The Remedy for Inattentive Chanting

INATTENTION – OUR MAJOR CHALLENGE

Srila Haridas Thakur is the namacharya, the ultimate teacher of the chanting of the holy name. In Sri Harinama Cintanmani, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur records a dialogue between Lord Caitanya and Haridas Thakur. In that dialogue Haridas explains:

“Inattention is counted as one of the aparadhas. Even if one successfully overcomes all the other offenses in chanting and one is chanting continuously, love of God may not come. One should know that the reason for this is that one is committing the offense known as pramada, or inattention.”

One of the principal causes of inattention is that our minds become distracted while chanting. Haridas continues:

“Naturally, the common man, having attachment to material things, will be attracted to these things even while chanting. Though chanting japa daily, if his taste is elsewhere…. His heart will not be absorbed in the chanting of the name but in some material object.”

THE PRESCRIBED REMEDY

Then Haridas prescribes the remedy:

“…….one should take association of vaishvanas who are properly chanting…………. being inspired by the conduct of the Vaishnavas, he will give up that fault.” And, “The remedy for this is to take association of vaishnavas who constantly chant and remember the holy name, being absorbed only in the name. One should follow in their footsteps.”

Similarly, in the 6th chapter of Sri Harinam Caintamani, Srila Haridas Thakur tells us how to chant in the association of our spiritual master:

“With the guru in mind, one should worship Krishna, and with the guru in mind one should chant Krishna’s name.”

This association with our spiritual master is transcendental. There is no question of him being away from us, or away from this planet.

THE TRANSCENDENTAL NATURE OF THE BONAFIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER

Because it is our tendency to see materially, we may think and feel that we are separated from Srila Prabhupada by considerations space and time. But in answer to this doubt, Srila Prabhupada speaks to us:

Devotee: “Should a disciple go to his spiritual master directly to offer the respects at least three times, or offer them where he is?”

Srila Prabhupada: “Well, if it is possible to go to him directly, that should be taken chance. But if he’s not, it is not possible, then his picture or his idea should be offered respect.” (Prabhupāda: SB Class 1.2.14-16 San Francisco, March 24, 1967)

Similarly, Srila Prabhupada writes for our understanding:

“A pure devotee of the Lord does not live on any planet of the material sky, nor does he feel any contact with material elements. His so-called material body does not exist, being surcharged with the spiritual current of the Lord’s identical interest, and thus he is permanently freed from all contaminations of the sum total of the mahat-tattva. He is always in the spiritual sky, which he attains by being transcendental to the sevenfold material covering by the effect of his devotional service.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.13.55 Purport)

And,

“One should consider the Acharya to be as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In spite of these instructions, if one considers the spiritual master an ordinary human being, one is doomed. His study of the Vedas and his austerities and penances for enlightenment are useless….” (SB. 7.15.26, Purport)

As stated in the above quote, we must cultivate this divine vision of our spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, that he is “As good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

In Srimad Bhagavatam, Srila Vyasadeva recognizes Narada Muni, his spiritual master, to be as good as the all-pervasive Supersoul:

“Like the sun, Your Goodness can travel everywhere in the three worlds, and like the air you can penetrate the internal region of everyone. As such, you are as good as the all-pervasive Supersoul….”

Like Srila Vyasadeva, Srila Prabhupada has many times explained that the bonafide spiritual master is the external manifestation of the Lord in the heart:

“The spiritual master is the external manifestation of God, who is situated in everyone’s heart as Supersoul.” (Easy Journey to Other Planets, Chapter 2)

In the second section of this article, Srila Haridas Thakur has prescribed the remedy for inattentive chanting: ………one should take association of vaishnavas who are properly chanting……”

And,

“……. with the guru in mind one should chant Krishna’s name….”

WITH THE GURU IN MIND ONE SHOULD CHANT KRISHNA’S NAME

In the Teachings of Lord Caitanya, chapter 18, Srila Prabhupada describes the process of receiving the holy name from the spiritual master, and chanting, following in his footsteps:

“The process is that a bonafide Spiritual Master chants the Holy Name, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, and the transcendental sound vibration enters into the ear of the disciple. If the disciple follows in the footsteps of his Spiritual Master, and chants the Holy Name with equal respect, that becomes the worship of the transcendental Name.” (This is the original 1968 version; and not the version as posted on Prabhupada Books. Com. We have the original volume.)

In the above quote, Srila Prabhupada instructs us to receive the holy name from him, and then to chant with “equal respect.” This quote enables us to have a more profound understanding of his very similar recorded audio statement:

“As far as possible the chanting should be heard from the lips of a pure devotee of the Lord.”

By giving ardent submissive aural reception to the chanting of the pure devotee, one may begin to cultivate chanting of the holy name with “equal respect.”

In order to shed light on this process of submissive aural reception, followed by chanting with equal respect, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur writes in his bhajan entitled Gurudeva, second verse:

Translation: “I offer you all respects, for thus I may have the energy to know you correctly. Then by chanting the holy name in great ecstasy, all my offenses will cease.”

In this article we are considering how one can eliminate the offense of inattentive chanting. And in this bhajan, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur explains the process. If we are respectful in sufficient degree at the lotus feet of our spiritual master, if we approach him with all of the humility at our command, in that way we will be in possession of the energy by which we will be able to understand the devotional feelings of our spiritual master. To “have the energy to know you correctly” means that when we place ourselves at our master’s feet in full surrender, he is moved to reveal his devotional feelings to us. Then the disciple can begin to chant following “in the footsteps of his spiritual master.”

