and also that I have got Srila Prabhupada's mercy through his books and teachings. What can you be grateful for this month?

Wishing you a wonderful week of chanting.

your servant,

Aruna devi

Chant The Maha-mantra Loudly And With Attachment

2011-11-18T19:05:00.001-02:00

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was deeply attached to the holy names of Krsna. Whenever devotees inquired how to improve their bhakti and overcome anarthas, he usually stressed the need to chant faithfully and offenselessly, quoting Lord Caitanya's statement iha haite sarva-siddhi haibe sabara: "By this alone all perfection will come." He advised, "Chant the maha-mantra loudly and with attachment. This will drive away inertia, worldly ills, and disturbances." He maintained that chanting the Lord's names is tantamount to directly seeing Him: "The Lord and His name are one and the same. Chanting the holy name is equivalent to directly experiencing Him." He always emphasized harinama as the topmost sadhana.

From Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava
by Bhakti Vikasa Swami

Meditate Upon The Transcendental Sound Vibration

2011-11-17T21:17:00.000-02:00

The introspective devotee must first discard all the ten offenses and simply meditate on the holy name trying to chant constantly. He should distinctly pronounce the holy name and meditate upon the transcendental sound vibration.

Harinama Cintamani p.105

Please Join The Japa Group

2011-11-16T18:30:00.001-02:00

Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction email and I will be happy to make you a member:

rasa108 (at) gmail.com

ys

Rasa Rasika dasa

Holy Name Seminar Part 4

2011-11-15T18:53:00.001-02:00

The final part of Sacinandana Swami's seminar on chanting from Soho St. London.

Holy Name Seminar Part 3

2011-11-14T18:19:00.001-02:00

Part 3 of this very interesting and absorbing seminar by Sacinandana Swami.

Holy Name Seminar Part 2

2011-11-13T18:35:00.001-02:00

Part 2 of this amazing seminar by Sacinandana Swami.

Holy Name Seminar Part 1

2011-11-12T18:02:00.001-02:00

A very nice seminar on chanting by Sacinandana Swami from Soho St. temple, London.

Krsna's Entire Body

2011-11-11T18:18:00.001-02:00

Hare Krsna my devotees, I hope your week of chanting has been blessed and you have been able to experience the holy names in your life much deeper. Here follows a very beautiful quote by Rupa Goswami about the glories of the holy names to remind us of the importance of chanting with devotion, avoiding offenses.

I bow down repeatedly to You, O holy name, whose rays dissipate all the sufferings of those who have taken shelter of You, who are the essence of delightful spiritual energy and joy, who are the eternal festival of the cowherd community. You are Krishna´s entire body.
Namastakam 7

Wishing you have a great weekend by the Lord`s mercy.

your servant,

Aruna devi

One Has To Hear With One's Heart

2011-11-10T17:10:00.000-02:00

Why is it that we are chanting and hearing and still experiencing material miseries?...because we are not actually chanting and hearing in a right way. Of course, we understand about the offences, that is a negative thing, what not to do. But we do not understand what to do.

What to do is more than just chanting with the lips. Bhaktivinod Thakur says that Hare Krishna mantra does not appear simply by chanting with the lips, moving the vocal cords but one has to chant with one's heart. One has to hear with one's heart and that is a very difficult thing to do.

Bir Krsna Goswami

Please Join The Japa Group

2011-11-09T14:54:00.001-02:00

Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction email and I will be happy to make you a member:

rasa108 (at) gmail.com

ys

Rasa Rasika dasa

4 New Japa eBooks

2011-11-08T17:01:00.000-02:00

There are 4 new Japa eBooks available on the Japa Group website. Please visit the eBook page here and take advantage of these valuable writings.

The Offense Known As Pramada

2011-11-07T20:18:00.000-02:00

You taught the importance of performing one's chanting without inattention. Inattention is counted as one of the aparadhas. Even if one successfully overcomes all the other offenses in chanting, and one is chanting continuously, love of God may not come. One should know that the reason for this is that one is committing the offense known as pramada, or inattention. This offense will block progress to prema.

