I am so tired of all of these distractions! Mr. TV is saying: "You really should be checking what is on TV right now. You may be missing one of your favorite shows right now". Mr. Computer is saying: "You really need to check and see what is happening on facebook right now. You don't want to miss out on anything". Mr. Newspaper is saying: "I know you love to read the newspaper. You really need to read the newspaper right now and see what is happening in your city." Mr. Stomach is saying: Hey you, I'm hungry. Feed me right now" etc etc etc
When I get off work, I am tired. I have no desire to chant. So my new plan now is to do ALL of my chanting BEFORE I go to work. I think everyone has to figure out for themselves as to what will work best for them. So what is your japa schedule? What works best for you?
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Hare Krishna Mata ji,
PAMHO!
My schedule is very hectic. I never know that what time I will reach home after office since my office hours are not fixed.
I NEVER watch television or read newspapers. Facebook I do use but it is very seldom. I often return late from work i.e. 10 or 11 in evening. I wake up at 4:15 AM sharp everyday even if I sleep at mid night or at 1:00 AM. After waking up I immediately leave to park for jogging but I do make sure that I am ready for Puja (worship) by 6:30 AM with a plate of seasonal fruits for Bhoga as an offering to lord.
I pray, perform aarti, offer bhoga and finish two rounds and by that time it is already 7:15 AM. After that I myself eat all the offered bhoga to krishna :) and while having the fruit prasadam I check all my work related emails and also do reply the urgent one. As soon as I am done I leave my home at 7:30 AM for Darshan of Radha Govind dev in temple. I attend Bhagvatam classes and then finish all my rounds in temple only before leaving to work. I don't eat grains or leave to office until my Japa's are complete. You can consider it as an Oath.
I make up for lost sleep during weekends (Saturdays & Sundays) and if I don't feel tired then I leave to Vrindavan or Barsana/Nand Gaon.
This is my daily schedule and I know it sounds very selfish as Rashmi mata ji said we should prioritize Krishna in our life but I prioritize for my senses. Please share your thoughts and kindly provide me your valuable suggestion so that I can progress more in bhakti.
Thank you.
Your servant,
Deepender Sharma
Hare krsna Pandora Hinson mataji,
Please accept my respectful obeisances to all devotees, guru and gouranga.
Srila Prabupada was once asked "What should the devotees do to satisfy you the most?" and his answer was "Chant all 16 rounds in one sitting."
I think you are trying to achieve that Pandora mataji and that's commendable..
I started with one round for a month and then increased it to 3, then 5, then 8 and now 16. its often said that if krsna sees your desire to chant his names, he will make arrangements for you himself. When I come to think of it, I wonder, what was I doing all these days and months by wasting my time on things like watching TV or watching movies etc etc.. so I can easily relate to all the distractions you mentioned above.
Being in a family with kids makes japa time management that much harder, so I wake up early to accommodate half of my rounds before I leave home (no distractions, no sounds or noises, no phones ringing).. I wake up at 3 (I am an early starter at work, hence that time to rise), brush and shower, do arati and then chant 8 rounds. Then I leave for work. Earlier i used to read the Prabupada books during my train journey but for the last few days I chant 4-5 rounds and finish the rest when I come back home from work. This is my japa schedule for now. I am thinking (if krsna gives me the strength) to rise at 2 so I can chant all 16 rounds before I leave home.
The credit in many ways goes to Rashmi mataji who helped me with invaluable advice on my sadhana. Thanks Rashmi mataji for guiding me.
All the best in your japa mataji. May krsna be with you always.
Hare krsna..
Hari bol..
Thanks Rashmi Khaitan and Krishna dasa . Hare Krishna. It sounds like you have both found a japa schedule that works for you and your lifestyle. Yes, I totally agree with you Krishna dasa about Rashmi Mataji and her invaluable advice. I took her great advice and recently gave up a horrible job that was truly killing me and my spiritual life. I am a "slow chanter" so it usually takes me 2 hours and 40 minutes to chant 16 rounds. I am going to try to see if I can start chanting more quickly now.
Hare Krsna dear Pandora mataji,
PAMHO.
Very nice thought. Please do it. If you prioritise Krsna in your life, automatically everything else in life become smooth.
As for me, I am chanting - just about completing my rounds. I chant on my way to work and back. Sometimes I chant in office, though nowadays there is no time. Balance rounds I do at home before retiring for the day.
I am not the ideal to follow where chanting is concerned.
Haribol,
Your servant,
Rashmi