1. why do we chant hare krishna mantra? prabh… · eternal devotional service so that i can get...

Gita for All Made Easy (GAME) – Positive Thinker (PT) Course, Vedic Oasis for Inspiration, Culture and Education (VOICE)

SANKALP CAMP : Session 7 : Scientific Benefits of Chanting Hare Krishna mantra

Harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam kalau nastyva nastyva nastyva gatir anyatha - Brhad Naradiya Purana “In this age Kaliyuga, the age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.”

1. Why do we chant Hare Krishna mantra?

The Vedas proclaim that chanting the transcendental names of God is the best and only yoga practice for this dark age of conflict, quarrel, misunderstandings, terror and tension. There can be no peace or harmony in the world unless the people of all nations garland their hearts with the holy names of God. Throughout the centuries, all divine masters have taught the same principle -- praise the Lord by singing and chanting His holy names. Such praise will pacify the mind, cleanse the heart of lust, anger and greed, and surcharge the soul with joy. In the beginning of Kali-yuga, Narada Muni visited Lord Brahma and asked him how the fallen people of Kali-yuga would be delivered. Lord

Brahma replied: hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare, hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare iti sodasakam nAmnAm, kali kalmasha nAshanam, nAtah parataropAyah, sarva vedesu drsyate

'The sixteen names of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra- Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare - destroy all the sins and inauspiciousness of the age of Kali. This is the conclusion of all the Vedas. The maha-mantra of sixteen names destroys all the evils and bad propensities and contaminations of our heart like lust, anger, greed, lamentation, illusion and fear rendering the heart like a clean mirror. When the impurities in heart are destroyed, the Supreme Lord Krsna will appear before the jiva like the shining sun

appearing when the cloud is removed.' (Kali-santarana Upanisad text 2-7)

2. Meaning of the Maha Mantra

“Our prayer of the Hare Krsna Maha-mantra means addressing Radha and Krishna for the being engaged in Their service. “Hare Krsna” means, “ Hare, O Radharani, Supreme devotee of Lord Krishna, O Krsna, Supremely attractive! O Radha-raman (Rama), one who delights in the devotional service of Sri Radha! Please accept me as your servant and engage me in your eternal devotional service so that I can get relief from the service of maya.” Since the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is a prayer, we

must chant with full understanding of the meaning of mantra and chant in prayerful mood. Our chanting must be like the desperate cry of a lost child crying for its mother. The mood should be one of the helplessness and utter dependence on Krishna.


3. Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, the great deliverer of Mind

Chanting Hare Krishna removes innumerable bad qualities from the mind such as insecurity, Lethargy, Madness, Ignorance, Bad habits, Dissatisfaction, Depression, Stress, Anxiety, Nervous Tension, Fears, Ignorance, Greed, Envy, Anger, Pride, Intolerance etc and makes the mind light like a swab of cotton. The very meaning of the word, `Mantra’ means `that which liberates or delivers the Mind from all evils’.

Chanting Hare Krishna awards the Chanter innumerable benefits including Concentration, Confidence, Peace of mind, security, steady intelligence, happiness, Efficiency, Cool head, Creating thinking, Joyful disposition, Detachment from useless and wasteful thoughts, focus on work at hand, dependence on God’s blessings, child-like simplicity, freedom from miseries of birth, old age, disease and death and ultimately love for God and eternal life in spiritual world.

