Japa Group

I’ve Got Good Mechanics In Place

2010-01-07T09:46:00.003+10:00

I’m still a little drowsy this morning in chanting but not doing so badly. I’ve got good mechanics in place, chanting quickly and hearing the sound vibration. Yesterday I read into the video my manuscript Transformation in Chanting: The Japa of The Holy Names. There was much intense and sincere prayer material there for chanting japa in a good mood. There was even discussion of chanting in separation from Krishna. I only wish I can come up to that standard in my regular japa on a daily basis.

From Bhajan Kutir #296

Please Join the Japa Group

2010-01-06T10:57:00.002+10:00

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@gmail.com

ys

Rasa Rasika dasa

Giving Respect To The Holy Names

2010-01-05T19:44:00.003+10:00

It's natural for us to give respect to Krsna in the form of the Deity but not so natural to give proper respect to the Holy names. If we think about our Japa as a way to call out to Krsna, we are calling His names and naturally the Lord's attention will be drawn. Just like when we call out someone's name and they give their attention, in the same way the Lord gives His attention to us.

Now, if we get the Lord's attention by calling out His names during Japa, and then we ignore the Lord (by being inattentive to the sound of the Lord's names) then that is disrespect and we need to change this. If I call your name and then ignore you, then you may feel offended. The Lord is never offended but it shows us the importance of chanting the Holy names and giving attention to those names.

Let us all give proper respect to the Holy names of the Lord, after all He is present directly in those names.

Praying To Krishna In Desperation

2010-01-04T09:31:00.002+10:00

My head is clear. I’m hearing the syllables of the mantra and praying to Krishna in desperation. Please Lord, help me to chant Your Hare Krishna mantra it is so important to me now and I want to keep the right count. I’m trying my best.

From Bhajan Kutir #304

Feeling Of Separation

2010-01-03T07:11:00.005+10:00

Hare Krsna dear devotees, hope your chanting is going well and you have been able to concentrate. I really wish your new year is being blessed with many new realisations and actions to attain new and good results on chanting and spiritual life. Every little step we take on our devotional life leads us to our achievements, today I was learning about one of the siksastaka prayers, this verse made me think of myself and analise if my practices are being really focused, we are here to learn and to make real efforts to get advancement to develop real love and attachment for Krsna and His holy names. Here is a quote from H.H. Sacinandana Swami on the 7th verse of the Siksastaka:

"O Govinda! Feeling Your separation, a moment feels like twelve years or more. Tears are flowing from my eyes like torrents of rain, and I am feeling all vacant in the world in Your absence."

If while in this world we can actually awaken to the fact that we are now separated from Krishna, we will not feel relaxed about our state. Especially when we are chanting Hare Krishna with an awareness of how we are separated we will begin to feel a deep necessity to reconnect with Him.

In 1969 Srila Prabhupada instructed the devotees to cry prayerfully for Krishna while chanting His name:

"So we are addressing, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna: ’O the energy of the Lord, O the Lord, please accept me.’ That’s all. ’Please accept me.’ We have no other prayer. ’Please accept me.’ Lord Caitanya taught that we should simply cry, and we shall simply pray for accepting us. That’s all. So this vibration is simply a cry for addressing the Supreme Lord, requesting Him, ’Please accept me. Please accept me.’”

It is said that separation is the best mood in which to perform bhajan. Srila Prabhupada once said. "Actually, meeting Krishna is possible through the attitude of separation taught by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When the feeling of separation becomes very intense, one attains the stage of meeting Sri Krishna."
Cc. Adi 4.108, purport
Feeling Separation from Krishna: Sri Siksastaka, Verse 7

The chanting of the holy names of Krsna is better chanted when we put our hearts in it. For that we need to be in a calm place, take this time and really desire to be with Krsna - actually we are inviting Him to our place, so because of that our attention needs to be 100% forgetting everything around us and just be with the Lord.
Concentration on the sound vibration of the mantra is the key to avoid inattention and for that we can use many techniques - reading the mantra while chanting, closing our eyes and hearing what we chant is also very helpful.

