It is also tough for me to relate when someone says some thing like: “That was an ecstatic kirtan,” which indicates some other kirtan wasn’t ecstatic or that a person thinks they have to travel hundreds or thousands of miles to knowledge an “Ecstatic Kirtan.” Ecstatic Kirtans are there for absolutely everyone all the time. Of course when we are presenting Krishna consciousness to the public it is essential that the music accompaniment be really first class. Also, we ought to not force the above understanding on these who are not ready to take that leap. That is portion of preaching method which is a complete other discussion that I will deal with in a future blog. Now as far as Japa is concerned, what I do is sit with my back straight (remember Prabhupada’s Japa recording in which he says “Sit effectively”). I put a pillow beneath my tucas (sorry I could not think of a far better word for it and if you never comprehend this word ask a person who speaks Yiddish) to elevate it above the level of the legs. Generally the legs are on the floor.
Then I consciously loosen up every muscle in my physique. I unwind my thoughts and concentrate on the sound vibration of Krishna’s names. Also I am conscious of some particular request I am generating of Radha and Krishna as pointed out above in the kirtan section. The request need to be in the mood of emotionally begging Radha and Krishna. We must usually have a Sankalpa (want or objective) when we chant. Then I just let the Holy Names flow. No forcing. No fighting with the mind. Just the relaxed chanting of Krishna’s names. With the suitable need and
understanding our mind will naturally be attracted and it will be like swimming in an ocean of nectar. Practically nothing else will matter and time and space will dissolve. Of course it goes with out saying that you be strict about not utilizing your japa period for any other activity.
For some devotees japa period is synonymous with social life time or management time. I do not interrupt my japa unless there is some emergency. One time there was a reporter going to a Hare Krishna temple. He was attending the full morning system. Afterwards he was sitting with the devotees explaining his impressions and encounter. He said that the 1st service of the day (Mangal Aroti) was extremely lovely. Also he was quite appreciative of Tulasi worship. Then he said that it was very good that the devotees had a social break (Japa period)! We don’t want our Japa period to be a social break. We ought to take it as seriously as if we had been leading kirtan and somebody wanted to speak to us during kirtan. Definitely we would not stop the kirtan unless it was an emergency. But, somehow or other the devotees don’t take japa as seriously as they ought to.
Chanting and hearing must be as described in the Bhagavatam: tivrena bhakti-yogena yajeta purusam param (SB two.three.ten)-a single must worship the Lord with great intensity.
Some additional hints about how to increase the good quality of Japa have come to mind. I have been practicing these for some time. Truly chanting nicely in the morning starts the night just before. What we do appropriate just before taking rest at night affects our consciousness not only whilst we are resting but also for the next day particularly the morning time. The Vedas describe that there are two stages of sleep: unconscious and dreaming. Even these two stages can be broken up into diverse activities of the brain and the mind. For instance while we are dreaming we are processing (what we received in the past), predicting (functioning via events we may well have to go via in the future), and venting (throwing out unnecessary or unwanted information). These activities involve the subconscious mind which is connected with our subtle physique.
Chanting: Discovering Spirit in Sound
Item Description
The ancient art of chanting has lengthy been embraced by the world’s fantastic religious traditions as a path to healing and enlightenment, but only recently has Western science begun to recognize its therapeutic effects on the physique and thoughts. Chanting gives a fascinating introduction to this potent and increasingly popular practice and shows you how to use chant in your personal life as a powerful tool for relaxation, physique-mind healing, and spiritual self-discovery. Drawing on Robert Gass’s own experience as one particular of the world’s greatest-known leaders of contemporary chant, as nicely as the wisdom of sound healers from around the world, Chanting explores the science of how sound impacts each our bodies and our consciousness and requires us on an engaging tour of chant as it is used in Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Islamic, African, Shamanic, Goddess, and Native American traditions. Chanting offers easy workout routines and far more than twenty musical scores to help you develop a personalized chanting practice that can fuel every day activities with goal and meaning.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Price tag: $7.00
- Utilised Book in Excellent Condition
