Bhaktivinoda Thakura has written a book on chanting the holy names, _Harinama-cintamani_, and he analyzes the causes of the offenses and offers suggestions on how to avoid them. His analysis of inattentive chanting is particularly interesting. He calls it pramada, or madness, and says, “One may carefully avoid all the other nama-aparadhas, yet still not experience the ecstasy of the pure name. This is an indication of another type of nama-aparadha known as pramada, which restricts the natural growth of pure devotion.” He says that inattentiveness is similar to negligence and is of three kinds. One is apathetic devotional service, or a lack of fixed resolve in sadhana. The second is laziness or even inertia. The third is distraction, or misplacing one’s attention in engagements not directly connected with sadhana bhakti. He recommends chanting with a pure devotee and increasing the number of rounds. But he also says it is important to concentrate on the quality of the holy names and not try to artificially increase the number of rounds. He also recommends spending “a little time alone in a quiet place and concentrating deeply on the holy name.”
(_Japa Transformations_)
JAPA POEM
In Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s _Harinama-cintamani_,
he analyzes the offenses in chanting.
He cites the offense of pramada and
describes it as inattention to the Name.
He describes the different varieties
of inattention. “He recommends
chanting with a pure devotee and
increasing the number of rounds.
But he also says it is important
to concentrate on the quality
of the holy names and not try to
artificially increase the number of rounds.
I began my new schedule of
not writing the Japa Report,
the exact same poem I have written every day.
This enabled me to chant
my sixteen rounds
and meet the overall quota
with minutes to spare.
I considered it a decent session.
I was alert and wide awake
for the whole time.
I experienced no head pain
for the entire session.
I couldn’t enter a
prayer state, but I chanted
all my rounds with attention.
I follow the process
of doing a prescribed number of rounds,
in obedience to the order of the spiritual master,
a sacred vow.