May you have a wonderful week and be able to chant the holy names with attention and affection as if you were meeting the Lord after a long time of separation.

your servant,

Aruna devi

To Chant With Faith

2010-01-02T09:37:00.002+10:00

That would be good enough for this lifetime, to chant and hear, “Just hear.” To chant with faith that Radha and Krishna are reciprocating with me as I chant. I must keep my mind fixed on the real meaning of the mantra and what I am endeavouring to do. I should not chant mechanically without any thought of the holy names as Radha and Krishna and myself as truly in need of Their protection, and calling out to Them. The dynamics have to be there for it to be a good chanting. Pramada, inattention, is a very bad aparadha.

From Bhajan Kutir #299

Japa Retreat Realisations 2

2010-01-01T23:41:00.000+10:00

Hare Krsna. This is a continuation of my Japa retreat experiences. The Japa retreat was held in Trinidad during November 27-29^th. The retreat was facilitated by Mahatma prabhu and my Guru Maharaj His Holiness Guru Prasad Swami.

A very helpful tool that was taught to us, is evaluating the priority in our lives that we have given Japa. This is basically rating one’s Japa on a scale of one to ten. Ten is top priority, 5 is neither a high priority nor a low priority and one is an extremely low priority. This reflective activity made us analyse the importance of Japa in our lives. Almost all of the devotees agreed that we needed to prioritize on our Japa.

We were asked to write some things that come to mind that one can do to improve our Japa. A discussion then ensued. This was an extremely valuable process and the devotees appreciated this activity tremendously. This is an activity we can practice constantly in our daily lives, it will definitely improve our sadhana bhakti; how is my Japa? Is it a five or a six?I have found that this activity spurs me on to chant better and to realize that this is not some mechanical process. I am chanting the Holy names and fostering a deep relationship with Sri Krsna therefore I should give this my undivided attention. In my interaction with others I give my undivided attention so why can’t I give the most important person in my life my attention and love.

We also learnt about including Japa affirmations whilst we chant or before chanting. This can help us to chant with feeling. This is critical, how can we chant if we are devoid of emotion? It will be tasteless. The Holy names are not cheap or monotonous or merely some poem or verse that we learnt in school by rote learning and are reciting. The Holy names and Krsna are one and the same:

“If one chants and accepts the holy name as a material vibration, he falls down. One should worship and chant the holy name of the Lord by accepting it as the Lord Himself. During the chanting of the holy name, the tongue must work; the tongue is sevonmukha-jihva-it is controlled by service.”

Caitanya-caritamrita

Some of the Japa affirmations were:

I joyfully welcome the holy name
I blissfully chant Radha and Krsna’s names with full attention
I feel content making Japa my most important activity
I lovingly chant the holy names of Radha and Krsna
I feel deeply satisfied when I chant my prescribed number of rounds with focus and attention
I feel grateful as the holy names appear in my heart and dances on my tongue
I happily chant full of desire to connect deeply in my relationship with Radha and Krsna.
The Holy Name is my everything because I’m dependent on it in all facets of my life
The Holy Name is my oasis because it provides me with shelter
The Holy Name is my comfort it provides warmth and overflowing love.

Whilst we chant we need to cry out to Krsna lovingly filled of dependence and submission. We can say …oh my friend….Oh my Lord….please uplift me….please empower me….please take my heart, bring me closer to you….please help me to serve you properly…O Radha please capture my inner light….O Krsna please pull my heart to you….O Radha please steal my heart.

These valuable insights that I acquired is due to the expert guidance of my gurudev and Mahatma das prabhu. I’m ever grateful that I was part of this experience. I am simply sharing what transpired hoping that this will bless your life as it has helped me.

