May 10, 2007

Some further hints about how to increase the quality of Japa have come to
mind. I have been practicing these for some time.

Actually chanting nicely in the morning starts the night before. What we do
right before taking rest at night affects our consciousness not only while
we are resting but also for the next day particularly the morning time.

The Vedas describe that there are two stages of sleep: unconscious and
dreaming. Even those two stages can be broken up into different activities
of the brain and the mind. For example while we are dreaming we are
processing (what we received in the past), predicting (working through
events we might have to go through in the future), and venting (throwing out
unnecessary or unwanted data).

These activities involve the subconscious mind which is connected with our
subtle body.

So, for example when we are absorbed in something, particularly at right
before we go to sleep that very subject matter is processed during the night
and affects our consciousness when we wake up in the morning. It is said
that that half hour before sleep is critical and that whatever we are
conscious of during that half hour will enter into our subconscious mind.

I will give you one experience I had many years ago when I was a teenager.
My father had bought me a manual shift car, but I did not know how to drive
this type of car. Every attempt I made was unsuccessful. So I studied the
movements and theory behind shifting the car, meditated on it, dreamt of it,
and the next morning I was able to drive a manual shift perfectly.

Srila Prabhupada understood this principle very well. That is why he
advocated an evening program, and especially reading the Krishna Book before
resting at night.

In other words if you absorb yourself in Krishna Katha before you take rest at
night during the night your mind and brain will be processing Krishna Katha,
you will likely wake up thinking about Krishna, and your subtle body will be
purified! Wow! What a nice way to become Kcon.

Sometimes when I read Krishna Katha at night I become so excited that I
start bouncing off the walls and can’t sleep! That I guess is an
occupational hazard! So, one should pick a type of Krishna Katha that is
more meditative-like that contained in Krishna Book!

Another point is how one should wake up the next morning. Generally people
wake up in a groggy state (although it will be less likely if you are
hearing Krishna Katha the previous night). But, whatever state you wake up
in, you should immediately start to chant the Mahamantra out loud.

I sing when I am going through the bathroom procedures. I often take this
opportunity to learn new kirtan tunes. Sometimes the kirtan gets so ecstatic
that I have to remind myself that I have other things to do in the morning
than chanting in my house to myself!

An alternative is to listen to a class or kirtan by Srila Prabhupada. It is
very important that if you listen to a class or kirtan it be one by a pure
devotee.

We should be very very discriminating as to what Kirtans or classes we
listen too. If someone is chanting or speaking and they are not strictly
following, our consciousness can even get covered by the modes of nature by
our listening to them.

avaisnava-mukhodgirnam
putam hari-kathamrtam
sravanam naiva kartavyam
sarpocchistam yatha payah Padma Purana

So, the above two suggestions (what to do before resting and what to do when
waking) prepare the mind for chanting proper japa.

One final suggestion is that when you sit down to chant japa, and relax the
body, you tell the mind in a very positive way to focus on the sound
vibration. If you repeat this several times to the mind and feel positive
about it, the mind will be obedient.

In my next blog, I would like to write about the devotee who I consider the
best disciple of Srila Prabhupada!!!!!