4. Easy way to connect with Lord of million universes

In this world if you want to connect with someone, you call them on their mobile. Just as mobile connect two people offering them opportunity to exchange talks thereby giving them joy in that exchange, similarly Holy Name if the spiritual mobile which helps devotees of God to connect with Him instantly and communicate with Him. Here below is an example of Kunti who could speak to Sri Krishna by calling His holy name although Krishna was not present before her :

While talking with Akrüra, Kunti felt herself helpless and exclaimed, “My dear Kåñëa, my dear Kåñëa! You are the supreme mystic, the Supersoul of the universe. You are the real well-wisher of the whole universe. My dear Govinda, at this time You are far away from me, yet I pray to surrender unto Your lotus feet. I am now grief-stricken with my five fatherless sons. I can fully understand that but for Your lotus feet there is no shelter or protection. One can be safe from the clutches of repeated birth and death by Your mercy only. My dear Kåñëa, You are the supreme pure one, the Supersoul and the master of all yogés. What can I say? I can simply offer my respectful obeisances unto You. Accept me as Your fully surrendered devotee.” Although Kåñëa was not present before her, Kunté offered her prayers to Him as if she were in His presence face to face. This is possible for anyone following in the footsteps of Kunté. Kåñëa does not have to be physically present everywhere. He is actually present everywhere by spiritual potency, and one simply has to surrender unto Him sincerely. [Krishna Book by Srila Prabhupada] I once saw a man walking on the road who appeared to be talking to himself. Me and my friend thought probably he was a crazy man. When he came closer we understood that he was talking to someone on his Bluetooth! We understood that he is `connected’ to someone with whom he was talking and he was not crazy. Similarly, when Kunti was crying and calling Krishna’s names, she was not crazy just because Krishna was not in her front, but she was connected to her `blue Krishna’ through the holy name!

5. How we do know that Lord Krishna hears our call?

He appears invisible to our eyes and it seems He is very far away from us. When Draupadi was about to be disrobed, she loudly called in Delhi, “Hey Krishna! Hey Govinda! Hey Gopijana Vallabha! Hey Dwarakaavaasin !” And Krishna was in the palace of Satyabhama in Dwaraka, who had kept a golden plate of prasad in front of Him. But Krishna got up immediately saying, “Oh! One of my devotees (Draupadi) is calling me loudly. I’ve to go now.” He vanished from there and appeared in Delhi in a moment supplying unlimited saree!


Similary when Gajendra Elelphant called upon Lord Vishnu, he didn’t even remember Lord’s name! He only proclaimed, “O Source of everything! O Lord, O Absolute Truth, who is beyond all your creation!” Hearing his loud call, Lord Vishnu left His Vaikuntha and came flying on the back of Garuda immediately in a moment! These pastimes prove that Holy Name is the best way to connect with Lord, attract the Lord, gain shelter of the Lord and attain service to His lotus feet eternally. ACTIVITY : Choose the Correct Answer or Answers :

1. What is the easiest way to connect with Supreme Lord? (a) By calling Him by chanting His Holy Names. (b) By studying the Vedic literature (c) By performing Yajna, Charity and Austerities (d) By visiting the Temple of the Supreme Lord and taking Darshan

2. Queen Kunti called Krishna when He was not present before her. What do you infer? (a) As Bluetooth connects, she was connected through the Holy Name of Krishna. (b) It is better to call Krishna, let Him appear in front of us and then talk to Him (c) She probably became emotional and therefore called Krishna in His absence (d) Kunti had no way to reach Krishna as He was far away at that time; so she cried

6. Practical Benefits of Chanting Hare Krishna

In Siksastaka, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu mentions eight wonderful benefits of chanting Krsna's holy names:

(1) Antidote for Kali-yuga-Even an expert swimmer cannot cross Kali's ocean of problems and anxieties. Chanting Hare Krsna is the antidote to relieve the infection of Kali-yuga, solve all problems and remove all anomalies.

yathägadaà véryatamam upayuktaà yadåcchayä ajänato 'py ätma-guëaà kuryän mantro 'py udähåtaù

If a person unaware of the effective potency of a certain medicine takes that medicine or is forced to take it, it will act even without his knowledge because its potency does not depend on the patient's understanding. Similarly, even though one does not know the

value of chanting the holy name of the Lord, if one chants knowingly or unknowingly, the chanting will be very effective. [SB 6.2.19]

(2) Cleanses the heart-Dirty hearts cause all suffering. Ceto darpana marjanam: chanting Hare Krsna removes lust, anger, greed and material desires from the heart and awards the highest joy.

