Srila Prabhupada initiated me and thus freed me from all sinful life. But the subtle mind still clings to the past. I am not puzzled by what I have to do. I have already discussed how I have to bring the mind out of distraction and refocus it again and again on the Hare Krishna mantra. Even if that hearing doesn’t appear to take me into the further stages of spontaneously thinking of Krishna’s pastimes, it will save me. That hearing is the work at hand—stay awake, don’t think of the past, avoid all mental and visual distractions, just chant, and stay hopeful.
(Begging for the Nectar of the Holy Name)
JAPA POEM
I describe the work I have to do
at my present stage of chanting.
Prabhupada has saved me
from material life
by giving me the Hare Krishna mantra.
Even if I
cannot now chant thinking
of Krishna’s pastimes in spontaneous
love, the task of
taking the mind away from distraction
and focusing it again
on the Hare Krishna mantra will save me.
“—just chant
and stay hopeful.”