Humility – What does humility have to do with japa? Indradumnya Swami Humility has everything to do with chanting according to Mahaprabhu. Mahaprabhu introduced this dharma, so he is the authority. He says humility is the first qualification for chanting properly. Humility means: Humble state of mind Feel lower than the straw in the street […]
(Ways of somehow or other getting your rounds done) To Do List Japa – Meditating on your to do and shopping lists, sometimes adding and deleting items between mantras. This may also include mentally balancing your checkbook or going over which bills you have to pay. Caution: This process can cause you to lament about […]
Unless we extend our best efforts earnestly, and qualify ourselves for the Lord’s mercy, it is next to impossible that we can be rescued from out fallen condition. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Upadesha Upakdhyana markata -o-marjara nyaya. [Devotional service] is a great transcendental science and begins with the process of hearing and chanting the name, […]
Counting is a means of regulating one’s chanting, according to Srila Bhakti Vinoda Thakura in Bhajana Pranali. Counting japa on beads is the thirty-fourth limb of bhakti as described in Jaiva Dharma and found in NOD. The reason for chanting upon beads or counting upon one’s fingers is to ensure reaching a fixed number of […]
We want to build positive japa samskaras (habits) through regular good japa practices. Once we develop positive japa habits, our japa will naturally be good – the way we always chant japa. However, if we don’t correct bad japa practices and replace them with good habits, bad japa will be our default setting. First you […]
Rate how your japa has been in the recent past on a scale of 1 to 10. Consider what you can do to improve, and start to implement these ideas. Regularly monitor the quality of your japa by considering what is going well, what isn’t going well, and how you can improve. Little improvements over […]