Author Archives: Rasa Rasika

Here are some practical tips on chanting Japa by Jayapataka Swami.

Here is a wonderful lecture by Sacinandana Swami about how we can attain quality in our Japa.Email subscribers please click the big blue link above to hear the audio.

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 impress…

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

Once a disciple told Srila Prabhupada that it is very difficult to control the wandering mind during japa. In reply, Prabhupada said:What is the use of controlling the mind? You have to chant and hear, that’s all. You have to chant with your tongue, an…

Chanting Japa doesn’t have to be a struggle or a chore. Give Krsna attention through the sound and Krsna will reciprocate with your effort.

If we understand how wonderful it is to chant one mantra attentively, then instead of thinking about all the mantras we haven’t heard we will free the mind to focus on a fresh attempt to hear Krishna’s name.
Be detached. If the mind wanders toward other thoughts, bring it back and try again. We have this freedom, by Krishna’s mercy.

From Nine Keys from the Siksastaka to Improve Your Japa
by Bhurijana dasa

Good chanting produces more good chanting and so it increases but it takes the initial effort from ourselves to achieve this…it’s our responsibility to take a step towards Krsna.

Sacinandana Swami gives great advise in the form of powerful tips for chanting.Email subscribers please click the big blue link above to hear the audio.

“Better quality, better quantity, that’s my private prayer-mantra. Today I feel patient with myself, assuring it will come. Adding times when I chant. But I rarely chant except with the beads in hand, counting it as my quota.”

From Bhajana Kutir #53
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

If I am finding it difficult to finish my rounds because of a lack of time, I am ultimately the one who chose to do all the activities that are getting in the way of my chanting.Even when I can’t really avoid all the work and responsibilities, still I …

Here is a wonderful Japa question and answer session with Giriraj Swami and Sacinandana Swami in Philadelphia. Email subscribers please click the large blue link above to hear the audio.

Srila Haridasa clasped his hands together. Eyes brimming with tears and voice choked in spiritual love, he began his reply in soft, gentle tones.”Lord Krsna’s name is cintamani, formed of eternal and transcendental touchstone. Just as a touchstone yiel…

“When we chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra we are saying, “Hare! O energy of the Lord! O my Lord Kṛṣṇa!” In this way we are simply addressing the Lord and His spiritual potency, represented as Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, Sītā-Rāma or Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa. The devotee always prays to the Lord and His internal energy (consort) so that he may engage in Their transcendental loving service.”

From Cc. Madhya 22.16 purport

I found recently whilst chanting that reading the mantra at the same time is very beneficial for concentration. It seems that the mind becomes very focused on the sound because of the awareness of the words that we are chanting and our pronounciation.P…

“I have been chanting with steady attention to the syllables and though I have not realized my direct relationship with the Lord as indicated in the Namamrta, I am striving for that goal. By vaidhi-bhakti the raganuga stage will evolve. I pray for that…

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

It is often very difficult to keep one’s attention on the holy name while chanting japa. This is because the mind is not trained to bear prolonged attention. It gets bored with the monotony of japa and runs to more pleasing things. By increasing one’s …

“I concentrated on the whispered mantras. I chanted quite quickly. I’ve done eleven rounds. I looked at Radha-Govinda while chanting and reminded myself whom I’m chanting for.”

From Bhajan Kutir #211
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

Q: If we are chanting the holy name, on what exactly we have to concentrate on. whole mantra or we should think of any pastimes of the lord.Dear V****,Thank you for your message, your question is very good. I can give you a quote about this subject fro…

“When the mind wanders, bring it back in a mood of prayer and supplication, thinking, “O holy name, I want to chant, I want to hear, I want to be engaged in Your service by chanting and hearing.” Then simply practice the mantra-yoga of vibrating with the tongue and hearing with the ear.”

