Mainly he speaks of chanting one mantra at a time. Which means when we chant our japa we have to hear each word "Hare" "Krishna" "Rama" and if it so happened we were not able to here, no need to lament but try to hear the next Hare and in this way every time try to hear.

And it is the top most work from our side WE HAVE JUST TO HEAR THE HOLY NAMES. And other things will be done by the Holy Names.

Your servant,

Volunteer

Radhe May 9, 2013 at 5:01am

this comes with time and constant devotion to Krishna. Chant as much as you can and as perfectly as possible (chanting one round with sheer perfection is better than chanting 16 rounds with imperfect chanting)

Volunteer

Ram Charan Das May 9, 2013 at 1:34am

Hare Krishna dandvats Mataji. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. The below could be of some help to you and all going through this:

Japa Tips

1.Chant early in the morning, if possible 5 to 7 am
2.Chant along with Srila Prabhupada's japa tape
3.Chant with good chanters (when possible)
4.Record your chanting so you can hear whether you skip syllables
5.Read at least one inspiring text a day from Srila Prabhupada's books about
chanting (like the compilation "The Nectar of the Holy Name")
6.After each 16 rounds, write down in your journal how many rounds you have
actually heard
7.Chant all 16 round in one go (this is very powerful!)
8. Above all, pray to Lord Krsna and to namacarya Srila Haridasa Thakura to
improve your japa
9.Turn off the mobile phone
10.Don't turn on the laptop/PC
11.Don't get into conversations unless absolutely urgent
12.When mind wanders away, bring it back and focus on the sound
13.Chant feelingly, not mechanically
14.Use monthly Japa Excellence Table to keep track about quality and
quantity.

Illuminations On Nama Aparadha

One who cultivates the four qualities of: 1)humility; 2) tolerance; 3) pridelessness and 4) resperct for others will be protected from committing the ten offences. Third third verse of Sri Caitanya’s Siksastaka, which should surround one’s neck like a garland, describes these traits.

trnâd api sunîcena, taror iva sahisnunâ
amânina mânadena, kîrtanîyah sadâ harih

"One who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor but is always prepared to give all respect to others, can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord."

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura says that this verse teaches one how to chant without offences by mentioing the four qualities necessary for non-stop chanting. In other words, by possessing these four devotional traits it will be much easier for one to always chant the holy name. The sastras prescribe constant chanting as the way to remove all offenses.

To Listen Or Not To Listen

That is the question or actually the choice we have during Japa....to listen to the mind or listen to the Mantra. Srila Prabhupada expressed the importance of hearing as a solution for the wandering mind in a morning walk conversation:

Devotee: "Srila Prabhupada, it's very difficult to control my mind when I chant. It wanders."

Srila Prabhupada: "So what is the controlling of mind? You have to chant and hear. That is all. You have to chant with your tongue, and the sound you hear. What is the question of mind?"

Gauranga, Radhe Radhe, Hari Bol! Hare Krishna.

Volunteer

Mohini Madhavi > Ram Charan Das May 9, 2013 at 7:51am

also please Mataji, hear very nice Japa Retreats of His Holiness Sacinandana Swami Maharaja http://audio.iskcondesiretree.info/index.php?q=f&f=%2F02_-_ISKC...

Your servant,

isha May 8, 2013 at 8:52pm

Hare krishna mataji,

I faced the same problem(I am sure all of us do), here are the things that really helped me:

We should not take chanting lightly as it is the highest form of devotional service, so before we start to chant we need to do some preparations- physical , mental , emotional.

Physical- sit in a quiet place with no distractions, morning times are very very helpful to focus.If you have a habit of chanting in the evening or night, it is not very suitable because we are tired and the the mode of ingnorance acts on us and we dont get the taste , the more often we do this we start feeling that chanting doesnt make us feel good and we never get the taste.Sit straight and remember- WE ARE CALLING KRISHNA AND HE IS WATCHING US, now you choose how u want to look in front of him- sleepy or fresh and happy to please him.We do all the activities to please him- this must be fixed in our minds.

Mental- It is our minds job to distract us , so tell ur mind before chanting that -" this is my time with krishna, what ever u wish to propose i will deal with it later."I heard in one lecture that while chanting WE MUST TOUCH KRISHNA WITH OUR CONSCIOUSNESS . Thats such a beautiful statement.so now u choose which consciousness u want to be in while calling him.

Emotional- Try and hear a lecture or a book about his pastimes which you really like and try and meditate on that pastime while chanting, all the while thinking how merciful and sweet krishna is.We have to constantly remind ourselves that we have no other shelter, so beg radha and krishna to give you shelter and a taste in chanting. Our body and mind is not our property , they belong to krishna so let him take over, surrender completely - he reciprocates beautifully.

If all of this doesnt help then simply think this- I am a spirit soul so tiny and insignificant, still krishna does so much for me,he constantly accompanies me,saves me from greatest dangers and i owe everything to him. just be grateful and chant, just to thank him and asking him to engage u in his service.Thats all .. soon u will feel like chanting more and more.

One more very very important point is- mercy of the vaishnavas , this is magic.I have experienced it.Just ask all devotees especially senior devotees to pray for you(for improving chanting)- This will solve all your problems.All u need to have is an honest desire and determination..Try and read this book - The art of chanting by mahanidhi swami.One of the best books filled with nector about chanting- all practical problems and solutions are given there.Must read bhagwad gita everyday in the moring.

Though i am not qaulified to speak on this i hope it helps in some way.Do let me know mataji if it helped you.Also if u try something else and it does wonders please share it with us also.I really hope that u start chanting 16 rounds as early as possible.

Hare krishna..

Bhanu Krishna Das May 8, 2013 at 7:08pm

Hare krisha mataji,

Faith comes from hearing about the glories of the lord,his activities stories about his devotees for that hear Srimad Bhagavatam narration , you can also read prabhupadas books , Rapidly progress your chanting by increasing number of rounds of chanting periodically ,

Go to a nearby vishnu diety /Iskcon temple have a through look at the lord ,take prasadam circumbulate the temple chanting the maha mantra ,take prasad and your faith in the lord of the lords Sri hari increases , For this effort / enthusiasm is reqired from your side .This way you can control your mind

Dandavat pranams

Your servant

Volunteer

Mohini Madhavi May 8, 2013 at 5:31pm

dear Radhika Mataji, please read Radhe Prabhu's answer and please try to share information accordingly so that Devotees here can help You in a very nice way.

If we do not know the exact problem then we will just spend time and make Your head pain more with many options.

Your servant,

Forum

How to Control the Mind & Engage it in Krishna's Service? Please help me!

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