Hare Krishna to all Prabhujis and Matajis!
My question is that while chanting the Maha-mantra, the physical changes which a devotee experiences like heavy breathing, sweating, little raised blood pressure, a slight fainting like feeling, etc are these symptoms of ecstasy ? or is something wrong with the technique of japa?
Replies
I know this is a very naive question for me to ask but i wanted to know that what should devotee's state of mind while chanting? i have read in one of the books, Srila Prabhupada says that it is natural that the mind may wander while chanting.
i request devotees to provide guidance regarding this
Hare Krishna!
Thank you for this nectar of guidance.
A complete surrender to Krishna is needed while chanting. Yes very true, a humble & soft heart is the only way.
And once the chanting increases, I feel I get more & more cleansed and feel more humbler. This feeling cannot be described, it's like you're not sad, but you're not happy as well. It's something like, you are effortlessly able to see things as they are and with no material adulteration. I think this is the beginning or early signs of Krishna Consciousness!
Mind should be occupied with Lord and His past times.
Anyway, generally speaking, pure chanting without offences is chanting with humble state of mind and soft heart. That means you need to weep for Krishna.
There was a person from Navadvipa-dhama who used to come to Vamsi das Babaji Maharaja. One day, he thought, "I have the desire to obtain the Supreme Lord. How can I get Bhagavan?" He was only murmuring, speaking to himself, so Babaji Maharaja did not reply. This person came back repeatedly to see Babaji Maharaja. Finally, one day, he approached Maharaja directly.
"What do you want?" Babaji Maharaja asked him.
"I want to see Bhagavan," the man said.
Babaji Maharaja replied with only one word: "Weep!"
.
Understanding the yogic kundalini principles of the transcendental energy produced by chanting is an important aspect to understanding an in depth relationship to your body, mind and spirit soul, no matter what name you may call it....physical changes will occur....best to investigate the transcendental teaching of the many various forms of yoga besides the the Bhagavada Gita's approach to get a full understanding of all the yogic science's for advance, intelligent, understandings....Om Hari Om krishna, Shiva, etc.....
Hare Krishna Prabhuji!
dandavat pranam!
Yes correct Prabhuji. your guidance just re-assured what i asked to mathaji. as a devotee working in the material world, he/she comes across material energy throughout the day, so by the end of the day, the mind is slightly affected by this energy and wanders around, thus not allowing to focus while chanting and in Krishna Consciousness. so i feel that before chanting, one should calm his/her mind by pranayama or through other various yoga forms that you mentioned, and once the mind and the senses are calm and in control, then one should chant to get the maximum benefit. this i think comes under 'Asthanga Yoga' if i am not wrong.
Prabhuji, please can you specify which are the other forms of yoga that you are suggesting?
Haribol!!!!
Hare Krishna Dean Prabhu!
dandavat pranam!
your detailed guidance directly from the Srimad Bhagavatam has given me a whole new perspective regarding the ecstasy felt by a devotee during chanting. this is very re-assuring! thank you very much for your guidance Prabhuji!
Haribol!!!!
Hare Krsna Prabhuji,
PAMHO.
One who chants sincerely and attentively, and starts to experience ecstacy, will know it for what it is. The symptoms you have described could also be physical and may require medical intervention - there are no straight cut answers to it. In the sense that if it is symptoms of ecstacy, then the person experiencing will also feel like a sunrise in the heart - its like suddenly there is a lot of light and all darkness of doubt and ignorance are dispelled. The person who is going through these experiences is the best person to judge.
Haribol,
Your servant,
Radha Rasamayi DD
Hare Krishna Mathaji!
PAMHO.
actaully, i have done quite a research on this and have found out that if you have mental baggage before/while chanting, then the chanting would not be effective. so first one needs to get rid of any mundane material thoughts which are going on in the mind regarding money, greed, lust, anger, any disputes, joy/pleasure of strongly attached with something, false ego, etc. After this only the chanting becomes comfortable and i have no more problems which i mentioned above.
i try to imagine/visualize Krishna deity, or Krishna lilas while chanting. and most of the devotees i have met have suggested to just listen and focus/concentrate to the mantras coming out of my mouth and it will be ok. But the mind is such turbulent thing, it wanders every where but the mantra. As Arjuna says " Its easy to control the wind then the Mind"!
So right now my chanting has very much improved and i don't experience the things i mentioned in my above question any more. But the main challenge is to STEADY THE MIND ON THE MANTRA. For this i have purchased a book "The Art of Chanting" and have started reading it.
and one time it feels that my KC is going as per Krishna's MERCY/BLESSINGS. all my problems are gradually/slowly being removed on my path to KC, but THEY ARE SURELY REMOVED. AND I AM FEELING MORE STABLE AS I PROGRESS!
Another thing i wanted to ask was that what type of chanting will be the most effective:
1. SILENT CHANTING IN THE MIND
2. CHANTING SILENTLY BY LIP MOVEMENT.
3. LOUD CHANTING
I have come across mixed opinions about the above methods. Please clear my doubts, Mathaji.
HARE KRISHNA!
Hare Krsna Prabhuji,
PAMHO.
Like you just mentioned, mind is not in our control in Kaliyuga. Therefore, chanting in mind - who knows whats going on - chanting will never be done.
Chanting silently by lip movement or loud chanting - I have seen senior devotees, who chant a lot of rounds (16 is barest minimum for them, they dont even drink water before that) do both. Loud chanting doesnt mean so loud that it disturbs others, it is loud enough for one to hear one's own voice.
Chanting has to be internalised prabhuji. One has to chant internally - then one will be chanting even when one is not chanting, then it is said we have done effective chanting.
Haribol,
Your servant,
Radha Rasamayi DD
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next