How to perfect one's chanting?

manah-samharanam saucam maunam mantrartha-cintanam
avyagratvam anirvedo japa-sampatti-hetavah


"In order to perfect one's chanting of japa, one needs to cultivate the following qualities:

control of the mind,

internal and external purity,

silence,

contemplation of the mantra's meaning,

patience,

and steadfastness." (Hari-bhakti-vilasa 17.129)

 



Here manah-samharanam means to repeatedly bring the mind back when it wanders to sense objects.

 Avyagratva means that one should not rush one's chanting in order to finish the fixed number of rounds. Anirveda means that one should not lose hope when one does not attain results as quickly as expected. Bhaktivinoda Thakura has also given us this instruction on chanting:

japa-kale manake ekagra-bhave lao citte suddha thak vatha katha nahi kao,
namartha cintaha sada dhairyasraya kara namete adara kari krsna-nama smara


"While chanting japa, remember Krsna's name with affectionate respect, concentrate the mind on the chanting alone, be pure in mind and avoid speaking uselessly, contemplate the mantra's meaning, and remain patient." Here ekagra-bhave lao (concentrate the mind on the chanting alone) is not intended to preclude thinking of the meaning of the mantra (mananam/contemplation) nor remembrance of the lila (smaranam) that follows it. While only mananam is mentioned in this song, smaranam is also implied.

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