Baladeva’s alarm clock went off at 1:00 A.M.,
and our cowbells followed.
He administered my wake-up rituals.
I went into the room
where the Deities are and bowed down.
I applied my precautionary methods
and began japa.
I practiced “just hear.”
This is the accessible method
where you just chant and hear
with no other meditation.
I am capable of doing it
and satisfied with it.
There are higher stages
of perfection in japa, but
“just hear” is elevated in itself.
Anyone who knows that the Name
is non-different from Krishna Himself,
and who absorbs himself in the
transcendental sound vibration,
is achieving a rare stage of japa.
I met my quota after four rounds
with minutes to spare. Then I turned
to writing in the Japa Report.
Although I began the second set
silently in my mind, I heard
the Names clearly, with attention
and concern to pronounce
the words properly. But
I was distracted by planning ahead
what to write in the next Japa Report.
I was committing aparadha:
inattention to the Names.
So my chanting was faulty.
But the maha-mantra is so merciful and powerful
that it vanquishes sinful reactions,
ushers in liberation,
and brings one gradually to love of God.
Even when chanted with imperfections
as I was doing.
I met my quota after eight rounds
with minutes to spare.
So far, I felt no sensation of
physical pain in my eyes or head.
On the third set, I tried to avoid
merely mechanical chanting
by cultivating thoughtfulness
and feelings of devotion.
For thoughtfulness, I adhered to
“just hear.” This enabled me to
keep the mantras separate
with no mixing or missing.
For feelings, I glanced
at Radha-Govinda and imbibed
Their sweetness. I acknowledged
that They were the heart
of the Hare Krishna mantra,
composed exclusively of Their names
and uttered as a prayer for
engagement in Their service.
I finished my twelfth round
with minutes to spare on the quota.
I began the fourth set briskly,
but not racing or rushing.
I held on to the bead until
all sixteen words were finished
before moving to the next bead.
I was alert and completely awake.
But my japa was mostly external
without an inner, prayerful mood.
I didn’t cry out to Krishna
for His blessings, even though
it is not possible for me to do
good japa on my own endeavor.
I completed sixteen rounds
with minutes to spare on the overall quota.
I considered it a half-decent session.
I couldn’t rate it fully decent
because of its lack of inward
prayer or calling. But I kept
the mantras distinct and separate –
not sloppy or incoherent.
I met all my quotas on time.
For the whole session, I experienced
no physical pain.
At least I follow the course
of doing a prescribed number of rounds
in obedience to the order
of the spiritual master,
a sacred vow.