Stop chanting now and listen. Sorry to interrupt your meditation but I have to leave for Delhi very soon. Because of this we started earlier and ended earlier. My observation is some of you are joining late. I have taken note of the fact that our japa session is by and large from about 6.00 am to 7.00 am. IST. So try to be on time to get full benefit. We first chant together, and then we talk about Japa for few minutes.

IYF Nagpur and Gopalpur BACE have also joined today. They are welcomed. We want bigger participation. If we chant congregationally , then it becomes sankirtana.

In Satya-yuga, there was one meditator in one cave. If there were two yogis in one cave, it would be considered too many. Those were the conditions for dhyana or meditation. But in age of Kali, the bigger the number the better. If you are alone, you may fall asleep. As soon as you are by yourself , you will get distracted doing this and that. Chanting in association of devotees is favourable and beneficial for chanting. You get benefit of association. You remain away from the association of non-devotees, ie. the influence of Maya is cut off as soon as you are chanting and chanting specially in the association of devotees. You could also chant with your family members. On this conference you should realize, even if there are no devotees next to you, still there are three to four hundred devotees chanting with you on this conference. You may be just watching us on the mobile screen, and may not be able to see so many of them. But on the laptop screen I am able to see hundreds of you surrounding me and I feel protected as devotees are surrounding me. It is a kind of fencing. I don’t feel alone. You also should feel that way. You should understand and realize, this is powerful association of devotees on this conference. Sange saktihi kaliyuge (an old Sanskrit proverb) says that in Kaliyuga there is strength in sanga or big numbers. They congregate and exhibit their power or ‘Shakti’. We get that experience on this conference. So take advantage of these chanting sessions.

I see little Gauranga with his younger brother chanting together from Florida. Two little boys. They are two Kumaras not four Kumaras. It’s very pleasing to see them chanting together. As I said yesterday, we have Kumaras , Yuva and older people – all generations. Children are chanting, youths are chanting and old folks are chanting. I see everybody chanting and I feel happy. I feel protected. I feel enthusiastic also. So this must be the right thing to do. When we see so many are doing it then it stresses on the mind that this must be the right thing to do. That’s a kind of psychology. You are not the only one. That is the experience. It’s not that only Indians who are chanting. Even Americans are chanting. Devotees from Toronto are chanting. Devotees from Mauritius are chanting. So this must be the right thing to do. People from all over the world are chanting. I am not the only fool here chanting. Is there something wrong with me? No you are not a fool. You are wise because you are chanting.

as follows, with special reference to the saṅkīrtana-yajña:

kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇaṁ
sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam
yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair
yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ (Bhāgavatam 11.5.32)

In the declaration of Bhagavatam it is stated, intelligent people will take to the chanting. They will take to yajna, which yajna? Sankirtana yajna. Performing sankirtana yajna is a job of intelligent, or smart people.

Krsna yei bhaje sei bada catura:( Krsnadas Kaviraj in CC Anya Lila 4.67) if you want to prove you are wise, chant Hare Krishna. If you do not you are a fool. So you are chanting and you are wise and we get further convinced when we see others are also chanting. This was the prediction and expectation of Supreme personality of Godhead – Caitanya Mahaprabhu. All glories to Him. People in every town and village will take up to this chanting. Srila Prabhupada kindly began this revolution in consciousness. He made this holy name available everywhere. We are seeing devotees chanting everywhere. We get the reports from Russia that , “ ‘Hare Krishna’ is a fastest growing religion and is spreading all over Russia like wildfire.” Something that was banned in Russia some time back and there are reports that there are 700000 followers of Hare Krishna in Russia. So this must be the right thing to do. So many people globally are accepting Hare Krishna. They are accepting Bhagavad-Gita and following it.

It is getting late and I better leave you with your chanting and proceed to the airport. Keep chanting. Srila Prabhupada propagated the holy name and made the holy name available to all you chanters. Now it is our duty and obligation to propagate and spread this holy name. Make this available to others. Give this gift of the holy name to your near and dear ones – your friends and relatives and neighbours. In the words of Caitanya Mahaprabhu

jare dakho tare Kaho Krishna upadesh. (CC Madhya 7.128)

Do this. Don’t just be content. O! I am Chanting, I am happy. You are also expected to – name ruchi jive daya vaishnav seva(Caitanya Bhagavata – Madhya khanda 28.28) You will develop more ruci if you do two things as explained in the song of Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur. name ruci in order to develop ruci in nama you should do Vaisnava seva and jive daya. You have to serve Vaisnavas. Stop offending Vaisnavas. Best thing is to serve Vaisnavas. Sadvidhim preeti laxanam. ( Nectar of Instruction, Verse 4) The loving dealings Rupa Goswami has talked about , see how you can do all that in a loving manner and service attitude. That’s one thing. Also there should be jive daya – compassion. Those who are little faithful, give them an opportunity to come to Krsna. Chant Hare Krishna. ‘ Jive daya’ – be kind to them. Hand over the holy name to them. So jive daya – vaisnava seva.

