I got in trouble at work

I was not able to chant 16 rounds after work because I was always too tired. So I chanted all 16 rounds before I went to work. I then had problems at work and would doze off once in awhile. My boss told me that I needed to sleep and be well rested for my job. So I stopped chanting so I wouldn't lose my job.

I am now looking for a new job.  So for now, I am  chanting 16 rounds a day on my days off from work.

I guess that's better than no chanting at all.

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  • Volunteer

    Hare Krsna,

     

    His divine grace, A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, has given recommendations on when to chant 16 rounds.

    Below are some quotes:

     

    "It is easy to understand that Srila Prabhupada enjoyed chanting japa. He always stressed to us the importance of chanting our 16 rounds. He told me that as a householder he used a simple process for completing 16 rounds that we could apply. He said, "When I was a householder I would chant 4 rounds before each meal and 4 rounds before retiring in the evening. In this way 16 rounds could be chanted without difficulty." He laughed and said, "If you don't take prasadam before chanting your 4 rounds then you will be sure to get them chanted."

    In New Dwarka he said to me, "In the evening, if I get tired, I walk and chant." Looking at me he said, "If you are tired, then walk and chant like I do. Sometimes, if I am tired I pace back and forth in the room. Simply, in one room you can do everything. If you are tired, you can stand up and chant, like I do." It was very common to see Srila Prabhupada walking around in his quarters or sitting in his rocking chair, chanting rounds. Sometimes in the evening he would chant rounds while I was giving him massage in bed."

     

    Sometimes, he would say, "There, I'm finished." Once in New Dwarka I was in his sitting room cleaning around his desk. He was sitting behind his desk chanting japa. As he pulled down a counter bead he looked at me with a beautiful smile and said humorously, "There, I have finished my 16 rounds. Now I can do any damn thing I want."

     

    You could also try to chant when doing other required activities such as taking bath, travelling since you cannot avoid such necessary activities.

     

    Hari Bol,

  • Volunteer

    I work as a software engg in a MNC and you know how the schedule for will be. But some how, I try to get up at 4:30 and take a quick bath and start chanting till 6-6:15. Then I go out for a jog and return in 45 min. Take bath again and finish my rounds by 8:30. Then clean the alter, bath the deities, do mangalarti and offer bhogha to Lord. By this it would be 9:30 and I have some brake fast and leave to work.

     

    Not all days  are same. I get very tired when go to sleep late due to late night meetings. In such case, I take a power nap before leaving to office for 15-30 min... I learned about this when I was in college from a senior devotee. When you are very sleepy, keep a alarm in your cell phone and keep it away from u so that we don't snooze it and sleep again. Take rest on a straw mat if possible -- You will feel very relaxed. Get up with the alarm and splash some water on ur face before leaving home.

     

    When I was a doing my Masters and was in industrial training in pune, The company wan would come at 7:15 near the temple to pick me up. I used to get up at 3 and chant most of the rounds before mangalarti (4:30). Then chant remaing rounds with devotees and get ready and leave for training. I would take rest in the bus while going in the morning and while returning in the evening, I would read or hear some lecture.

     

    Lastly, see to that you dont give your time for prajalpa - useless talk with friends or co-workers. Remember that the time of a devotee is very precious and Karmies have the art of killing that time for no good. We latter blame on something that is not really a reason for us not chanting 16 rounds. SP has made 16 rounds as minimum and there should be no compromise at any point of time in life.

     

    Hare Krishna.

    • Thanks all for your inspiring stories. It is very helpful to hear how other people do it. You are all so very kind.

      • I am going to go ahead now and re-start chanting 16 rounds before I go to work. However, as soon as I get home from work I am going to eat and go straight to bed. No TV, No computer and nothing else. Thanks again to everyone for your help.

  • My husband goes to sleep at 7.00pm and gets up around 1.30am and goes out for a slow walk as not to disturb anyone in the caravan park.  we live in a caravan at the moment and he works in the mines.  he starts work at 4.00am and finishes work at 4.00pm (12hrs shift).  i think you could thinking about going to bed early and get up early when you wake up and go for a walk in the garden or out, just ask for Krishna to give you strength to keep chanting.  On the days off as well my husband goes to sleep at the same time but wakes up at 3.00am to chant and them mangala arati at 4.30am.  so this works for him.  you can also get a routine to work for you.  Dont despair.good Luck

     

    • Volunteer

      Hare Krsna Gangadevi mataji,   Please accept my pranam to you and your husband.   Thank you for taking the tme to share this with us.  Hari bol

  • Volunteer

    Hare Krsna Pandora mataji,     I'ld like to tell you how I worked for many years and chanted my rounds every day.  I'ld take rest early by 9.30pm at the latest earlier is even better get up by 4-5am.   take a quick shower and offer prayers to Krsna.  Then chant non stop 2 hours have breakfast and go to work.     You dont focus so much on the time you get up.  Focus on going to bed by 8pm thats the best.     Sleep.     Sleep more.    Just get used to takeing rest early.   I sometimes used ear plugs and eye covers so no one would bother me.    When you've had enough sleep you just got to get up because you can't sleep anymore.     Then be happy Oh great now I can chant and there s nobody to bother me.    Go for a little walk if the weather is nice.   Close your eyes and see He is right there with you.   Use an mp3 to hear bhajans and lectures while you travel to work and back and eat realy healthy salads and whole grain breads and fruits.   Learn to offer your lunch and everything to Krsna.    At work think you do this work for Krsna and he's watching you.   Do it real good and say,   thats how its done Krsna,  like that.     Have a talk with Him in your mind.   You;ll be surprised how fast the day goes by.    Hare Krsna

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