Your humble servant,

Dhama-rupini dasi

Happy Chanting In 2010

2009-12-31T05:37:00.006+10:00

Hare Krsna my dear devotees. I hope your holidays have been blessed with many devotees association, devotional service, bhajans, kirtans and the concentrated chanting of the holy names. For a devotee this is happiness, once I heard a devotee saying that for a vaisnava he can live with some prasadam his beads and the Bhagavad Gita, thats a wonderful combination, sometimes we ask so much for the Lord but actually we don't need much to be happy. Our mind leads us to material enjoyment and always distract us to do what we actually dont need and its not the desire of the soul but the body, thats why we get frustrated sometimes, because we listen to our minds. But by practicing devotional service and the offenseless chanting we are able to be beyond this plataform. Maybe you have already read this quote from Mahanidhi Swami - The Art Of Chanting Hare Krsna book, but I am going to bring it again, because it helped me a lot to understand some things.

Seven Benefits of Namabhasa

Although it is not the perfect stage of chanting, namabhasa should not be underestimated, for it offers many benefits. Krsna-prema, however, which is the greatest reward of chanting the holy name, can never be attained by namabhasa; only suddha-nama will give this perfection. Nevertheless, one who chants without offenses achieves more fortune than all the results attainable from religiosity, vows, yoga and sacrifices. The positive results of offenseless chanting (namabhasa) are mentioned in Harinama-cintamani:

1. Annihilation of sinful reactions.
2. Liberation from the effects of Kali-yuga and material consciousness.
3. Freedom from fear and worries; experience inner peace and contentment.
4. Protection from influence of ghosts, demons, evil spirits and malefic planets.
5. Attainment of the four goals of life (dharma, artha, kama, moksa).
6. Boundless spiritual bliss.
7. Eternal residence in Vaikuntha is offered to the offenseless chanter.

The Harinama Cintamani states in one topic that I brought today...topic number two: "Liberation from the effects of Kali Yuga and material consciousness" is one of the things a namabhasa stage devotee attain and is very very helpful for our chanting. Sometimes when we chant one of the the things that most disturb us are our thoughts, material desires, the mind that wants to control us with so many tricks. In the end our main desire is to be peaceful, chanting and feeling bliss, so when we know that achieving a certain stage in chanting we won't need to worry about these thoughts, knowing that they will be replaced by the Lord's pastimes, because our hearts will be connected to our thoughts and chanting will just bring us bliss and nectar in every sound.
We have example of many devotees we just need to trust the Lord is always here to help us and we need to give the first step by hearing the mantra while chanting.

I didnt think too much about resolutions for the New Year 2010, things cant change in one day, but I have a spiritual desire, I want to become a better devotee and improve day by day in my service and chanting. I would like to wish you all a wonderful year, full of bliss and ecstatic moments in spiritual life, the ones you feel happier doing, mine is cooking, serving devotees and bhajans, and many others, what is yours, do more of these services and be happy in the Lords company, specially through chanting that will bring you sublime and eternal bliss.

your servant,

Aruna devi

Please Join the Japa Group

2009-12-30T09:30:00.002+10:00

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@gmail.com

ys

Rasa Rasika dasa

Know Your Mind

2009-12-29T19:15:00.000+10:00

Habits and desires from a previous life or this life are engrained or embedded in the mind. When these latent habits and desires manifest, the mind pushes one to act in a particular way.

For example, as soon as one sits for japa meditation, all sorts of nonsensical thoughts will manifest to disturb the mind. An astonishing parade of old memories, past enjoyments, future schemes and tasty scenarios will bubble up from the subconscious to spin the mind in a whirlwind of distraction. Thoughts and people, desires and things will gush out in a continuous stream from the subconscious reservoir.

One should throw out these material thoughts just as one uproots weeds from the ground. One should fill the garden of the mind with divine thoughts of Krsna's eternal service and memories of His splendid pastimes.

From The Art of Chanting Hare Krsna by Mahanidhi Swami

Japa Retreat Realisations 1

2009-12-28T05:42:00.008+10:00

Hare Krsna,

During November 27-29th I experienced a blissful Japa retreat weekend held in Trinidad that was facilitated by Mahatma Das prabhu and my Guru Maharaj His Holiness Guru Prasad swami that rejuvenated and enthused me.

