Japa Seminar: Symptoms of Inattention

Audasinya:

• Indifference to chanting. This will lead to indifference to devotees and consequently indifference to Krishna.
• Boredom of routine. Variety is the mother of enjoyment. Hence seeking variety is simply sense gratification.
• After initial 4-5 years of enthusiasm devotees lose interest to chant because there is no determination. Srila Prabhupada says that without determination we are like animals.

When we fall down from our regular 16 rounds routine of chanting we should repent for it.

Srila Prabhupada says 'Repentance should lead to increase in devotional service.' "If you are fallen, get up and fight'

'The secret of Japa is STRUGGLE, STRUGGLE and STRUGGLE!'. Jaya Srila Prabhupada!!!

Japa Seminar: The Tenth Offense

Inattentiveness in Chanting

• This is called the mother of all offenses.
• For the inattentiveness we show to the Holy Name we will have to pay for it in compound interest later.
• All our misfortune stems from inattentiveness in chanting

Types of inattentiveness

• Negligence
• Carelessness
• Chanting unconsciously

Consciousness mean 'present'. Chanting is the present. We should not be thinking about the past or future while chanting.

Take shelter of the holy name while chanting. If we chant with a focused mind we will be able to see results like how a magnifying glass focuses light rays to produce fire.

By chanting casually we are in fact feeding our anartas. Put your heart and soul into chanting as though this is your last chance to chant.

The sastra says the 16 syllable Hare Krishna Mahamantra is our deliverer. But due to negligence if do not chant the 16 syllables properly we cannot get the promised result.

Inattentiveness is like slow poisoning. It kills the soul's natural propensity to serve. Chant one mantra at a time giving attention to all the 16 syllables.

Japa Seminar contd...

• Harinama is like chintamani, touch stone but we are in constant chinta for money.
• Every day we are on a war with our beads to some how complete 16 rounds.
• Most often we feel that before taking to chanting we were experiencing less anxiety. Now we are constantly feeling anxiety to chant. An unused room looks seemingly clean but when you start cleaning it you can see dust and dirt come out of it. Similarly we may feel we were better when we were not chanting. After chanting, all the anartas are coming out of us. Like when the milk ocean was churned by the devas and asuras, at first the deadly kalakuta poison came out then came Nectar. Likewise when we chant, first our anartas will come out then the sweetness of the Holyname can be relished.
• Chanting should be done in LCD process
• L- Loudly
  
• C- Clearly
  
• D- Desperately and Distinctly.
  

Japa Seminar

I attended a Japa seminar for three days last week. It was conducted by devotees from ISKCON Choupatty temple, Mumbai. Wish to share the inspiring experience here in my blog. I will be posting a few points everyday on this topic to share the inspiration I recieved from this seminar.

• Holy name is the umbilical cord that connects us to the Lord.
• Only when we attentively hear and chant, we can get to realise the glories of devotees.
• But due to Vaishnava apparadha ( offending devotees) we donot relish chanting.
• Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has said that there are only two realities in life 1). Jiva atma 2). Holy Name.
• Always think of Krishna and Never forget Krishna.

I will post some more nectar in my next post.