yan-näma-çruti-mätreëa pumän bhavati nirmalaù tasya tértha-padaù kià vä däsänäm avaçiñyate

What is impossible for the servants of the Lord? By the very hearing of His holy name one is purified. [SB 9.5.16]

(3) Controls the senses-Chanting Hare Krsna fully controls the tongue, which is the most difficult to control; then the mind and other senses follow suit. A Hunter Ratnakar chanted `Mara Mara’ and eventually ended

up chanting `Rama Rama’ and became the most saintly Valmiki Maharishi!

çatru-cchedaika-mantraà sakalam upaniñad-väkya-sampüjya-mantraà saàsäroccheda-mantraà samucita-tamasaù saìgha-niryäëa-mantram

sarvaiçvaryaika-mantraà vyasana-bhujaga-sandañöa-santräëa-mantraà jihve çré-kåñëa-mantraà japa japa satataà janma-säphalya-mantram


TRANSLATION O tongue, please constantly chant the mantra composed of Çré Kåñëa's names. This is the only mantra for destroying all enemies, the mantra worshiped by every word of the Upaniñads, the mantra that uproots miserable saàsära, the mantra that drives away all the darkness of ignorance, the mantra for attaining infinite opulence, the mantra for curing those bitten by the poisonous snake of worldly distress arising from poisonous teeth of impure senses, and the mantra for making one's birth in this world successful. [Mukunda Mala Stotram, Mantra 31]

Our Mind is like micro processor and our working senses are like servo motors. The Jnanendriyas like eyes, ears, nose, tongue, skin etc give inputs to the mind; mind processes the information and orders the working senses through the intelligence to act in a certain way. If input in mind is wrong then senses want to act in wrong ways Eg eyes want to see dirty cinema posters etc By chanting hare krsna we are filling our mind with Krishna, Rama and Hari names and purifying it. We are emptying poision vessel and filling with nectar . Nectar increases life

(4) Bestows transcendental knowledge- Chanting Hare Krsna purifies the heart and consciousness. One can then clearly understand his spiritual identity and realize God. The realization that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead usually takes many births (bahunam janmanam ante). But one can quickly attain this mature state of spiritual consciousness simply by chanting Hare Krsna.

(5) Best form of Repentance or Atonement-Chanting Hare Krsna is the best and most powerful means of atonement. Sins are not just nullified, but they are permanently removed.

avasenapi yan-nAmni kirtite sarva-patakaih, puman vimucyate sadyah simha-trastair mrgair iva

If one chants the holy name of the Lord, even in a helpless condition or without desiring to do so, all the reactions of his sinful life depart, just as when a lion roars, all the small

animals flee in fear. (Garuda Purana 232/12) (6) Faith in God-Increases by chanting Hare Krsna. Chanting clears all doubts, fills one with firm conviction, and solidifies one's foundation in devotion.

“viceyani vicaryani, vicintyani punah punah krpanasya dhananiva, tvan-namani bhavantu nah” O Lord, just as a miser continually collects, counts and remembers his money, in the same way let us continually collect, count, and remember Your holy names. (Padyavaii v. 30)

(7) Liberation-Although Kali-yuga is full of faults and suffering, the Supreme Lord has given a concession by making the all-powerful holy name easily accessible and most appropriate for this age. With very little effort anyone can achieve liberation simply by chanting Hare Krsna.

näma-saìkértanaà yasya sarva-päpa praëäçanam, praëämo duùkha-çamanas taà namämi harià param

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Hari, the congregational chanting of whose holy names destroys all sinful reactions, and the offering of obeisances unto whom relieves all material suffering. [SB 12.13.23]

7. How to Chant Hare Krishna with Concentration?

Concentration means to steadily focus, or to hold the mind on one form or object for a long time. Dharana means fixing the mind on one object (desa-bandhas cittasya dharana). However, when there is difficulty in keeping the mind fixed within a limited area of focus, one may keep the mind moving within a broader area in which everything relates to the central object of concentration or meditation.