I'll share some of these realisations over a period of time. The very first day we learnt about creating a Japa plan. This should be done just before going to bed. It can be written. For example my plan looked something like this: I am going to bed at 9 p.m and I want to be up by 4 a.m. I am going to pray before chanting (about 5-10 minutes). I am going to focus on the sound vibration. I will sit in a fixed position for as long as I can with my japa bag akin to my heart. I am going to chant with feeling.

Day 2 started with a pair share activity. We all had a japa partner and we were supposed to keep in touch with our japa partners. We had to share our Japa realisations.

(a) What went well?
(b) What were your challenges/obstacles?
(c) How can you improve?
(d) What did you learn?
(e) How did you feel?

We were asked to chant our sixteen rounds in addition to more before attending the Japa retreat which started at 10 a.m. It was a great experience hearing my japa partner's realisations and hearing from other devotees as well about their japa experiences.

So over the next few days I'll post more on the japa retreat.

Your humble servant,

Dhama-rupini dasi

The Power of Association

2009-12-27T08:30:00.005+10:00

Hare Krsna my dear devotees. I hope you are having nice rounds these days and that your mind is not tricking you so often. I liked the post of Muniraja Prabhu that he talks about how he can trick his mind. It's very true that our mind is always sending us lots of information and telling us what to do - this is the mind's work, always trying to distract us and control our life but when we train the mind properly, just like a child giving her the maha mantra and asking her to be silent just listening to the sound.....after sometime she gets trained and won't disturb us anymore but will become our best friend.

Today I chanted half of my rounds in the morning and went to the market to buy some ingredients for the offering of today and tomorrow, it's ekadasi for us here in Brazil this Sunday so I will cook the famous cheese balls made of manioc starch and farofa. We will have our Rose Lassi made of the Deities bathing water and also some other things. Cooking for the Lord is my favorite service and that what makes me more connected to the Deities. When I am not cooking I am chanting or reading and writing. That's my service....everyone has a different way of serving the Lord - here at home my brother loves going on sankirtan, distributing books and talking about Krsna all the time. Everything he says there is preaching inside and a quote from a book. My sister in law loves bhajans - she is now training a new tune on the harmonium.

The boys love cooking, worshipping and bathing the Deities. Uddhava loves kirtan and bhajans as well. According to his friends he is considered one of the best mrdamga players in the Mayapur gurukul....wow that's the Lord's blessing having a family who likes chanting and serving the Lord. I feel very grateful and my only desire is to always be able to serve and be in good association of serious devotees, nice chanters and vaisnavas that remind me of where I want to reach....pure love of God.

Looking at myself I think I see my efforts in a very small proportion of what they should be, but I know that by the power of association and constantly chanting, I will be able to follow my spiritual master's instructions - that's my main goal.

May your week be blessed with nice thoughts and very good chanting.

your servant

Aruna devi

Don't Let Your Mind Trick You

2009-12-26T16:41:00.000+10:00

Jaya Srila Prabhupada! For a long I had a habit of sitting most of my 16 rounds of japa but it takes some endeavor to maintain this standard. If I don't wake up early enough and if I have to chant during the day or evening time, I don't have enough patience to just stay still and chant.

I have done 10 or 12 rounds sitting quite often, but today after a long break I just sat down and started all the 16 rounds. I had my devanagari-mantra card also, and kept my eyes on the maha-mantra. The mind of course came with some opposing arguments: "Do this, do that, at least quickly check out facebook or minimum drink some maha-water that you feel more fresh."

The mind is often tricking us, but it's also easy to trick our mind: "Dear mind, we just chant 4 rounds attentively then it's your time...well done. Would you mind if we just quickly do 4 more attentive rounds and then you're free to meditate whatever nonsense? Ok, only 2 more serious rounds, then we certainly go to the internet....come on, it's only 3 more rounds to go, we don't care about you anymore..."

