Here is a statement on japa from a letter by Prabhupada to Satsvarupa dasa, March 8, 1969. Satsvarupa had written to Prabhupada saying that he had heard from a godbrother that Prabhupada was chanting japa, and a disciple was present who was also chanting. Supposedly, Prabhupada told the disciple, “Japa should be chanted very softly.” Satsvarupa asked Prabhupada if this was true. Here is the reply:
“Regarding your question, there is no such requirement that japa should be silently and chanting should be done differently. Loudly or silently, everything is all right. There is no such restriction. Only thing is that we should chant very attentively, hearing the vibration very distinctly.”
That last sentence has been a motto for me for the last few days. I keep going back to it, telling myself, “Chant very attentively, Prabhupada says, and hear the vibration distinctly.” That is what he wants us to do.
This is my writing time on the last day. That slow, drowsy stuff leaves me feeling a bit angry. I am going to go back now and hit it hard, some better japa, you’ll see.
(_Begging for the Nectar of the Holy Name_)
JAPA POEM
I quote from a letter
Prabhupada wrote me in 1969.
I had written to him
saying that I heard
he once said japa should
be done softly. He
wrote back that there was
no restriction, loud or
silent was all right.
“Only thing is that we should chant
very attentively.” This
statement has become
a motto for me
for the last days of the japa retreat.