Eg. In a Hospital, a patient has to wait for sometime till his turn to meet the doctor comes; similarly a chanter has to patiently wait to gain concentration. Eg. Similarly in an Airport, if due to air traffic, the plane does not get signal to land down immediately, it has to keep hovering in the sky for a while patiently, till it gets a signal. Kurma Purana says dharana means to concentrate the mind steadily on one point for 12 seconds. Twelve such dharanas (144 seconds) is dhyana (meditation), and twelve such dhyanas is samadhi (25 minutes and 28 seconds).

8. What should be the object of our concentration?

Besides concentration, the word dharana also means to hold, grasp or support. Concentration is impossible without something for the mind to grasp or hold on to. Dharana means centering the mind on a single thought, or in the case of bhakti-yogis, holding the transcendental form of Krsna in the mind along with the sound of His holy name. During concentration the mind becomes steady and serene-free from distractions. All mental energy is fixed on one thought-the form and sound of Krsna's holy name. In deep concentration the senses become still; one loses awareness of the body and his surroundings. For example, when one is engrossed in reading a favorite book, he will not hear if someone calls his name or even stands before him. Such one-pointedness of the mind is called ekagrata in yoga. Samskaras lead to Samadhi

Because of samskaras (mental impressions from previous experiences), it is easy to concentrate the mind on material objects. The mind has a natural tendency to go outwards through the senses to embrace the external world. For example, due to habit, the mind of a man will spontaneously and with great attention concentrate on the form of a beautiful woman or some eatable like Gulab jamun or Rasagulla or Sonbabdi. It is almost like instant samadhi!

Samskaras are compared to deep grooves or trenches cut in the mind, which make the mind always run in the same direction-towards maya and away from Krsna. Practicing sadhana-bhakti and concentrating in japa gradually "fills in" these grooves, and cuts new transcendental pathways on the surface of the mind. Regular chanting and absorbing our mind in attentively hearing the Holy Name will fill up the mental trenches, and gradually makes new divine impressions in mind (samskaras). Replace Bhoga vrtti by Seva vrtti

Patanjali gives a secret for controlling the mind in his Yoga-sutras: "When negative or harmful [sinful] thoughts disturb the mind, they can be overcome by constant pondering over their opposites (vitarka-badhane-pratipaksa-bhavanam)." A devotee must be ever alert, always watching the mind. Whenever useless or sinful thought waves arise while chanting japa, they should be

immediately replaced with positive thoughts. Such action will create new mental habits conducive to spiritual advancement. In other words, one should replace thoughts of enjoyment with thoughts of service. (eg) Replace thoughts of beautiful women by gopis.


9. How to control the Mind?

When one begins to concentrate, he has to coax the mind just as one coaxes an ignorant child. Speak to the mind: "Oh mind, you stupid monkey! Why are you always jumping here and there to foolish ideas and suggestions? Pursuing these material thoughts will only bring you and me endless suffering. Look at the Lord’s ultimate beauty, the perfect Divine Couple, Sri Sri Radha and Krishna -- radiating joy, compassion and love. When we carelessly indulge the mind in thinking of sense gratificatory plans during chanting, then such japa revives the false ego and fills one with the "I am the enjoyer" spirit. At times like this, one must reinforce his seva vrtti (thoughts for service) by repeatedly telling himself: aham brahmasmi, krsnera nitya-dasa, "I am not this body! I am pure spirit soul, part and parcel of Krsna! I am not the enjoyer, I am nothing but Krsna's eternal servant!" Be indifferent when nonsense ideas or sinful thoughts arise. Do not welcome them with open arms. Bad thoughts will disappear by not identifying with them, and by telling yourself with conviction: "I don’t want these impure and foolish thoughts about my material body and mind which are only coverings over me, the pure soul. I have nothing to do with these thoughts." Gradually the mind will give up its nasty habits, and happily honor Krsna's name and hold on to His lotus feet. This is dharana or concentration in japa. Superconscious, Sub-Conscious and Conscious mind

