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Question: Which is Better: 16 Rounds or 64 Rounds?

Dear Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your feet,

Recently I was discussing with a  devotee who said that chanting 64 rounds of japa mala every day is the highest service, even if it means compromising one's facility to perform devotional service. But, Gurudeva, isn't it better to do 16 rounds of chanting and utilize the remaining time for some sort of service such as preaching or book distribution? Which is better chanting 16 rounds or chanting 64 rounds per day?

Thank you,
Amith
 

Answer: Serving Guru's Order is the Best

Krishna states that the highest duty is to surrender unto Him and that we should surrender unto Him by surrendering to his representative, the bona fide spiritual master. Therefore the highest principle is not how many rounds you chant. The highest principle is to follow the orders of your spiritual master.

Since ISKCON Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, orders his followers to chant at least sixteen rounds of japa daily and to fully absorb themselves in activities for the salvation of the suffering human society--for ISKCON devotees a combination of chanting at least 16 rounds daily and working for the salvation of the human society is the highest principle.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari