Hare Krishna everyone,
I’m new to this forum and still learning how to make my daily spiritual practice more steady. One difficulty I often have is keeping my attention on the maha-mantra while chanting japa. After a few rounds, I sometimes realize that my mind has been thinking about work, plans, or other random things.
For those who have been practicing for longer, what has helped you improve your concentration during japa? Do you use any particular routine, prayer, time of day, or practical method before beginning your rounds?
I would be grateful to hear about your experiences and suggestions.
Hare Krishna.
Replies
Hare Krsna Prabhu,
PAMHO.
Welcome to this forum.
Very nice sincere question prabhu. To improve our japa/ chant better, we can do few things. I am giving a list, you see what is workable for you.
1) Ideally, get up early morning and chant. That is supposed to be the best time to chant - from 4 am to 6 am. Typically 90 min before sunrise is considered Brahma Muhurta - the best time for spiritual activities. If possible, please chant at this time. There are no rules - one can chant at any place, in any condition.
2) Choose the same place to sit and chant - same time, every day. Do not take breaks of holidays or other reasons to change this same place, same time routine. It helps to build the habit and improves quality of chanting.
3) Give priority to chanting over other spiritual practises like mangal arati or reading, hearing lectures. GIve priority to chanting even over material activities like work or studies. Chant first and then get to your work/ studies. You will see better output is coming from you.
4) Consider chanting as the time when you chat with God. Actually this is what we are supposed to do. All our inner thoughts, some that we cannot even form into sentences, can be shared with the lord because He resides in our heart. This is actually the best time of the day.
5) What we do in the balance 22 hours has an important bearing on the quality of 2 hours of chanting. So be mindful. Follow the 4 regulative principles sincerely.
6) Mind will still wander. Each time you realise this while chanting, bring the mind back to chanting.
7) Before starting to chant, 1st bead, 1 round - pray to Mahamantra to allow you to take the name. After completing your rounds, last round, last bead - pray again to Mahamantra thanking that you were able to chant. And beg for the same mercy the next day.
8) Try to remember the lecture or book you read the previous day. That will help to focus. Keeping a picture of deities in front while chanting will also help focus.
9) If possible, join online chanting sessions that are now abundant. If not possible, try to chant with Srila Prabhupada chanting japa (do youtube search) and chant alongside. It will improve the quality o fyour chanting multi fold and tell you what mistakes you are making while chanting.
10) Enjoy the chanting instead of thinking of it as a chore. It will automatically bring positive thoughts to your mind and help you focus.
Best of luck. Do tell me what all is workable for you. If you need any further tips/ guidance, do let us know.
Haribol,
Your servant,
Radha Rasamayi DD