Chapter 12 - Inattention While Chanting
Harinama Cintamani – Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Keep Up Your Enthusiasm

2011-11-06T18:40:00.001-02:00

Hare Krsna my dear devotees, I hope your chanting is going well and you feel enthusiastic about the Holy names.

In the last session of the Japa Room a devotee brought this issue - he had been chanting his 16 rounds easily in the past but nowadays he said he has no enthusiasm to chant, he had put some other priorities to his daily life and chanting suffered the consequences. How could we address this matter? This is a problem that happens with many and we sometimes want to chant but we just can't feel that love and enthusiasm.

In this case there maybe some problems in how we are chanting. Maybe distracted, with offenses and maybe we do not even notice that. The main thing is to address this issue very quickly because when we are not chanting well it may affect our whole spiritual life and we become weak as a devotee. You may also have felt like chanting more, this feeling when you do not want to stop you Japa even when your mind is telling you to, you grab your beads and feel like staying there forever, this means you are chanting properly and means you are feeling something when you chant.

So, keep chanting with attention - listening to the mantra and focusing on it and you will always feel enthused to chant more and never decrease your number of rounds but increase it.

Wishing you a very blessed week of chanting.

your servant,

Aruna devi

Japa Is My Most Serious Meditation

2011-11-05T17:57:00.001-02:00

Japa is my most serious meditation. Japa has been given to use by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and Prabhupada says the order of the spiritual master to chant at least sixteen rounds daily is the most essential one. So I’m working at it. I pray to Krishna to bless me.

Japa Transformations
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

Our Hearts Become Soft And Opened

2011-11-04T18:45:00.000-02:00

Hare Krsna my dear devotees, its nice to be here with you again. I am writing this article and receiving the darshan of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai Deities - they are here blessing the whole house, giving me strength to chant better and engaging me more in service.
It's very peaceful to worship the Deities and chant japa, our hearts become soft and opened to receive the names....when we are more opened we can concentrate more and feel the effects of japa.

Proper association of devotees also gives us enthusiasm and determination to improve in spiritual life....sometimes we look at the vaisnavas and there is always someone we admire more - we would like to be and is our inspiration....when we are eager to serve and chant we remember that vaisnavas who is the one we aim to be like....following the footsteps and observing the qualities this person has achieved and that we would like to as well.

I can say that we tend to limit our advancement....actually I think this is the minds job, always put us down saying we can't chant properly or we are not advanced enough to feel the effects of chanting....that we don't live in the temple so we can't follow spiritual life or that if we can't chant with a high standartd we'd rather stop chanting.

This is everything the mind keep on preaching to us, every single day but we as vaisnavas seeing the example of our founder acharya we know that for spiritual life and to achieve Krsna prema we just need to follow his instructions - if we look at our spiritual master or other vaisnavas we admire we will see that they achieved their goals or they were inspired by someone and became advanced because they served and associated with the devotees who were merciful and gave them Krsna.

There will always be someone...a devotee that will tell you to carry on and that in the beginning the process may sound difficult and hard, but as we are getting in contact with the holy names we are cleansing the heart and we start understanding and feeling the bliss....so we compare our lives with and without chanting and we see that chanting does have an effect and can change us as the sun changes the whole world shining and making every place visible. The same way Krsna appears to us, starts coming in the form of His holy names and then speaks in our hearts, leading our lives and taking care of our thoughts.

These are the effects that heart chanting can produce so I beg that I may be able to one day chant purely and open my heart to the Lord and feel him through the sound vibration, making my life brighter and shining.
May your japa be focused and heart deep, may you feel Krsna talking to you through the heart.

your servant,

Aruna devi

Giriraj Swami Question & Answer

2011-11-03T18:07:00.001-02:00

A wonderful question and answer session during the Japa Workshop with Giriraj Swami.