Your servant,

Muniraja dasa

Full Of Brightness

2009-12-25T09:24:00.010+10:00

Hare Krsna my dear devotees. I hope your week has been blessed by the power of the holy names. Today is Christmas Eve here in Brazil, many people are concerned about being more spiritual, merciful and better to each other. I woke up today, took my shower and started to chant, the streets were already noisy, there was this farmers market nearby, many going there to buy their vegetables and fruits for the holidays, my sister in law got some potatoes for our preparations of the day.

I could chant most of my rounds and then went to the market to buy sour cream, cheese and other ingredients to the Deities. It's always nice to have some prasadam in the house in case someone comes so we can offer them Krsnas prasadam. So I made Gauranga potatoes, turmeric rice with some cinnamon on the top, lentils dhal, salad and an orange cake. The weather is nice now and devotees are chanting in the house, the boys usually chant one or two rounds in the morning and at night more. It's so nice for the atmospehere of the house having everyone chanting, it looks like a temple, because we usually have Srila Prabhupada singing as well.

My gurudeva HH Giriraj Swami wrote a special article about these holidays and the importance of being opened to Krsna Katha and also the chanting of the holy names , he says also that the dirt of the material contamination can be purified by hearing about Krsna and chanting His names. The powerful process of hearing is able to change and impact others.

"Again we see how important association is, because the process for cleansing the heart is hearing the messages of Godhead, and only in the association of devotees can we receive the messages properly. Through our hearing and then chanting and repeating what we have heard, the heart becomes cleansed by the grace of the Lord. Ceto-darpana-marjanam: By chanting the holy names of God and by hearing the transcendental glories of God, the heart becomes cleansed and the light of Krsna consciousness there burns more brightly. It spreads throughout the entire body, and it comes out through the skin, the eyes, and all the different senses. Especially, it emerges from the mouth in the form of transcendental sound, which comes from the heart. The messages that one has received through the ears and that have entered the heart come out again through the mouth and spread light or enlightenment throughout the world."

Happy Holidays
H.H.Giriraj Swami

I wish you have nice holidays and meditate on the Lord more and more, remember that Krsna is eager to shower His mercy unto you and also to reciprocate with whatever service you offer Him. Maybe you could make some nice improvements on your chanting, maybe hear to more lectures, maybe make time to dedicate to some service in the temple or in your home. Maybe you could distribute some prasadam like we did these days, 150 panetones, still have some in the house to give. Maybe you could just close your eyes, meditate on the sound vibration of the mantra and just forget about any thought that comes to your mind and after you will perceive your life has changed, while many in this world are feeling empty sometimes, you will be filled with nectar, love and brightness, just because you were in contact with the Lord. Willing to be blessed with your good realisations as well.

your servant,

Aruna devi

Please Join the Japa Group

2009-12-24T09:28:00.002+10:00

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@gmail.com

ys

Rasa Rasika dasa

Concentration During Japa

2009-12-23T15:01:00.005+10:00

It's a constant battle with the mind....like a another being that is intent on dragging us away from the nectar of the Holy names. It's our choice in the end, we can listen to the mind or we can listen to the mantra and we make this choice every second of our Japa.

Of course the obvious choice is to listen to the mantra and ignore the mind and that is what we should be striving for with each bead that we pass between our fingers.

The material energy is constantly testing us to see if we are sincere about our Japa and she will throw up unlimited amounts of distractions every single day....it's a simple matter of seeing how the material energy is working around us and just ignoring it and giving our time to Krsna when we are with him during Japa.

This subject reminds me of a very nice quote from Srila Prabhupada:

If you stick to these principles with determination, you will be freed from all attachment to Maya, by Krishna's grace. The example is that when the sun is in the sky, then where is the question of darkness? Similarly, when Hare Krishna mantra is vibrating on your tongue, and you are hearing attentively, then your consciousness becomes clear, or Krishna consciousness, and there is no question of Maya or hazy consciousness.

