Author Archives: Rasa Rasika

Devotee: Sometimes we are so enthusiastic in service that while chanting we are also thinking of service.Radhanath Swami: It is better to think of service than of sense gratification, no doubt. But when you do service, you should be thinking of service…

“You must be attentive and control your mind. Don’t chant unconsciously. That implies that you have an intellectual conception of chanting.”From Japa Reform Notebookby Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

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 ::_::{.at.}::_:: gmail dot comysRasa Rasika dasa

Japa is the quiet prayer. You say it loud enough so you can hear it, but it’s mostly for yourself.
Radha and Krishna can hear you. They’re close by, so you don’t have to shout. But They’re listening carefully, so you pronounce with great care.

From Bhajana Kutir #78
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

Chanting alot is only possible if you chant attentively and free from offences, otherwise the mind will not cooperate.Sacinandana Swami

Bhurijana prabhu’s interesting and indepth Japa Retreat exploring various aspects of sadhu ninda or offenses against devotees. Email subscribers please click the big blue link above to hear the audio.

The Lord is always ready to reciprocate with us, He wants us to depend on Him.If we make an effort with our Japa – try hard to pronounce the words clearly and to listen carefully, then the Lord has something to reciprocate with.The reciprocation of Krs…

Chanting japa brings a mood of peace to the mind and quells all your anxieties when you do it nicely.From Bhajan Kutir #484by Satsvaupa dasa Goswami

Let us all give our best effort to chant and hear the Holy names with respect and keep in mind that Krsna is present with all His energies in the Holy names.

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 ::_::{.at.}::_:: gmail dot comysRasa Rasika dasa

We should not do anything artificial. As Prabhupada has said, the chanting is not an artificial imposition on the mind. Prabhupada has recommended that if we just hear the chanting then the time will come when simultaneously we will think of the form o…

When we actually hear the Maha mantra properly, concentrating on what we are chanting, then the mind is kept focused and we are able to overcome the wandering mind.Sometimes we don’t even realise that the mind is wandering – such is the power of the ma…

The analogy is that if a single stick is bent then it will break but with a bunch of sticks together there is no question of them breaking. The same goes with association, when we associate with each other in a Krsna conscious way, then we are strong t…

I heard a lecture by Giriraj Swami from a very nice Japa retreat. He was talking about the principle of focusing on one point to control the mind. He spoke about how our eyes tend to wander as we chant and this causes the mind to wander also, following…

Today I received a very nice message from a Japa Group subscriber.Dear Rasa Prabhu,Thanks for your email the other day (well, all of them for that matter), the one where you shared your reasons for starting the Japa group.Since December I haven’t been …

I finally managed to get up before 2am instead of 4 or 5am which has been the standard for the last two weeks.Chanting japa was immediately more focused and my mind was more peaceful. Even if there is service to do, if you chant early enough, you can c…

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 ::_::{.at.}::_:: gmail dot comysRasa Rasika dasa

“Everyone can benefit spiritually by the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. When the transcendental vibration of Hare Kṛṣṇa is sounded, even the trees, animals and insects benefit. Thus when one chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra loudly, he actually shows mercy to all living entities.”

Srimad Bhagavatam 4.31.19 Purport

I was thinking about the day I started the Japa Group, almost 8 years ago. The reason I started the group was based on a quote from Srila Prabhupada, that we should write about our realisations every day.It also came from a strong desire to share my th…

A personal favourite seminar by Chandramauli Swami in Boston USA. Email subscribers please click the big blue link above to see the video.

Bhurijana prabhu gives some deep insights into chanting at a Japa Retreat in Chowpatty

Two things will go on and this chanting of Hare Krishna will conquer. As maya is forcing you to drag you from Krishna consciousness, you also force maya by chanting Hare Krishna. There is fight. And maya will go away!Srila Prabhupada Conversation 23/12/68

Following are the things that happen gradually when we don’t chant properly. 1. We have to struggle harder to do the same work we have been doing before. 2. Things take longer to accomplish as our level of our concentration becomes weaker.3. Our level …

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 ::_::{.at.}::_:: gmail dot comysRasa Rasika dasa

“Everyone of you should be thoroughly convinced of the power of the Hare Krsna mantra to protect you in all circumstances and chant accordingly at all times without offense. Then advancement will be swift and you will gradually come to see everything c…

“Simply by chanting the holy name of Krsna once, a person is relieved from all the reactions of a sinful life. One can complete the nine processes of devotional service simply by chanting the holy name.”Chaitanya Caritamrta Madhya 15.107

Very interesting topics come up when Mahatma dasa takes comments from devotees attending a Japa Workshop. Email subscribers please click the big blue link above to see the video.

“As you chant Hare Krsna, your dormant love of God will come out, just as butter comes out when we churn milk. Butter is already there in milk, but it has to be brought out by the process of churning.”From Japa Reform Notebookby Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

“O Krsna! Thakura Bhaktivinoda has warned us that inattention is the main door into the house of aparadhas. O Krsna! Please let me taste some pleasure in Your names, so I can focus my full attention on chanting. May Your holy names become deeply impres…

“Japa is a big sea. You have to steer your ship through it with careful navigation and concentration. Otherwise, you won’t reach your destination.”

From Bhajan Kutir #151
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

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 ::_::{.at.}::_:: gmail dot comysRasa Rasika dasa

“While the body is fit, there­fore, why should we not chant the holy name loudly and distinctly? If one does so it is quite pos­si­ble that even at the time of death, he will properly be able to chant the holy name of the Lord with love and faith.”

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 6.2.49 purport

A short but sweet question and answer session with Chandramauli and Kadamba Kanana Swami’s on the subject of attention to the sound.Email subscribers please click the big blue link above to hear the audio.

“How do I know if I have chanted my rounds attentively? I know because I am getting such a nice taste that when I finish my rounds I want to keep chanting. If I am relieved to put my bead bag down after my last round then it’s usually an indication that I have not chanted well.”

Mahatma dasa

Wandering Mind Syndrome – we all get it but what’s the solution? Try reading the mantra during Japa, it’s a powerful way to bring the mind back to the sound. Your mind will also respond to loud chanting – sometimes I cup my hand over my ear and it acts…

“But we must always know that there is nothing more pleasant than Hare Krishna. When we will be able to relish the transcendental pleasure, in chanting Hare Krishna, that will be the sign of our recovery from material diseases.”Letter to Tamala Krishna…

“You have to chant with quality. So there is a difference, that I have to admit. And I know I’m not at the apex. But I chant as the ultimate habit of my life with complete obedience to the sixteen-round quota and with adherence to Prabhupada’s blessing on me and my vow to him. Just go on chanting through the rest of your days and try the best you can.”

From Bhajan Kutir #347
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

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 ::_::{.at.}::_:: gmail dot comysRasa Rasika dasa

“The name is supreme devotion and the supreme intelligence. The name is supreme love and the supreme rememberance. The name is the soul´s reason for existence. The name is the lord of the soul, the most worshipful object, and the supreme guru.”

From Agni Purana (quoted in Nama Rahasya)
by Sacinandana Swami

“The main thing is to fix your mind on the sound of the chanting. As you strain and yearn to keep your attention fixed, this naturally brings a mood of devotion. This is the way you serve the holy name.”From Japa Reform Notebookby Satsvarupa dasa Goswami