May your Ruci , your liking , your attraction for the holy name increase day by day. That is our mission. We will stop here. See you another day.
Hare Krishna!

I am happy to see so many Nagpur devotees actually as I am in Nagpur. Today I am seeing them personally instead of on the screen. I am happy to see so many children chanting. Any one can take part in chanting. Prabhupad would say that even a dog can take part in it. It is better to chant with family and friends. It gives nice samskaras for children. They could imbibe the spirit and take up chanting from a young age.

All age groups are chanting on this conference. Chanting is ultimately not for the body, but for the soul. Maybe there is some benefit for the body also. I will not highlight that now because main benefit is of soul. We want the soul to chant and hear, and our soul to become nourished and healthy. The ‘atma’ will become ‘Mahatma’ by sincere chanting. Ultimately the soul is chanting, as we have been talking. The tongue can’t chant, or the ears can’t hear if there is no soul in the body. There is one real incidence in this regard, I heard this from a reliable source. One elderly Gaudiya Vaisnava was unwell. The doctor arrived and started checking his chest and heart with the stethoscope. He was surprised. He looked at the mouth of the devotee. It was closed, but doctor was hearing “ Hare Krsna Hare Krsna”. The seat of the soul is in heart and the doctor was hearing the chanting of the soul. The soul was praying and chanting.

When you chant on this conference, I am seeing you and you are seeing me. If you are seeing me then you also should understand that I am seeing you. It’s good. By seeing each other we can drive some inspiration. When you see me , you may be feeling inspired. I also feel happy and enthusiastic , seeing you all. But our goal on the conference is not to see each other. It is to see beyond this. See Krsna in each other’s presence. Our goal is mantra- meditation. “ Nama-smaran”. We want to meditate on the name, form, qualities and pastimes of the Lord. We want to remember and remind each other of Krsna. Krsna is the topic of our meditation, our japa, our discussion.

You should also be aware that Krsna is seeing you if you are trying to see Krsna. In the beginning you may see something which is not very clear. But that much is enough to understand, that Krsna is seeing you. You are struggling to see Krsna, hear Krsna, remember Krsna. To the degree we succeed in seeing or hearing or remembering to that degree Krsna reciprocates with you.
ye yath mam prapadyante tas tatheva bhajamyamaham. (B.G. 4.11)

Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakur was giving a class and in the middle of the class one disciple went to take darsana of the Deities in the altar and came back. He asked the disciple ,” Where did you go? “ He replied “ For darsana”. Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakur asked him, “How was your eye exercise?” ( He opened the eyes and closed them while taking darsana which was just like an exercise of eyes) He then chastised him by saying that he was trying to explain in the class how he could take darsana, but that disciple went on his own to take darsana which was not required. You will not be able to take darsana that way.
caksur unmilitam yen tasmay sri gurave namah

The point I am trying to make is that as we are trying to see Krsna, Krsna is also seeing us. For Him it’s easy as he is anumanta, saksi (witness). He is seeing us all the time, but He gets pleased and showers his merciful glance on us specially when we are chanting his names, remembering him, calling out to him. Krsna can see, do you agree?

hrshiken hriushikesh sevanam bhaktir uchhyate ( C.C. Madhya 19.170 ) when we engage our senses in the service of master of the senses, that is ‘Bhakti-yoga’. Japa-yoga is Bhakti-yoga. We are trying to please Krsna’s senses. We are trying to serve Krsna’s senses with our senses.

This is atmendriya priti vanca tar bale kam, krsnendriya priri vancha dhare prema nama ( C.C. Adi Lila 4.165) Engaging our senses in the service of the master of senses. That is Bhakti and the Lord is pleased with us. That is Prema. Krsna sees us. Krsna hears us . When we are chanting, we are hearing and Krsna is also hearing. Krsna’s ears are not just decoration. Those are functional. They are hearing. Krsna’s eyes are seeing. Krsna can smell. When pujari offers incense Krsna smells punyo gandha pruthiyam ca ( I am the fragrance of the earth)) so Krsna sees, hears, smells becomes happy when we touch His lotus feet. The fragrance of the earth reaches the flowers , and when you smell , that fragrance is Krsna. When we are little down or depressed what we should do? Offer a fragrant flower to the Lord and then smell it. Then there will be an experience of enthusiasm and bliss. The Lord only increases our enthusiasm.

