Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

As chanting is better done in the morning, first go to bed very early to wake up early.
Once you are early up, half of the problem is solved. :)

[quote][cite] blackcat99:[/cite]I chanted 16 rounds a day for 15 years. My Guru left ISKCON and then I quit chanting. I do want to start chanting again but how do I get truly motivated to start chanting 16 rounds again? Any tips appreciated.[/quote]

Set realistic goals (like 8 rounds instead of 16) and concentrate on the QUALITY of chanting. Try to really, really listen.
Go to chant in some nice environment whenever possible, like a nice park.
This may be controversial to some... Do not count your rounds. Just chant as much as you can, whenever you can.
Participate in kirtans and bhajans as much as possible. Your taste for the Name will grow and help your japa.

Good luck to you, prabhuji! :)

"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, pronouncing each name distinctly and gradually your speed in chanting will increase naturally.
Do not worry so much about chanting fast, most important is the hearing."
Srila Prabhupada Letter 6/1/72

"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 Hare Krishna maha-mantra. The words Hare Krishna should be very distinctly pronounced and heard. Sometimes one mechanically produces a hissing sound instead of chanting...with the proper pronunciation with the help of the lips and tongue. Chanting is very simple, but one must practice it seriously."
Chaitanya Charitamrta - Adi 17.32 purport

"The first regulative principle is that one must chant the Hare Krsna mahauc0u8722 mantra loudly enough so that he can hear himself, and one must vow to chant a fixed number of rounds."
Sri Caitanya caritamrta Antyau8722 lila 11.24

I suggest get a buddy, or a friend who is chanting and chant with him/her on a walk or during the morning hours. Or infact anytime. Association is the most important ingredient for any beginning and that will show results by itself in a few weeks or trying. Do you have any friend who chants?

Tip no.1: Why necessarily 16 rounds? Why not simply as many as you need? In that case you will focus on quality. When you do japa attentively, you get self-motivated by maha-mantra. Because nothing is between you and maha-mantra. Not even 16-round requirement.
Tip no. 2: Just meditate on this: When your Guru gave you your japa-mala he actually handed you the Holy Name. He gave you nothing else. Not 4 regulative principles. Not 16 rounds. Not faith in ISCKON. Not faith that the guru is infallible. No nothing. Only the Holy Name. So, simply remember your pure shraddha that you had in the very beginning.
Tip no. 3: Continue your beads-less japa when you drive to the office in the morning, whenever you have any spare time. Dont leave your mind jobless or do his own job. I bet when you come home in the evening you will scream to get to your japa-mala. The Holy Name is so sweet.

All the three are my own experience. I also tried silent japa, proved to be very encouraging. In fact, most of my japa is now silent and I do aloud japa only to tune the attention.

Thanks all so very much for your tips. I am working full time "rotating shifts" right now and taking care of my elderly mother. I think Im going to get rid of this "rotating shifts" job and get either a day or evening shift job so I can get regulated. There is a very nice park not far from my home where I could chant. Unfortunately, I live far away from any Temples and have no friends here who chant. I am going to visit the Hillsborough, NC temple in August. It will be so nice to get some good devotee association again.

Hey, you dont need to change your job to start going! Think about this piece of inspirational reading (has helped me so far). Its from Tika by Shri Jayatirtha on Bhashya by Shri Madhva on Ishavasya Upanishada:

"One must desire to live a hundred years by doing his prescribed karma only. Thus is right for you, not otherwise; [if this is done, then] sin will not bind the human.
- One must perform ones duties regularly, as often as possible, just as one quenches thirst regularly, not just once in a while;
- one must continue with ones duties at the next available opportunity, even when ones schedule is interrupted (as it will be at some time or another), just as one does not stop attending to ones bodily needs when a schedule for the same is upset;
- one must not procrastinate or delay ones duties, just as one does not procrastinate in the matter of the need to quench thirst, even in the face of competing needs and difficulties;
- one must exercise sound judgement in the manner in which one performs duties, just as one is obliged to do so in the matter of quenching thirst, taking care to avoid harm to oneself;
- one must perform ones duties to ones limit of ability, just as one quenches thirst to ones limit, not just in tiny sips."

For example, this is typical Russian mentality (I am Russian) to "start on Monday". Quit smoking? Not today, I will start next Monday. Put yourself on a diet? Not today, I will start next Monday. Whereas the "next available opportunity" is right now in this moment, and maybe already in my hands (japa-mala)!

The only available temple for me at the moment is www.krishna.ru temple. I get 1) sadhu-sanga, 2) darshan of Their Lordships and 3) certain seva to the devotees. This is my "next available opportunity". No matter how small, this is mine. So, dont wait until August. Just do it now! Good luck!

Thanks so much Gadadhara dasa. Youre absolutely right!!! I need to stop making excuses and just do it. Tomorrow is my day off from work so it will be a perfect time to start!!!! I am going to the park tomorrow and I am going to do some chanting!!!

[quote][cite] blackcat99:[/cite] Tomorrow is my day off from work so it will be a perfect time to start!!!! I am going to the park tomorrow and I am going to do some chanting!!![/quote]

Hari Hari!

So, how it was...?

It was very nice. I chanted 4 rounds. The next day I had to work and only chanted 1 round. Today I chanted 8 rounds. The park is so beautiful. It has a nice rose garden. It feels so good to be chanting again!!! Thanks for asking.

Such a nice news!

very good blackcat99!!!!
you are now a whitecat...
:)

Thanks all. Everyone here has been so very kind. I really appreciate it so much.

I found some more reading for you. I like it and I hope youll like it too: http://www.iskcon.com/icj/9_1/pradyumna.html
This is so good to resume chanting, to chant because you like it, not because you have to comply with some rules. This gives you real freedom.

Stay free and continue your bhadjan whenever u can! Good luck!

Thanks Gadahara dasa. That article was very interesting!!!

Sounds like you are on the right path, blackcat! :) Just remember to have realistic goals and stick to them. Chanting in good, pleasant locations helps to make chanting an all around pleasant experience, something to look forward to.