Yesterday I chanted eight extra rounds after my minimum sixteen and wanted to do more, but I got distracted. If there was enough time in the day and I didn’t think I had other things to do, I would chant even more. It doesn’t get boring once you’re actually sailing along in the mantras themselves. I’m chanting with my right hand now, even though it hurts a little with my shoulder. It’s more “comfortable” this way, and more natural. I’m convinced that Lord Caitanya has given us the best thing possible for this age. It’s amazing how simple it is. People think it’s too simple to be profound, and so they don’t take it up. But we need a simple thing because we’re not competent to do meditation, or we’re not capable of performing Vedic yajñas or elaborate deity worship in place of the mantra. It’s a beautiful conception that He packed all His potencies in these thirty-two syllables and placed Himself there too in the most merciful form. The conception is beautiful, what to speak of the actual execution. We should always be very grateful to Krishna for giving us the Hare Krishna mantra, and we should show our gratitude by chanting it as much as possible. That way we will bond with Him, which is our heart’s greatest desire. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.
(_Japa Transformations_)
JAPA POEM
A poem to the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra.
I chanted extra mantras
above the minimum quota
and felt like
going on to do more.
It’s simple to do
and we need it that way,
because we are not capable
of meditation or yajña.
We should be
grateful to the process
and chant the mantra with love.
“That way we will
bond with Him,
which is our heart’s greatest desire.”