HH Sachinandan Maharaja told a story. There was a devotee of goddess Durga who started offering incense. There was also a Krsna Deity. What we understand is that Durga must have realized – bhoktaram yajna tapasa ( B.G. 5.29) So the dhoop being offered by this devotee all started going in the direction of Krsna and It was ending up entering Krsna’s nostrils. This pujari was not happy. What he was offering for the pleasure of Durga was ending up entering the nostrils of Krsna. But the Lord was happy, because the pujari had the realization that Deity of Krsna is real. It was not just a statue. He believed that the Deity could smell, enjoying the fragrance he was offering. Krsna was very happy with such a realization. This was just illustration that Krsna including his Deity can see, hear, eat and smell. He also becomes happy when we serve Him nicely. So while chanting, understand for sure that the Lord is seeing me, hearing me. While chanting when we are saying – Hare….. Krsna , these are all addresses. Samodhan . We are trying to get Krsna’s and Radharani’s attention. We speak our heart to the Lord through the medium of the Hare Krsna mahamantra while chanting. We are communicating with the Lord so he hears. Like that there is a reciprocation between the devotee and the Lord through Bhakti.( Devotion).

We pray to the Lord , I am so fallen, please uplift me. ayi nandtanuj kinkaram patitam ma bhavambudho . (Ref ??) This is the mood, the contemplation, the mission of Chanting.

(Gurudev sees someone sleeping) Oh! If you are sleeping where is the meditation. It’s zero. Sleep is the enemy. It’s the end of the meditation and end of our session also . I will take darsana of Radha-Gopinath now .

Hare Krsna!

Today many of the participants were chanting together. As they are from temples or BACE. Even kids are chanting. Lila Madhuri Mataji is chanting with her grand son and her daughter, Radhika. I am surprised to see my disciple and my blood brother Sri Ram from my village on the conference chanting. We welcome all the new devotees. As this will increase our numbers and increase our association. To make it little interactive , we will take up some questions.

Ojasvini Mataji: A few days ago I discussed about preparation for chanting. Before chanting attend mangal-aarti, Tulsi Pooja, recite Siksastakam and ten offenses, pray to Haridas Thakur and then take a seat and chant. So question is we have to get up at 2.30am , which is 6.00am here in India. So it’s big struggle to get up and chant on conference. Then what to speak of all the preparatory part.So how it should be managed?

Guru Maharaja : Whatever I mentioned should be done in normal circumstances. May be devotees in India can do it. But for devotees from overseas, you don’t have to follow all that. You can do mangal-aarti after chanting. Or take some rest in between. Because I also mentioned on one of the days that you cannot be Yogi or Bhakti Yogi if you don’t sleep enough. Krsna says too much or too little cannot be Yogi. One who eats too much or too little can’t be Yogi. So make sure you have well rested. Devotees from Ukraine and Russia have to go to bed early. ‘Early to bed, early to rise makes man healthy wealthy and wise.’ So you should also be wise. Sleep at 9.00pm, so that you can get up early. Don’t just be a fanatic follower, or follow things blindly. Each person, each body has its own needs, interests and concerns. I know one of the sannyasi’s HH Bhakti-Vaibhav swami Maharaja sleeps for 3 – 4 hours and he is done with his rest. I know I can’t manage with that less sleep. So this applies to you also.

I keep saying this things from time to time that if you take some trouble, undertake some inconveniences , go out of your way to chant, then that increases your credit. You get more benefit. Lord is more pleased with you , more than with devotees from India. When we undergo some inconveniences, then it’s a ‘ tapasya’ in spiritual language. Any tapasya is purifying -yasmat suddhe brahma saukyam tu anantam one willingly undergoes some inconveniences, which results in happiness. You derive pleasure. You walk on your feet, you get distressed physically, so that is a Parikrama tapasya. Then we say “ From blisters to Bliss”. You tolerate those blisters, and still continue walking which ultimately brings bliss, or Madhavnandini Mataji can further advise on how to organize your schedule for devotees from Russia and Ukraine. Body, mind and soul – which constitutes ourselves, has to have some well being.

Ganesh: Please enlighten us on the verse of Siksastakam.

Guru Maharaja: I have been saying, there is some study materials, scriptures, reference material which will help and inspire you to chant. Help you to concentrate while chanting. Make your chanting meditative. I have been talking of literatures and instructions. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu himself said to study Siksastakam. You will find a chapter entitled Siksastakam in Caitanya Caritamrita, Antya Lila, Chapter 20 which are the 8 instructions of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. If you read and study that chapter it will give you detailed understanding. Because he gives those 8 verses and then gives his own commentary. As Srila Vyasdev wrote Vedant- sutra and then gave commentary on it, which is Srimad Bhagavatam. That is why Prabhupada also writes, Srimad Bhagavatam is a natural commentary on Vedanta-sutra, by the same author. So likewise he gave 8 instructions on Siksastakam and then he gives his commentary on each of those. Not very long or elaborate, but a short commentary.

