Anyone can chant Hare Krishna. There is no need for instruments, although Caitanya Mahaprabhu introduced the mrdanga and karatalas. Otherwise, clapping in itself is sufficient. Anyone can sit down with his family, clap hands and chant. The bhakti-yoga process should be completed in this life because we have all the instruments necessary to become fully Krsna conscious. We have mrdangas and cymbals and tongues with which to chant Hare Krishna. Even if we don’t have mrdangas and cymbals, we have a tongue. No one has to purchase a tongue. We also have ears with which to hear the sound that the tongue vibrates. Therefore we have all the instruments we need with us—a tongue and ears. We have only to chant Hare Krishna and use our ears to hear the vibration, and all perfection will be there. We don’t have to become highly educated scientists or philosophers. We have only to chant and hear.
I woke up at 2:00 A.M. this morning, on the late side. I began my chanting rapidly, and very soon I had four rounds done and then eight rounds done. But then I began to develop a headache. I took medicine for it, but it didn’t subdue the pain. The pain impaired my chanting, and I couldn’t chant nicely. I took a second dose of medicine, but still the headache remained and I felt frustrated in trying to chant the Hare Krishna mantra. Prabhupada writes that it is very easy to chant, but when you have physical impairment it becomes difficult. It’s an unhappy daywhen I can’t chant easily; nevertheless, I push on and complete my quota.
Chanting with a headache
is no fun. Your attention
goes to the pain in the
head, and you are distracted
from the sublimity of
the sacred syllables. You
grind out your quota in a
frustrated mood, but I
know it is still japa yajna
and my duty is fulfilled.
I’m calling out to Krishna
through a difficult position.
He appreciates the attempt
and gives me credit for
a hari-nama attempt.
H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami
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