Baladeva’s alarm clock went off at 1:00 A.M.,
and our cowbells followed.
He administered my wake-up rituals.
I went into the room
where the Deities are and bowed down.
I began my japa at a moderate pace.
I practiced “just hear,” the method
where you attentively chant and hear
with no other meditation.
I am capable of this
and comfortable with it.
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 could not attain this rare state—
but I tried.
I met my quota after four rounds
with minutes to spare. Then I
turned to writing in the Japa Report.

I began my second set at a moderate pace.
Although I chanted silently in the mind
I heard the Names clearly, attentively, and
with concern to pronounce the words properly.
But I was distracted by planning
what to write in my next Japa Report.
I was committing aparadha:
inattention to the Names,
so my chanting was faulty.
But the maha-mantra is so merciful and powerful
that it vanquishes past 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.

After so much japa at a moderate pace,
I had fallen behind
and switched to speedy
on the third set.
But I did not rush recklessly.
I held on to the bead
until the mantra was finished
before moving on to the next bead.
I tried to avoid
merely mechanical chanting
by cultivating thoughtfulness
and devotional feelings. For
thoughtfulness, I adhered to
“just hear.” This enabled me
to concentrate on the mantras
separately, without mixing or
missing them. For feelings,
I looked at Radha-Govinda and
imbibed Their lovely sweetness.
I acknowledged that Radha-Krishna
are the heart of the Hare Krishna mantra,
composed exclusively of Their Names
and uttered as a prayer
to be engaged in Their service.
I finished my twelfth round
with minutes to spare.
So far I had experienced no trace
of eyestrain or headache,
and I was grateful for that.

On the fourth set I emphasized speed
as a priority over quality.
I enunciated the mantras
attentively externally, but
I did not turn inward or
enter a state of prayer.
I called out to Krishna for His blessing
because it is not possible for me to
do good japa on my own endeavor.
I focused on chanting fast over
crying to Radha and Krishna
for Their mercy.
I completed my sixteenth round
with minutes to spare
on my overall quota.

I considered it a decent session,
despite focusing on speed
in the final two sets.
I was attentive on all my rounds.
I was alert and wide awake.
I did not focus internally,
but I kept up attentive japa
externally. For the whole session,
including the writing, I had
no sensation of eyestrain or headache.

At least I followed the process
of doing a prescribed number of rounds
in obedience to the order of the spiritual master,
a sacred vow.