Need Encouragement and Advice About Chanting

Please accept my humble obeisances All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

My name is Becky. I just joined here yesterday.

I have been in the Hare Krishna Movement for a year now and I am still struggling with trying to chant everyday and also trying to stay at chanting 16 rounds. I know one of my major problems is I need A LOT more association with other devotees to get some help.

My problem is that when I chant I sometimes lose focus and concentration. Sometimes I also have problems pronouncing Hare Hare when I chant as well. I have no difficulty in chanting Krishna or Rama. I try listening to a kirtan before I chant to help a bit and also I try listening to Srila Prabhupada chant.

Another issue I have is that sometimes when I chant after about five rounds I either start feeling really hot, thirsty or hungry and have to stop for a bit and then go back. I am having trouble with controlling my material senses and I was wondering if anyone may have some advice with this one.

And lastly, I also have trouble with trying to sleep at a decent hour since I work late night shifts. I've tried getting back on working days only but that didn't work out and when I work late, I don't get home till about 1 30am or 2 30am and have trouble fallign asleep even on days i don't work I end up staying up late and as a result I can't get up at 4:30am or 5:30am to start japa. I just get so frustrated with myself about it. I try to chant as many rounds as I can before I go to work or at least listen to a kirtan or read Srila Prabhupada's books but I really need to try to start chanting 16 rounds a day but I keep getting myself into a rut all the time. :( I've been trying to fight off Maya but She keeps attacking me alot of the time and keeps trying to make me not do service for Krishna.

You are doing fine Becky! Remember to just keep trying! Like we had said before, the time is not ALL important, especially with shift work. Right now, at 4:30 in the morning, I will still be running a press for another 3 hours!
Chant when it is "morning" for YOU! : ). If you work at say, 4pm, get up at 1pm, and chant. THAT is YOUR morning. Remember, it is suggested, but it is not a hard fast rule. When you read stories of Srila Prabhupada, you see that he was very forgiving on many circumstances. His only hard fast rule was, "just chant". Try your best, but never give up the chant no matter what other difficulties you may have with rules and regulations etc.
HAve a glass of water by your side and take a sip between rounds now and then. It will help you stay put, or walk around as well, as Srila Prabhupada himself did. I find rocking front and back in a particular rhythm helps me as well.
Keep in touch!
Hare Bol!!

Replies

Julianne March 27, 2010 at 11:17pm

Haribol Becky!

I'm feeling the same way as you sometimes.
I started chanting for a year ago, I don't find the chanting as difficult,
but Maya is attacking me alot to. Keeps me confused and bewildered.

I think you should trust in Krishna, and remember that he will help you.
And remember that you can chant everywhere! And start to think as your job
as a service to krishna. You can offer everything to him :)
I think you're doing a wonderful job, because you really want to do service!
Volunteer

Sarvopama dasa ACBSP March 26, 2010 at 3:19am

My wife followed my advice and had wonderful results. For the year before she came to India I begged her to go out in front of the San Diego ISKCON temple and chant in public for at least two minutes every day. As a result of her doing that, spiritual momentum grew and developed in her life in a truly miraculous way. Now she is the Jagannatha pujari here in the ISKCON temple in Vallabh Vidyanagar in Gujarat. Chant the Holy Name and your life will be sublime. Prabhupada's number one priority and prime directive is going out in public and chanting. Please chant and be happy. That is our instruction from the Jagad Guru. That is the most powerful and effective way for us to save both ourselves and the entire planet.
Ramachandra das March 24, 2010 at 5:11pm

And here is something else I do which I find helps a lot. I chant in front of my altar. I do not find sitting difficult, but even if you pace you can still do this. At some point during your round, beginning or middle I think is most helpful, I look intently at my picture of Srila Prabhupada and chant a mantra, then at my Gaura-Nitai deities and chant a mantra, then at my picture of Radha-Krishna and chant a mantra, then at my picture of HH Bhaktimarga Swami and chant a mantra, all in full concentration, then continue the round as normal. I find practicing this intense concentration in this way, carries me in concentration thru the entire round.
Ramachandra das March 23, 2010 at 10:05pm

You are doing fine Becky! Remember to just keep trying! Like we had said before, the time is not ALL important, especially with shift work. Right now, at 4:30 in the morning, I will still be running a press for another 3 hours!
Chant when it is "morning" for YOU! : ). If you work at say, 4pm, get up at 1pm, and chant. THAT is YOUR morning. Remember, it is suggested, but it is not a hard fast rule. When you read stories of Srila Prabhupada, you see that he was very forgiving on many circumstances. His only hard fast rule was, "just chant". Try your best, but never give up the chant no matter what other difficulties you may have with rules and regulations etc.
HAve a glass of water by your side and take a sip between rounds now and then. It will help you stay put, or walk around as well, as Srila Prabhupada himself did. I find rocking front and back in a particular rhythm helps me as well.
Keep in touch!
Hare Bol!!

This reply was deleted.