The mind (manah) has three aspects : superconscious mind, the conscious mind, and the subconscious mind. The subconscious serves as a storehouse of memories and past experiences. Intelligence (buddhi) performs the function of discriminating and making decisions. The mind is like a lake on which rise and fall innumerable waves of thoughts known as vrittis. In the average person thousands of vrittis appear in the mind at every minute. The finite soul is the passive witness of all that is perceived. Thought is the most powerful force in the universe, and it initiates all action. All work is first completed in the mind, and later carried out on the physical plane. Mind is conversing with itself, discussing pros and cons and options

The mind is always conversing with itself-wandering down memory lane, discussing the pros and cons of various options, and planning for the future. One can silence the internal dialogue by loudly chanting Krsna's holy names and begging for mercy. The Supreme Lord controls every inch of creation, so if He desires He can easily control one pagala-mana, crazy mind. Habits and desires from a previous life or this life are engrained or embedded in the mind. When these latent habits and desire manifest, the mind pushes one to act in a particular way. Astonishing parade of thoughts & people, desires & things gushing out of Subconscious Mind

For example, as soon as one sits for japa meditation, all sorts of nonsensical thoughts will manifest to disturb the mind. An astonishing parade of old memories, past enjoyments, future schemes and tasty scenarios will bubble up from the subconscious to spin the mind in a whirlwind of distraction. Thoughts and people, desires and things will gush out in a continuous stream from the subconscious reservoir. One should throw out these material thoughts just as one uproots weeds from the ground. One should fill the garden of the mind with divine thoughts of Krsna's eternal service, Gratitude, Repentance, Austerities, Prayerful mood and memories of His splendid pastimes.


Petitioning the Lord with prayer is very beneficial at every stage of chanting: "Oh Krsna, please help me! Oh Murli-manohara Hari, please capture my mind, control it, and accept it in Your service." Never despair and do not be discouraged. The constant chanting of Krsna's holy names will very quickly burn up all desires, illusions, sinful thoughts and memories from the mind.

10. Practice of Concentration

To have mental concentration one must be cheerful and peaceful. By cultivating friendship with equals, respect for seniors, compassion for juniors, and indifference toward sinners one will destroy envy, hatred and aversion, and become happy and serene. Srila Prabhupada says one can develop concentration by seclusion, determination, discretion and detachment.

By regular practice and cultivation, one can attain the platform of full concentration on Krsna's sweet names and remembrance of His pastimes. Mind and memory are like muscles-the more you use them the stronger they get. Srila Prabhupada confirms that memory power can improve with practice: "Memory may be poor. But if you cultivate something, your memory increases. Everyone becomes expert, not in one day, but by cultivation. Similarly, if you try to remember, then your memory will help you to remember. It is not difficult."

11. Conception & Consciousness : Meaning of the Hare Krsna Mantra

Success in japa depends on conception and consciousness. One must hold the right conception or meaning of the mantra in the mind while chanting, and one's consciousness must be filled with surrender.

Right conception is :

ayi nanda-tanuja kiìkaraà patitaà mäà viñame bhavämbudhau kåpayä tava päda-paìkaja- sthita-dhülé-sadåçaà vicintaya

"My dear Lord, I am Your eternal servant, but somehow or other I have fallen into the ocean of this material world. Kindly pick me up and fix me as a speck of dust at Your lotus

feet." (Çikñäñöaka 5)

Right consciousness is :

na dhanaà na janaà na sundaréà kavitäà vä jagad-éça kämaye mama janmani janmanéçvare bhavatäd bhaktir ahaituké tvayi "O Almighty Lord! I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor have I any desire to enjoy beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers. I only want Your causeless devotional service in my life, birth after birth." (Çikñäñöaka 4)

12. How to Chant our Hare Krishna mantra rounds Effectively to gain full benefit?

For one to gain the full benefit of chanting Hare Krishna, one should :

Chant audibly : One should Chant Audibly and not silently. Also if one does not chant aloud, one may go to sleep after sometime and the fingers will stop moving the beads. Chanting audibly helps us and others to know that we are awake and alive calling out the Holy Names of the Lord. Then we can focus on concentrating the mind on the Holy name.

