Krsna Kathamrita

One should lead one’s life in such a way that the mind is unagitated for chanting. It’s a whole art of living. A chanter is a person who has a peaceful mind and can go deep, savoring the mahamantra during his japa session. If we’re worried or disturbed by different agitations, we’re not with Radha and Krishna. Chanting is out of this world. You have to go there and leave the concerns of the material world, at least when we chant. It is our sacred time. From Bhajan #228 by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

Japa is not a ritual. It is not a mechanical, mindless robotic process. It is an offering of the heart, a pleading for mercy, a begging to be accepted by the Lord. It is a crying of the soul to be engaged eternally in the Lord’s service. The emotions these moods invoke nourish our chanting.  Krsna is moved by love, not by parrot like repetition. Feelings and desires for Radha and Krsna are meant to be communicated through Their Names.

I easily chant my prescribed number of rounds with focus and attention. When I chant, I chant. I get to chant, I want to chant, and I love to chant. I treat the maha-mantra as Radha and Krsna, fully present in sound. I receive and feel Krsna’s presence, mercy and love in His holy names. I chant in full awareness that the holy name is my greatest treasure. I chant to please Radha and Krsna, not to gain anything material. I am out of my mind and in my heart, fully present to the holy names as I chant my rounds. I fully honour my sacred relationship with the holy names during japa. I chant to be accepted by Krsna, and to repair my broken relationship with Him. I chant from my heart, feelingly praying to come closer to Krsna. I meditate on the meaning of the names as I chant. I turn off my world and turn on Krsna’s world when I chant my rounds. I chant with no other motive than to render pure devotional service. My beads are my connection with Krsna and my ticket back to Godhead. I am to...