When Srila Prabhupada, the founder-acarya of ISKCON, was recorded in a morning japa practice with his disciples, at one point on the tape we can hear him admonish someone – “Sit properly!” His voice is strong and makes us all sit up. It’s a reminder that how we do our chanting practice is as important, if not more important, that just doing it.
When we chant we are inviting Krishna into our day, our moment. It’s a big deal, a big opportunity to connect with the source of all life and to allow his divine name to permeate our consciousness. For many people, the early morning cup of coffee brings them to life. They feel recharged, clear headed and ready to move into the day. For devotees of Krishna, early morning japa is like that – it can completely energize us, fill us with a deep sense of true self, and put everything in our life into a healthy perspective.
That, of course, is if the practice is done properly. An essential element is how we sit. A simple yoga pose with back straight and legs crossed is a good place to start. If you can’t sit on the floor, find a good sitting chair. Sit on the chair with feet planted firmly on the ground, hip width apart, and a straight back. The more we are attentive to sitting correctly, the more attentive we can be to our chanting.
Although there are no hard and fast rules for chanting it’s important we find what best works for us. When I sit for chanting, I try to keep myself as still as possible as I find this helps me hear the name better. It almost feels like I am quietly sipping the sacred as nothing is moving but sound. Sometimes our teachings describe that chanting is like drinking the nectar of the holy name – something sweet, refreshing, and full of taste. We want to be able to chant with that experience – that we are hearing something beautiful, receiving the incredible energy of life itself, and ultimately connecting with the supreme person, Krishna.
I heard recently someone quip that in their understanding the word ‘sadhana’ (spiritual practice such as japa) means painful. If chanting is a daily grind for us, start with adjusting how we sit. Practice with good posture and less movement. Japa meditation is an art – as in a skill acquired by experience, practice, and observation. Be a conscious and reflective chanter. Don’t settle for less. Work hard to create the best japa conditions for receiving Krishna’s sacred name. The name itself will do the rest.
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