Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

Keep a notepad handy (knowing you, probably a palm). If a thought comes to your mind that needs your atention, quickly jot it down, and concentrate again in the sound.
"From whatever and wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady nature, one must certainly withdraw it and bring it back under the control of the self."
Chapter 6, Verse 26.

There are no hard and fast rules for chanting, but there are some things that ruins the chanting.

I would say that the most important rule is that you chant the hare-krishna mantra, and not something else. Every word should be there fully. If you cant hear every syllable, chant slower and more carefully. Dont jump over pieces, or slur over syllables. There are devotees that dont follow that and chant something else. Dont follow their examples, no matter who it is.

To be able to do that, there are some donts that you should not do.
Like doing something else at the same time, driving a car, sufing, reading. Also do not stop for chatting with others all the time. Dedicate a time for chanting when you dont do anything else and you can be undisturbed. If chanting becomes interrupted, stop chanting, and take it up at a later time when you are undisturbed again.

If the mind is wondering, bring it back every time, but at least see to that you are hearing the hare-krishna mantra and that every word and syllable is there. If you cant hear a syllable, make a very short stop, take a breath, and try again. Every word and syllable has to be there.

And, maybe I should say - chanting works. If you chant and desire Krishna bhakti, one day it will come to you. One day the mantra will feel like nectar, and every word will remind you of Krishna. One day the words will come to you and tell you what they mean, and they will give you bliss. It will probably not happen tomorrow, next week, or even next year. But by going on, wanting it, and chanting properly, it will come, and in this life.

One popular bad habit I have seen is using the free index finger to move the mouse.

May I also add that chanting early in the morning, and preferably all 16 rounds together, helps a lot.

My personal meditation is on the holy name being non-different from Krishna Himself. When the Lord Himself is present, how can I not pay attention to Him? Anyway, thats how I preach to my mind... Yes, the notepad too, so that the brilliant ideas and divine inspirations that suddenly come upon you while chanting dont steal you attention :) And of course Bhagavad-gita 6-26.

abhiram: "One popular bad habit I have seen is using the free index finger to move the mouse."

moving the mouse in itself isnt so bad, IMO. but paying attention to the monitor is.

ys phani.

well...you know what I mean.

yes, sorry. cheap shot.

ys phani.

Please remember the the Ps Indradyumna Maharaja says "Posture Payer and Pronunciation"
i heard this one "somewhere" chant the work KRSNA in a louder clearer more sincere way-in the Maha Mantra, Then..... RAMA then......Hare :-)
try sitting -not walking- so much unless you start to "Nod Off"
HK HK KK HH HR HR RR HH
Indradyumna Ki JAYA!!!

Early morning is always best in my experience. When it waits for during the day the importance of this service tends to be minimized in value and importancce..............then it can become just a ritual act of finishing 16 rounds............"Now I can do any damed thing I like."

In the morning there is less distraction and there is greater chance of better concentration and this can set the tone for the entire. Its like excercising early in the morning (running etc), the effect stays throughout the entire day. THe same thing for good and attentive early mornig japa...........the effect is long lasting.

This is the most important thing and the early morning is the best time of the day. Therefore the most important thing should get the bast time of the day.

Meditation on verses of the siksastaka is very helpful and inspirational to me as well.

computers and japa are diametric opposites. japa + computer = bizarre inattentive chanting.

turn the machine off and go sit somewhere pleasant.

best is the temple room after mangala arati in the association of Tulsi devi and the devotees.

Next best is the beach (Prabhupada said)

if neither is available then just find a nice quiet place.

it also really helps to get up early to chant before everyone gets busy.

i also put on Srila Prabhupadas japa tape - not only so I can hear him chanting but to warn the other people that I live with that its chanting time and not to distract.

One surprisingly effective method to use is relaxation. Much mental activity is the result of physical tension, or stress.

If you use some relaxation technique for a minute or two prior to chanting you will find less distraction occurs and concentration arises more easily.

Over the past twenty years I taught meditation to many people. Physical stress produces a condition that continually interferes with the development of concentration.

