I received a letter
from my godbrother in South Africa,
Partha Sarathi Maharaj.
It was a wonderful, friendly letter.
He told me about his personal bhajana.
He spends six hours chanting
the Hare Krishna mantra.
He chants mostly at a whisper
with earplugs in his ears.
Perhaps 10% of his japa
he does in the mind.
He also prays to the gurus in parampara.
He has many photos of our godbrothers
and godsisters and he prays to each
of them seeking their mercy,
since they have done so much
to please Srila Prabhupada.
I wrote him back and thanked him
for the letter. His affection is
very dear to me. I told him how I
get up at 1:00 A.M. and chant
sixteen rounds in my mind.
I said that I don’t chant vocally
because I fear it will provoke
a strain leading to a headache.
I said that I admired his practices
and considered him
a “big brother” in bhajana.
I asked him to write me back and
tell me more of the confidential nature
of his practice of bhajana.