Letter - Wednesday 2 August 1972

My Day With Krsna

2009-12-22T11:07:00.005+10:00

Hare Krsna my dear devotees. I hope your japa is going well and your spiritual life too. Today is my birthday and then I thought how could I make this day worth living and be special to people when I am meant to be the special one. So I joined the japa session room on Saturday night and we had nice questions and answers, Advaita who is just 9 asked how he could be more attached to chanting, so this is very nice to us...see how a child is concerned about his chanting. The boys are on vacation now so they are chanting more rounds, making bhajans and also reading some small books of Srila Prabhupada.

Coming back to my birthday, I found helpful cooking some panetones and offering to our Deities and distributing today so I did that. I gave about 30 and my brother too. We still have 60 more panetones to give and it's so nice to distribute prasadam like this, making people very happy.

I see all this as a result of chanting, because for the first time in my life I took chanting more seriously I got this mercy from the Lord. He protects me in so many ways and is always engaging me in service - just like now, this is the reason why we are here in this world, to serve Krsna and give our best to Him, helping others to revive their lost memory and take them back to Krsna just by distributing the Holy Names and prasadam, that's how we got here. The strength to be a good preacher is in our daily japa. I am still beginning in this path but I will always keep trying and insist on this pure devotional service path, even though it maybe hard to me sometimes and a bit long, I wont give up.

I hope you do the same and think of you in the Lords arms, accepting you and your service, maybe when you chant you can wish His association more and more and He will reciprocate effectively.

May your week be blessed with lots of realisations.

your servant,

Aruna devi

Japa Retreat With HH Giriraj Swami

2009-12-21T09:48:00.002+10:00

After four years HH Giriraj Swami visited South Africa. He has been doing several programs and attended the annual Ratha Yatra at Lenasia, Johannessburg. From the 11th to the 15th December he had a Japa retreat with about 140 devotees. Together with Her Grace Mother Arcana Siddhi an extremely well appreciated workshop was expertly facilitated.

His Holiness Bhakti Caitanya Swami was also in attendance. The atmosphere was very surcharged with spiritual energy as every one gathered to chant at 4.30am. The setting was the tranquil atmosphere of the Drakensburg Mountains. The focus want to chant attentively and to hear each mantra. Each name is actually a personality that can reciprocate with the sincere chanter.

ne day was set aside to chant 64 rounds. All the devotees participated in all seriousness. Some chanted much more. The attendees proclaimed the experience to be life altering. Hearts were pierced and minds were spinning. One devotee remarked that his chanting for many years was synonymous to calling numbers but at the retreat he learnt to chant with his heart as well as hear every name audibly.

o chant with a mood of a receiver rather than an achiever was the prerogative. Quelling the turbulent mind and engaging it peacfully was also discussed. The beauty of the Japa Retreat was that we did not have to hear anything but japa.

Many preachers that attended the Japa Retreat developed determination to put all the tools into serious practice and to repeat the experience in various places. Indeed personal japa cannot be the same after attending this retreat.

Mother Arcana Siddhi, who also facilitated the workshops was an embodiment of love, compassion and deep friendship to all. During her breaks she spent much time speaking to devotees. Whatever she taught was present in the character of her husband His Grace Karanamrta Prabhu. Just to be in the presence of such serious chanters, such special facilitators was indeed a benediction that really touched the heart. We are all very eager to do the next level workshop together and to progress eternally together, to please Srila Prabhupada and to thus advance spiritually together forever. Each evening culminated in meditative bhajan and kirtan with His Grace Madhava Prabhu.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Taken from Madri's Blog

A Good Japa Partner For Me

2009-12-20T13:53:00.002+10:00

At about 3:30 Baladeva came into my room and I invited him to join me in chanting. We chanted together until 4:30 and then we found out that Nitai-gaurasundara was chanting in the living room as he does every morning. We went out to join him. He chants with the lights out. We found him sitting in his chair chanting with a low distinct rumble. When I entered and sat on the chair he insisted on sitting on the floor. He was a good japa partner for me. He induced me to chant loudly at a very audible whisper which was different than my usual style in Delaware.

