Baladeva’s alarm clock went off at 1:00 A.M.,
and our cowbells followed.
He administered my wake-up rituals,
including my pre-emptive strike
against headaches.
I walked into the other room where
the Deities are and bowed down.
I applied my precautionary measures
and began japa.
I practiced “just hear,”
This is the method
where you chant and hear
with no other meditation.
I am capable of doing it,
and it satisfies me.
There are higher stages
of perfection in japa, but
“just hear” is elevated in itself.
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.
I met my quota after four rounds
with minutes to spare. Then
I turned to writing in my Japa Report.
I began the second set in the same way.
So far, I had no sensation of eyestrain
or headache. Although I was chanting
silently in my mind, I heard the Names
clearly, with attention and concern
to pronounce the words properly.
But I was distracted by planning
what to write in my Japa Report.
I was committing aparadha:
inattention to the Name,
so my japa 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.
I began the third set at a faster pace,
because I felt I was behind. I tried
to avoid merely mechanical chanting.
I did this by cultivating the quality
of thoughtfulness and devotional feelings.
For thoughtfulness, I practiced “just hear.”
This enabled me to isolate each mantra
and not fall into slurring them, or missing them.
So even going speedily, it was one at a time.
For devotional feeling, I focused on
the sweetness of Radha-Govinda. I
acknowledged that They are
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 eighth round
with minutes to spare.
On the third and fourth sets,
I made speedy chanting
a priority over careful quality,
but I didn’t rush recklessly.
I held on to the bead
for the first sixteen words
before moving to the next.
I completed my sixteenth round
with minutes to spare,
so I met the overall quota on time.
I considered it a decent session,
with no physical handicap.
The session was not deeply prayerful.
But I was awake and alert the whole time
and I called out to Krishna for His help
because I am not capable
of chanting good japa
by my own endeavor.
At least I follow the process
of doing a prescribed number of rounds
in obedience to the order of the spiritual master,
a sacred vow.