Fervor—feeling regret, feeling helpless that you are a fallen, conditioned soul. Fervor—intense greed, praying to Radha-Krishna, praying that Their pastimes will descend into your japa, crying to Them.
Without pure fervor and desire, then even the increase to forty rounds, fifty rounds, sixty, seventy, will not be so wonderful. I should want more than just control of the mind. What essence will I carry past these three weeks of increased chanting? Where is that fervor? Where is Krishna’s grace?
(_Begging for the Nectar of the Holy Name_)
JAPA POEM
I write about fervor in japa
and pray to cry out
to Radha and Krishna.
But nowadays I have to temper
my “passion” and
fervor because intense
chanting brings about migraines.
I move on my beads
at a moderate
pace and practice
“just hear,” simply
chanting and hearing
with attention
and no other meditation.
This is an elevated method of japa.
I hope the fervor
will enter in its
own way, devout,
without bringing me headaches.