That the bonafide spiritual master will reveal is devotional feelings to us so that we can follow in his footsteps, this very understanding is recited every morning at Guru Puja, wherein we find the following words:

“The lotus feet of our spiritual master
is the only way by which we can attain
pure devotional service.
I bow to his lotus feet with great awe and reverence.”

And what will be the result? What will be gained when we approach His Divine Grace, with great awe and reverence?

“From him Krishna prema emanates: by him ignorance is destroyed.”

Just as heat and light of the sun are radiating throughout the universe; so similarly, Krishna prema, divine love of Krishna, radiates from His Divine Grace. And when we cultivate the practice of living our lives, bowed at his lotus feet, with great awe and reverence, we will be able to sense that emanation of Krishna prema. That is the mercy of Lord Caitanya, delivered freely through the disciplic succession. And when we begin to understand his devotional energy and begin to chant with equal respect, that becomes the worship of the holy name; and then our offenses will cease. Therefore, Srila Prabhupada writes:

“Pure devotion is as much infectious, in a good sense, as infectious diseases.” (SB 1.5.25 purport excerpt)

Herein, Srila Prabhupada invokes a metaphore. Just as one catches the germs of another person by intimate association, so also, in the same way, by the association of a pure devotee, one can become infected with his devotional qualities. This acquisition of his devotional qualities is like the catching of a germ that can become systemic. It is like a seed planted, that can become a devotional creeper. The germ that becomes systemic, and the seed that becomes a devotional creeper, both are dependent on our continued cultivation. It is not that, “Now I have it, and my work is done.” It is a process of living in the demeanor of begging for this mercy, the ability to understand His Divine Grace, and the purposeful cultivation of that devotional taste through our own chanting. Srila Prabhupada is our eternal spiritual master.

Continuing on, in this same purport, in order to sweep aside our doubts, Srila Prabhupada affirms this same understanding:

“…….by the association of pure devotees …………the neophyte devotee becomes practically enriched with the transcendental qualities of the pure devotee, which means attraction for the Personality of Godhead’s name, fame, quality, pastimes, etc. Infection of the qualities of the pure devotee means to imbibe the taste of pure devotion….”

To become infected with the qualities of the pure devotee, means to actively imbibe or drink in, absorb, the taste of pure devotion that emanates from the pure devotee. “From him Krishna prema emanates”.

Similarly, another metaphor is provided by Srila Prabhupada in the Nectar of Devotion, chapter 12:

“In the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya there is a conversation between Prahlāda Mahārāj and his father, Hiraṇyakaśipu, in which Hiraṇyakaśipu addresses Prahlāda in this way: “My dear son, association is very important. It acts just like a crystal-stone which will reflect anything which is put before it.” Similarly, if we associate with the flowerlike devotees of the Lord, and if our hearts are crystal clear, then certainly the same action will be there.”

In that same paragraph, Srila Prabhupada provides us with another metaphor:

“Another example given in this connection is that if a man is potent and if a woman is not diseased, then by their conjugation there will be conception. In the same way, if the recipient of spiritual knowledge and the deliverer of spiritual knowledge are sincere and bona fide, there will be good results.”

Just see how intimate these examples, these metaphors are. If our hearts are crystal clear, free of other desires and concerns, we can receive and reflect the spiritual energy of the pure devotee. “If we associate with the flowerlike devotees of the Lord and our hearts are crystal clear, ………the same action will be there.”

Then we are asked to consider the intimate connection between a man and woman. Srila Prabhupada is potent. And if our hearts are not diseased, filled with all manner of nonsense, but receptive and pure in intention to imbibe the taste of his devotion……. there will be conception of spiritual knowledge within our hearts.

Therefore, when we consider the instruction of Haridas Thakur:

“With the guru in mind, one should chant Krishna’s name.”, we can understand his words by contemplating Srila Prabhupada’s purport in Bhagavad-gita, chapter 4, verse 34:

“One should not only hear submissively from the spiritual master; but one must also get a clear understanding from him, in submission and service and inquiries. A bona fide spiritual master is by nature very kind toward the disciple. Therefore, when the student is submissive and is always ready to render service, the reciprocation of knowledge and inquiries becomes perfect.”

Inquiry means, “How can I develop my love for Krishna?” Submission means, “I approach your Divine Grace with great reverence and humility so that I may imbibe from you, the taste of your devotion. And service means that I begin to chant with equal feeling, equal respect. And this service is for invoking Srila Prabhupada’s pleasure. Learning how to chant, from him, in this way, this is pleasing to Srila Prabhupada. And chanting in this way, following in his footsteps, with a desire to please him, is pleasing to Srila Prabhupada.

As we embark on this intimate process of cultivation of devotion under the guidance of our spiritual master, His Divine Grace, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, all remnants of inattentiveness will depart as much as a flock of birds take flight at the clap of our hands.

Srila Prabhupada repeatedly tells us: “Krishna consciousness is simple for the simple. It’s only a matter of understanding and accepting.” Acceptance means to put this understanding into practice.

“He lives forever by his divine instructions and the follower lives with him.” What we have humbly tried to put forward herein, are part of those instructions.

In his poem, composed in reverent praise of his spiritual master, in 1935, Srila Prabhupada expresses the heartfelt spirit by which we can associate with him in order to be relieved of our propensity for being distracted when chanting the holy name.

Misled we are,
all going astray,
Save us Lord,
our fervent pray
Wonder thy ways
to turn our face,
Adore they feet,
Your Divine Grace

“For a neophyte especially, considering a pure devotee from a material point of view is very injurious. One should try to see the internal features and understand how he is engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.” NOI

 

(by Ishan das)