Pronounce Clearly : Chanting involves the activities of the upper and lower lips as well as the tongue. All three must be engaged in chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. The words “Hare Krishna should be very distinctly pronounced and heard. Sometimes one mechanically produces a hissing sound instead of chanting with the proper pronunciation with the help of the lips and tongue. Chanting is very simple, but one must practice it seriously. Pronounce clearly and not mumble the Mahamantra within the mouth.


Sometimes a sleepy chanter may hallucinate and mumble part of the mantra and stop chanting inbetween. By pronouncing each word clearly and keeping awake, we get full benefit of chanting. Hear Attentively : Attentive hearing is the most important aspect of japa. Srila Prabhupada explains : “...Concentrate fully on the sound vibration of the mantra, pronouncing each name distinctly... do not worry so much chanting fast, more important is hearing.” Again, as you chant, try to hear each and every word very carefully...” “One should chant the Holy Name of the Lord with faith, enthusiasm and firm conviction on the statement of Lord Chaitanya that simply by chanting the Maha-mantra, one can be gradually elevated to the highest platform.” Since the mantra is transcendental sound vibration, it will act whether one knows the meaning of the mantra or not. Yet we must know what exactly we are praying when we chanting the Maha-Mantra. The Hare Krishna mantra is a prayer for protection and deliverance, a prayer to the Lord for His divine presence and for the opportunity to serve Him.

Laziness : Laziness means to chant with a murky mind, or to stop chanting before finishing a round in order to attend to a so called “important” activity. Another symptom is the strong urge to interrupt chanting for some rest. Remedy of laziness is to cultivate a strong desire to chant our prescribed rounds very sincerely and attentively. Our strong desire and eagerness to chant the Holy Name is most pleasing to Krishna and is the fundamental requirement for good japa.

Avoid Mechanical Chanting : Revival of the dormant affection or love of godhead however does not depend on the mechanical system of hearing & chanting, but is solely and wholly depends on the causeless mercy of the Lord. When the Lord is fully satisfied with the sincere efforts of the devotee, He may endow him with His loving devotional service. We need Krishna’s mercy so that the Holy Name will appear on our tongues, being attracted to our sincere loving chanting.

Kåñëa sürya-sama mäyä haya andhakära, yähäì kåñëa tähäì nähi, mäyära adhikära

MAYA is like the darkness and Krishna is like the sun. Where Krishna appears, there can be no darkness. Firm Determination to chant ones prescribed quota of rounds everyday : Japa is a barometer of our spiritual life. So when our japa is strong, then we are spiritually strong. Strong desire must manifest in the firm determination to chant ones prescribed quota of rounds every day, even in the midst of adverse and trying circumstances and also in the firm endeavor to improve one’s quality of japa. One must therefore be determined to do every act necessary to come to the standard of good japa qualitatively and quantitatively.

Can we think of Krishna’s Pastimes while chanting Hare Krishna? : One question that is sometimes asked by devotees is whether they can think of the pastimes of Krishna while doing japa. Srila Prabhupada said : “..So you cannot make any distinction between listening to the sound and thinking of the pastimes. But the process is to hear, and then Krishna’s pastimes, form, qualities etc.; will automatically come to mind...” At another place Srila Prabhupada says: “ ...Generally, it is the process to simply chant and hear, but if Krishna’s lila comes into remembrance that is very good. It should come automatically. Not that you are remembering artificially.”

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1. why do we chant hare krishna mantra? prabh… · eternal devotional service so that i can get...

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