Baladeva’s alarm clock went off at 1:00 A.M.,
and our cowbells followed.
He asked me if I felt “chirpy-burpy”
and I said I felt well. I felt a little tired,
but fairly decent overall.
He administered my wake-up rituals, including
the pre-emptive strikes against headaches.
I walked into the other room
where the Deities are and bowed down.
I applied all my precautionary measures.
I got off to a speedy pace.
I practiced “just hear,”
the method where you
chant and hear briskly
with no other meditation.
Anyone who understands 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.
Remember that.
I met all my quotas after sixteen rounds
with minutes to spare.
I considered it a half-decent session.
At least I carried out the process
of chanting a prescribed number of rounds
in obedience to the order of the spiritual master,
a sacred vow.