I read again in _Namamrta_ what Srila Prabhupada said against neophyte devotees who go alone to chant Hare Krishna. I don’t think the condemnation applies to me. The extended japa-vrata has proven to me that I cannot only chant all the time for my whole life, but there is a stage of maturity and advancement when, like Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu or Haridasa Thakura, we ask our friends, “Please give that room to Me, for I have need for it. Indeed, I shall remember the lotus feet of the Lord sitting in that solitary place.” (C.c., Madhya 11.176)
In the purport Srila Prabhupada says, “The senses are very strong, and if a neophyte devotee imitates Haridasa Thakura, his enemies (kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada, and matsarya) will disturb and fatigue him. Instead of chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, the neophyte will simply sleep soundly.”
(_Begging for the Nectar of the Holy Name_)
JAPA POEM
Chanting done in any
solitary place is not
absolutely condemned.
Haridasa Thakura and Rupa Gosvami
requested it: In that solitary room
“I shall remember the lotus feet
of the Lord” and be satisfied.
But Prabhupada cautions that
if a neophyte devotee imitates
Haridasa Thakura, he will become
disturbed by lust, anger, greed,
illusion, pride and envy. And
instead of chanting, he will
simply resort to sleeping soundly.