As late as 1977 Prabhupada recalled that I used to bring him a fresh mango every day. He reminisced about 1966 and said, “Those were happy days.” For me, they were the happiest days of my life. One of the best times to chant was in the morning with Prabhupada. After kirtana he used to say, “Chant one round.” We did it together. He usually finished before we did, and then we all trailed off, even if we hadn’t finished the round.
(_Japa Transformations_)
JAPA POEM
Reminiscing “chant one round” with Swamiji
in the morning with about 12 boys
gathered in the
Matchless Gifts storefront.
He said we should chant softly
so as not to disturb
the tenant on the second floor.
When the tenant got angry, he
would pour water from his bathtub
through the cracks in the floor
down into our temple.
When we did japa
with Swamiji, some of the boys
would take their beads
out of the bead bags
and string them around
their necks. Swamiji kept
his beads in his bead bag.
It was ecstasy
chanting under the
lead of the Master.
I started japa early
at a brisk pace,
planning to write
a short Japa Report and
do intermittent darsana
while meeting my quotas.
I practiced “just hear.”
I met my quota after four rounds
with ample minutes to spare.
I began my second set
at a brisk pace.
Although I was
chanting silently in my mind,
I heard the Names clearly,
with attention, and concern
to pronounce the words properly.
The maha-mantra is so merciful and powerful
that it vanquishes sinful reactions,
ushers in liberation,
and brings one gradually to the actual goal –
attainment of love of God,
even while chanting with imperfections
as I was doing.
(I like to repeat the lines about
the power of the maha-mantra.
It gives me confidence that
I am making progress, even though
I am making mistakes.)
I met my quota after eight rounds
with plenty of minutes to spare.
I began my third set
at a rapid pace. I did not
cultivate thoughtfulness or
devotional feelings in an attempt
to avoid mechanical chanting.
Baladeva was in the emergency room
of the hospital, so I was alone
and quiet in my bhajana-kutir.
I stopped my darsana because
the Deities appeared blurry
to my eyes. So far, I felt no head pain.
I was grateful for that.
I finished my twelfth round
with many minutes to spare.
I continued to speed on the fourth set,
but I didn’t rush recklessly.
I held on to the bead
until the mantra was finished
before moving on to the next bead.
I finished the sixteenth round
way ahead by the clock.
I considered it a decent session.
I started japa early
and chanted briskly,
so I finished an hour early.
I didn’t enter a prayerful attitude,
but I enunciated my rounds
with external attention.
I was alert and wide awake
for the whole time.
I felt no head pain for the entire session.
I follow the process
of doing a prescribed number of rounds
in obedience to the order of the spiritual master,
a sacred vow.