Taken from Bhajan Kutir #288

The Three M's in Japa - Mellow

2009-12-19T10:35:00.004+10:00

In the beginning, the rock stubborn, lazy mind will rebel with a thousand excuses and obstacles to foil one's attempt to implement the three M's. Persevere; hold on to your beads! By the mercy of Sri Guru and Gauranga one will patiently progress through the three stages of method, mood and mellow. With a little practice any sincere devotee can chant japa, and remember the exciting pastimes of Lord Gauranga and Radha-Govinda. It is not difficult; always remember that the word impossible does not exist in the dictionary of Prabhupada's followers. "For the simple person it is very easy (to become vasudeva-parayanah) and for those who are crooked, demons, it is very difficult."

SPT 16/5/76

Taken from The Art of Chanting Hare Krsna by Mahanidhi Swami

The Three M's in Japa - Method

2009-12-18T11:03:00.002+10:00

Method

The method of chanting refers to physical considerations such as sitting straight on an asana, chanting during the peaceful predawn hours, and associating with lovers of nama. It also includes using tulasi beads; clear pronunciation; concentrating on the meaning of the mantra; reviewing and avoiding the ten offenses, and repentance for transgressions.

Taken from The Art of Chanting Hare Krsna by Mahanidhi Swami

Please Join the Japa Group

2009-12-17T09:37:00.001+10:00

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@gmail.com

ys

Rasa Rasika dasa

Achieving The Ultimate Goal

2009-12-16T05:17:00.004+10:00

Hare Krsna my dear devotees. I hope your japa is being well and you have been able to chant good rounds these days. How much faith do we have in chanting and in our spiritual path? I was talking to a devotee and he said how difficult it is to help his family to avoid eating meat, so I told him - do you have faith? Do you believe in the power of prasadam and the holy names? So he looked at my face and said but they are like demons, I don't think they could ever stop eating meat, so I assured him that I trust the power of prasadam and the holy names and that if he offered prasadam to them they will become more inclined to the philosophy and will eventually understand what we understood. He said it's like a chemical reaction....so I said that's true, the spiritual powers of the holy names and the Lord's bhagavad prasadam is out of this world....is pure mercy....the one we got just because our spiritual master and Srila Prabhupada allowed us to have....so he talked about the life of the acharyas, how they were so strict and were able to have a great relationship with Krsna.

I looked at myself and saw that I am so far from my goal but at the same time I saw a light at the end of the tunnel - this light is the power of the holy names, praying to the Lord and applying to my life what I already know is the best to achieve devotional success through the message of guru and Krsna.

Sometimes our "failures" appear like we are not able to conquer a deeper relationship with Krsna, thoughts of being so small and insignificant among so wonderful devotees make us go back, but we need to always remember this maybe a preaching of the mind to give up. Who said the gift of pure devotional service is cheap and easy, we have to make efforts to achieve it and the advice from our Founder-Acharya is that we should be eager to get to it, so we will have it. Strong desires, like we have when we want anything strongly in our lives, we may have the same for service, for pure love of Krsna.

My daily prayer is that I can chant nicely and understand how big is Krsnas mercy in my life.

Hope your week is blessed with the Lord's association.

your servant,

Aruna devi

The Three M's in Japa - Mood

2009-12-15T10:33:00.003+10:00

Mood

The mood of chanting the holy name combines the actions of mind and heart-namely thinking and feeling. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised all devotees to be free from false ego, and to think oneself lower than a blade of grass. With feelings of deep submission and surrender one should beg Sri Radha for service. Haridasa Swami, a medieval saint of Vrndavana, wrote wonderful vraja-bhasa songs in praise of his Lord Bankibihari. Whenever he sang one of his compositions, all the trees, birds and forest animals would become completely captivated. Similarly, you must learn to chant Krsna's names with so much devotion and sweetness that the birds stop chirping to listen to your chanting; the deer gather around to gaze at you with tear-filled eyes; and the trees bend over to touch you with their leaves, being so moved by the sweet sound of nama.

Taken from The Art of Chanting Hare Krsna by Mahanidhi Swami

Srila Prabhupada Chants Japa

2009-12-14T14:33:00.001+10:00