2011-11-02T20:09:00.000-02:00

Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction email and I will be happy to make you a member:

rasa108 (at) gmail.com

ys

Rasa Rasika dasa

Hare - Addressing Srimate Radharani

2011-11-01T20:04:00.000-02:00

Hare Krsna dear devotees. I hope your week of chanting is blessed and very inspiring. Last week in the japa room some devotees were sharing very nice realisations and it's always very enthusing to see devotees caring about their chanting.

Today in a class a devotee said that when we say Hare we address Srimate Radharani and She is the only one who can take us to Krsna. So I was praying to Her so She could help me chant and serve Her in my everyday life with devotion. Whenever I chant, I chant with devotion....whenever I cook, cook with love. By doing that everyday, I can be reminded that my position in this world is to serve and I need to dedicate to my chanting and purify my heart. I am very grateful everyday to have been introduced to this movement and to have the mercy of the vaisnavas and Srila Prabhupada.

Wishing you have a great end of week.

your servant,

Aruna devi

The Offense Of Inattention

2011-10-31T20:50:00.002-02:00

I found this Japa cartoon today, I appreciated the humour but there is a serious point behind it - the cartoon reminded me of a quote I use quite often in the Japa Room that addresses the issue of distraction.

The devotee should make it a regular practice to spend a little time alone in a quiet place and concentrate deeply on the holy name. He should utter and hear the name distinctly. It is impossible for the jiva to singlehandedly avoid and overcome the illusion of distraction. By the mercy of the Lord, however, this is accomplished with ease. Therefore it is essential to prayerfully beg for the Lord's grace with great humility, for this is the only means to salvation from this offense.

Harinama Cintamani

Japa Realisations

2011-10-31T20:32:00.001-02:00

Devotees share their realisations during a Japa Retreat held at Sharanagati Village in British Columbia, Canada.

Our Path Is Genuine Sublime

2011-10-29T19:01:00.001-02:00

I am glad to learn that you are chanting regularly and I hope you are gradually getting some enlightenment in Krsna Consciousness. Our path is genuine sublime and easy.

Letter to Janis
October 29, 1966

What Is In Your Heart?

2011-10-28T19:53:00.000-02:00

Hare Krsna my dear devotees. Today I would like to bring up a very nice topic related to chanting. I was reading a verse about the glories of Lord Rama and the name of the prayers are "Where Should Rama Stay?" and by reading the verses something came to my mind and I thought about chanting. Where should our thoughts be when we chant. If my thoughts were at the lotus feet of Krsna or on the maha mantra Himself or in the sound vibration (who is Krsna Himself), where is my heart at this time?

Sometimes it's easy to say our hearts are with the Lord when we are in kirtan, arati, worship, cooking and any other service but when we chant why our minds conduct us to anything else but not Krsna or His Holy names? So I remembered how the great devotees who chant nicely have so much love for the Lord, are so dedicated that their hearts are full of Krsna and the Lord is there all the time wherever they go....whatever they do it`s for Krsna and this seems so simple. We have to have our minds and hearts on the Lord every time, not even forget the Holy names for a second. So we should chant all the time and perform our japa with sincerity and our taste for chanting will increase in a way that one day we will chant with the heart in it.

Wishing your weekend is full of realisations on spiritual life.

your servant,

Aruna devi

Chandramauli Swami Japa Seminar

2011-10-27T19:11:00.000-02:00

Here is a very nice seminar on chanting Japa given by Chandramauli Swami (there is a slight pause between each part).

Please Join The Japa Group

2011-10-26T17:30:00.004-02:00

Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction email and I will be happy to make you a member:

rasa108 (at) gmail.com

ys

Rasa Rasika dasa

Japa Retreat Question & Answer

2011-10-25T17:25:00.000-02:00

A very wonderful question and answer session in one of Sacinandana Swami's Japa Retreats.