Question: Can I Chant My Japa in a Cab?
Respected Gurudeva,
Currently I am chanting 6 rounds of Hare Krishna mahamantra japa as a regulardaily routine. But I do most of them in a cab while going to office. Andsecondly whenever I chant at home, I always do so while walking otherwise mymind goes here and there. Of course while walking mind goes also here and there,but still my concentration is better when walking as opposed to when I amsitting.
So my question is that is the above process of chanting not good?
A devotee told me that I should try to chant as many rounds in home as comparedto chanting in the cab. Secondly she also told me that it is okay that I do thechanting while walking but that it is better to sit in a proper position whilechanting.
So Srila Gurudeva, I just want to confirm whether Krishna wants us to chant byfollowing some rules, or we are free chant as I explained above.
Vinita
Answer: Better to Chant in a Solitary Quiet Place
Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">Chantingcan be done in any and all conditions 24 hours day. But our prescribed dailyquota of japa mala chanting should be done with full attention because inattentionis offensive when chanting the Lord's holy names. Such daily chanting of theHare Krishna mantra on japa beads is transcendental meditation. Riding in a cabis not a suitable place for doing attentive meditation.For attentive meditative chanting one should rise in early in the morningbefore sunrise, take bath, and then sit peacefully for chanting the most sacredHare Krishna mahamantra. If one gets a little sleepy, he can stand up and chantor even pace back and forth while chanting.
Of course, under emergency of lacking time, one can fulfill his daily quota ofchanting while riding in a cab, but this should clearly not be a regular dailyaffair. The standard procedure is to go to bed as early as possible and wake upas early as possible so that one has sufficient time for completing at least 16rounds of Hare Krishna mahamantra japa meditation before taking hisbreakfast.
Sankarshan Das Adhikar
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