From Japa Reform Notebook
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

[The maha-mantra] is not a material sound like the sounds we hear on a radio. It is a spiritual sound that comes from the spir­itual world. Even in the material world we can release the sound from one place, and it can be heard thousands of miles away. A spiritual sound can be released from many trillions of miles away, and it can be heard, provided that one has a machine to capture it. That machine is bhagavat prema. Those who have developed love of Godhead can hear it.

From Teachings of Lord Kapila

“My rounds have been whispered, pleading to Krishna to please accept them. I can’t be an ideal japa reform instructor for my readers. I mostly tell them of my struggles and speak of my determination despite the impairment. I hope that will be of some help in its own way. At least I’m determined and don’t give up.”

From Bhajan Kutir #241
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

There is no “secret” to japa; it is a struggle. There is no easy shortcut. The secret is to surrender to the struggle. The secret is to be afraid of death and to take it as very urgent that you must chant Hare Krsna. We used to have a slogan, “Chant wh…

“During the japa session as the mind howls, don’t give up the chanting. However bad the mind’s demands, don’t give in – let’s keep chanting till we complete our daily quota.
The lake of the mind will eventually settle down. But be rest assured, tomorrow as you sit for another japa session, the mind will once again agitate. Again the solution is the same; do not react.”

Radhanatha Swami

“I have chanted twelve rounds so far, and they were decent. I paid attention and rolled the mantras through my mind. It’s the best part of the day. Even when we don’t perfectly focus on Radha and Krishna we are saying Their names, and we get great credit.”

From Bhajan Kutir #336
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

It’s the cornerstone and when the cornerstone is strong, then everything else is strong. The answer lies within our bead bag….our Japa is always going to be the answer.

“All the other impu­ri­ties of the Vais­nava are con­sid­ered nul­li­fied if he takes to chant­ing Hare Krishna mantra in earnest. So the glo­ries of the holy name free one from all the short­com­ings remain­ing or still present offenses are con­sid­ered nul­li­fied for the per­son who holds them. Finding fault with the chanter of the holy name is the great­est of all the offenses.”

From Viraha Bhavan #156
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

“Of the nine processes of devotional service, the most important is to always chant the holy name of the Lord. If one does so, avoiding the ten kinds of offenses, one very easily obtains the most valuable love of Godhead.”Caitanya Caritamrta Antya 4.71

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

“Our movement depends on offenseless chanting, and spiritual advancement depends on offenseless chanting, whatever your particular service is. At the same time, to take to the mercy of the holy name and grow spiritually, you must avoid the sinful activ…

“In two hours I’ve chanted six teen rounds. I endured the pain and chanted in my mind. I was able to pay attention but was ham­pered by the headache. This chronic condition will not go away, but I don’t let it stop my japa.”

From Bhajan Kutir #429
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

[The maha-mantra] is not a material sound like the sounds we hear on a radio. It is a spiritual sound that comes from the spir­itual world. Even in the material world we can release the sound from one place, and it can be heard thousands of miles away. A spiritual sound can be released from many trillions of miles away, and it can be heard, provided that one has a machine to capture it. That machine is bhagavat prema. Those who have developed love of Godhead can hear it.

From Teachings of Lord Kapila verse 34

Start chanting very early in the morning, either with devotees, Tulasi-devi, Thakurji or in a place free from disturbance. Sit before your Deities or Tulasi-devi and chant prayers to Shri Guru and the parampara, the six Gosvamis and the Panca-tattva.Re…

As Krsna advises Arjuna in practicing yoga, “Wherever the mind wanders due to its restless and flickering nature, you have to drag it back.” So this applies to our chanting. You have to chant with attention. Remain awake and chant with devotion.From Ja…

It’s our connection with the Lord – the way we keep in touch with Him during the day.Not just at Japa time but we can stay in touch with the Lord all day by chanting in our minds.

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

“One who has sufficient faith in Lord Krsna’s name is eligible to chant, and only one who chants the name is properly executing the prescribed duties of the human being. He is called an adhikari or possessor of the holy name.”From Harinama-cintamaniby …