You should read or study that and then Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur as well as Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur have written a commentary of Siksastakam named “ Sammohini Bhasya”. Study that. Because having a session on it will become too long and our temple devotees have to get ready for greeting the Deities. I will make some comments on Siksastakam , sometime in future.
Murali Mohan Prabhu from Ahamdabad is seeking blessings for conducting Padayatra in Ahmedabad on 17th.

He joins our session every single day with his family. I extend my blessings for same. Others also could take this up and I am very ready, eager to bless them also. That is a public chanting, chanting congregationally on Nagar-sankirtana on a one day Padayatra. According to Haridas Thakur, one gets hundred times more benefit, by chanting out loud compare to Japa. That is – param vijayate sri krshna sankirtanam (Siksastakam verse 1) So he is promoting that we should do congregational chanting.
Hari! Hari! Gaur Premanande Hari Hari bol !

Our number of attendees keeps varying as some are steady , some are not. So be steady, be fixed up. It is good to chant every day at the same place and the same time preferably. That helps to concentrate, to meditate if the surrounding doesn’t change every day. I can’t manage that, because I keep traveling. But most of you have your residence or temple. So be there for the chanting session. Same time , same place, preferably with the same chanters around you.

This is a part of the asana. Asana, Pranayam , Pratyahaar, Dhyana, Dharana. Asana is the circumstances and surrounding – Who else is there with you? In which place are you? Location? Time? Seat? Asana is an important factor. We have talked about this long time back.

Do not forget , what we say from time to time. We may not repeat. Whatever we have said applies. You remember and follow those guidelines. They are supposed to be favourable for attentive chanting.

Time, place , circumstances are part of asana. Time factor wise today is very, very auspicious day. Today is Appearance day of Advaita Acarya. Advaita Acarya ki Jai! He is the member of Pancatattva. At the beginning of each round we offer prayers to Pancatattva members.

Sri krsna caitanya prabhu nityananda sri advaita srivasadi gaur bhakta vrinda. Sri Advaitacarya is a principal member. So today we offer our prayers unto him on His Appearance day. Advaitacarya appeared some 50 years, prior to appearance of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It was kind of an advanced party study or he appears first and does a feasibility study in India,Bengal Orissa etc. His observation was – dharmasya glanir (BG.4.7) There was a decline in religious principals or practises and there was a domination of irreligion. He felt that this is the time that the Lord should make his appearance. “I cannot handle it alone. We need Mahaprabhu. I am just Prabhu. We need Mahavishnu.” We need a krsna stu bhagwan swayam (S.B.1.3.28) He had begged, offered prayers, Ganga jal and Tulasi to his Saligram Sila on the banks of Ganga in Santipur. His prayers were heart felt. He was praying, “Oh Lord, You will have to appear for this fallen souls.” And then Lord responded. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu responded.

golokam ca parityajya lokanam trana-karanat kalau gauranga-rupena lila-lavanya-vigrahah (Markandeya-Purana)
the Supreme of Godhead declares: In the Kali-Yuga, I will leave Goloka and, to save the people of the world. I will become the handsome and playful Lord Gauranga.

So svayam Bhagawan – Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya abandoned Goloka and He appeared in this world in order to give relief to people who are his part and parcel, His children, His devotees. He loves them so much. So Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s appearance was caused by Advaitacarya. He is non-different from the Lord, so is called ”A-dvaita”. As acarya he was propagating Krsna consciousness ,as a teacher, instructor, propagator of the holy name. He is also called as Acarya, so the name Advaita Acarya. He was in the core team of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Pancatattva. In it each one is a Tattva. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu is a tattva himself. Nityanand is another tattva, Advaitacarya is a tattva, Srivas Pandit is a tattva, Gadadhar Pandit is a tattva. Gaur bhakta Vrinda is also tattva. Gaur bhaktas – so many other associates of Mahaprabhu- sango pangastra parsadam (SB 11.5.32) So parsadam are anga and upanga. They are also a part of Pancatattva. So we say ‘ Gaur Bhakta vrinda. Advaiitacarya is also leading member of Pancatattva.

Responding to the call of Advaiitacarya, Mahaprabhu appeared with the holy name. Golokera prema dhan harinama sankirtana. ( CC. Adi Lila) Mahaprabhu didn’t appear empty handed. It was Mahaprabhu’s birthday. