In answer to your initial question, the Holy Names are absolute, so yes, there is spiritual benefit to chanting in the mind. I don't think we can consider Krishna's Name to be less pure whether chanted with the subtle mind or the gross mouth and tongue. Also, there is still a sound vibration in the mind but it is subtle instead of gross.

If one is physically unable to chant aloud due to illness then the only option would seem to be to chant with the mind. Otherwise a person who has had their vocal chords removed due to say, cancer, would be prohibited from chanting the Holy Names.

However, I would think it very difficult to chant all 16 rounds within the mind and maintain concentration, unless the mind is already illuminated with the mode of goodness. Srila Prabhupada taught us by example that we should chant our rounds aloud, so I would think it should be done only as a last resort, with the guidance of spiritual authority, and for as short a duration as possible.

If you are currently experiencing difficulty through illness, I hope that by Krishna's grace you will feel better soon, and be able to chant aloud again.

Regards and obeisances, Andy

Stephanie Celeste March 6, 2013 at 1:33am

Ahh... I was not aware of that. It feels the same to me both ways. But perhaps it is an illusion. I don't mean to come off so obstanante.. but can I ask if we are not supposed to cling to things of the material world why is it necessary to have beads.. a material object.. to become close to Krishna? Is this something he explains himself somewhere?

Andy Smith > Stephanie Celeste March 8, 2013 at 3:22am

Haribol Stephanie,

I agree that if chanting beads were made of plywood or plastic, their benefit (to concentration, perhaps) would be only material. Then again, if they are helping you to focus on the Holy Names, then it would be using the material energy to think of Krishna, which spiritualises the material energy because it's being used for a spiritual goal. Yet Tulasi is not material and is Bhaktidevi Herself, and through Her mercy we can gain the treasured goal of pure love of Krishna.

I hope you have many more dreams of Krishna and keep singing His Names!

Regards and obeisances, Andy

Stephanie Celeste March 5, 2013 at 12:59pm

Hare Krishna friends,

I do not know if others will agree but some days or nights I will just listen to flute pieces dedicated to or inspired by Krishna or say chants in my head until I fall asleep in hopes I will dream of Krishna again or feel that "closeness" again. Other days I sing along. My own humble opinion... I think what is most important is to let sound (especially that sound of the ohm or krishnas name) resonate through you as you meditate to become closer to Krishna. There are those who say you must have beads and must do at least 16 chants a day.. I think if you feel you have to do xxx to become close to Krishna it is a bad sign of someone who is god fearing instead of god loving and will become a tiresome chore rather then a devotional service. What I suggest is you just do whatever you can that helps you to feel like you are being lifted on Krishna's vibration because it will make it easier for you to be at peace and be truely devotional and close. You may find you do more rounds then what is even expected of you getting lost in the ecstasy of connecting to him. Do not count your rounds but keep going until you feel our cosmic musicians vibration flowing through you. I think some people will know what I mean. It is hard to describe but you know it when you are there, wether you are chanting in your head or out loud... that place where you are very close to krishna and his energy.

manmath kumar nayak February 20, 2013 at 9:16am

Chanting in any situation is effective. We cannot externally measure the effect from how loud chanting has been. Lord Krishna asks for our mind and if the chanting mentally leads to that then we have to know that has been effective.For a person even at the flinal stage of journey of one's life if one is very lucky this privilege has been given and at that point loud chanting is not very probable. What counts is sincerity with which this is performed.

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Mohini Madhavi February 15, 2013 at 10:37am

Hare Krishna Rahul Prabhu, please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Difficulties come according to our capacity to overcome them.

Srila Haridas Thakur was very old and was going to leave his body but he was crying desperately and tried to chant the Holy Names - his rounds as much loudly as much he could hear and using beads.

Lord even requested him to stop doing that but Haridas Thakur refused to stop. And Lord was pleased with his determination and devotion no matter what difficulty is there: from body, mind or others...

Sometimes i also loose my voice but what to do we have to chant our minimum 16 rounds and hear them. So we have to try our best and Krishna can do impossible things possible.

Again here we forget about surrendering to Krishna. Srila Prabhupada says that we should chant as if a child is crying for his mother. So no matter he is weak or healthy he cries as loud as possible so that he would be heard.

We should cry, pray "i will do it my Lord!...no matter what but i will do it, please give me strength and ability to serve to You and to please You!..."

Chanting in mind is also powerful but that one we should do only after 16 prescribed rounds. Or else if that at impossible that we are in the stage of death then maybe keep note of those rounds and chant them after when we get healthy. For example, person in coma for 3 days may chant his 16 x 3 = rounds 48 afterwards.

Your servant,

AMAN > Mohini Madhavi February 16, 2013 at 5:22pm

hare krishna

As i am chanting through mind with all my 16 round not loudly, so is it means lord krsna is unhappy with me, and in my point of view the god is impress by the feeling of bhakt, not the way of chanting, also in this material world we have to chanting with some tulsi mala or others, but before this kalyug our rishi had been chanting the name with his heart or mind and some time i have also feel myself if i am chanting without any tulsi mala, than my con-striation level is increase and i am able to site in a same position for 1 hrs or more.

kindly accept my humble obeisances and if i say any thing wrong than kindly forgive me for that things..

hare krishna
- Volunteer
  
  Mohini Madhavi > AMAN February 18, 2013 at 4:03pm
  
  my humble obeisances Aman Prabhu,
  
  It is very nice that You chant the Holy Names on mind. It is very nice!
  And You have very nice desire to please Krishna which is glorious!
  
  But also Krishna says that one is more dear to Me who serves and pleases My Devotees. So if we want to please Krishna then we have to listen His Devotees and take their guidance, isn't it?!
  
  So our diksha Guru says us to chant on beads at least 16 rounds. So it takes nearly 2-3 hours. So we have to do that. And he tells us to use Tulasi beads because Tulasi Maharani also helps us to serve to Krishna.
  
  So let's bring one simple example:
  
  For example. wife always says to husband "i love you! i love you!..." but never washes his clothes, cooks for him, cleans the house...so can we call it as love?
  
  Or if she says "oh dear, i love you and i am cooking for you on my mind, i'm cleaning the house on my mind...." so will husband accept that and be pleased?
  
  So in this way we should try to serve to the object of our love as per His desire not as per our own.
  
  So Lord Chaitanya came to Earth after Lord Krishna to show how to perform devotional service. He also used to chant on beads. Also He told that He is not accepting a food from those who are not brahmanas and who do not chant at least 64 rounds daily. So it means one should count.
  
  So many Devotees chant on beads these days so i am sure for You also it won't so difficult Prabhuji!
  
  Your servant,

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Chanting in mind

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