A suggestion is to spend a few minutes noticing what it feels like to have feet, then legs, then hands then arms, then a tummy, then a back then shoulders then head. This is simple, quick, and conduces a state of concentration. The name of this method is Body Scan.

Another suggestion is to spend a few minutes being fully attentive to the physical feeling of the body breathing in and out. Dont interfere with it, just close your eyes and notice what it feels like in your chest, your shoulders, your arms and legs. This has the same effect as the above method. It takes a few attempts to get the gist of it but is very effective.

just a few minutes, that all. More works better, but better to be chanting.

The 3 Ps Posture, Prayer & Pronunciation ie: sit properly! mood/rasa and clearly vibrate the trancendental all blissfull names Hare Krsna Rama (i take alternate turns of "The Names" focusing on only one of them every bead/round...
and if we chant so that we sincerely wish to follow these 4 reg what can stop us???

In recent times,what I have found most effective is to listen to a seminar on Japa. The one that Ravindra Svaruppa Pr gave in Mayapur, 98? on Spiritual Reform is fantastic. Also those from the Govardhan Japa retreats done by Sacinandana Swami and Bhurijana Prabhu are a guaranteed japa boost up. There is also the Harinama Cintamani, The Ocean of the Nectar of the Holy Name (by Sacinandana Swami), etc...
+ Early morning w/ Prabhupada japa recording

In terms of relaxation or meditation techniques.............a min or two breathing exercise is very powerful in bringing to mind to focus.
I also like that point of books and the seminars..............the more our knowledge increases of the identity of the Holy Name the more we will be respectful of the need to chant properly. Thanks!

I agree with Mishra about the idea to write down the important thing, then to go on without thinking about it...
Sometime it takes a little time to be into it, I generally feel that 6 rounds are necessary... I like to walk, head up (when you keep your head down, it may seem humble, but it is the best way to "dream" about any and everything but Krishna !!!). When I sit, I like to look at Srila Prabhupadas video - images without sound - to concentrate on his lotus feet.

And when my mind is too restless, I try to make a mini-break in the middle of a round and re-chant the "Jaya Sri Krishna Caitanya" mantra, praying for concentration !

One devotee in India who was into yoga told me that the sitting posture is very important. According to yoga gurus if you keep your back totally straight you can fix the mind BUT if you lean a little forward your thoughts will be about the future and if you lean backward a little your thoughts will be about the past.
Check it yourself.

nice and helpful blog from our friend Rasa:
http://japagroup.blogspot.com

"Chanting japa should be done early in the morning with full concentration preferably during the Brahma Muhurta time. Concentrate fully on the sound vibration of the mantra"
[i]Letter to: Radhavallabha
Bombay
6 January, 1972
72-01-06
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami[/i]

Thanks Jagannatha for plugging the Japa Group.

Just continuing from points made by Prisni dasi on this important subject - over the years I have developed my own ways to try to avoid inattention...which is always a constant struggle:

1. Do Nothing Else - very simple and something that I consider to be of utmost importance. I do nothing else and try to think of nothing else...besides the Holy Names.

2. Pronounciation - I try to make sure I can hear every word and syllable very clearly - even if it means taking 10 minutes to chant 1 round.

3. Hearing - I usually cup my hand over my ear and the chanting is amplifed...which helps me hear and monitor my pronounciation.

4. Reading - By reading the Maha Mantra whilst chanting, I found that this keeps my mind focused on the Holy Name and prevents my mind from wandering - This works really well!

http://japagroup.blogspot.com/2007/08/inattentive-chanting-how-do-we-avoid-it.html#links

what books can we read so that we know more about the importance of the holy name? and then try to chant more attentively

How about these \

The Nectar of the Holy Name (Sri Namamrita) AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

http://www.highergifts.com/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=&idproduct=318

The Nectarean Ocean of the Holy Name. Sacinanada Swami

http://www.vnn.org/publication/PB0408/PB19-8681.html

oh but is there any pdf online?

I know one tip. Not reading pariprashnena.com while chanting hehehehe

abhiram, find Namamrta pdf below

Harinama Cintamani: http://www.philosophy.ru/library/asiatica/indica/authors/bhaktivinoda/hc/hceng.html

Hare Krishna and ___o_ to all members!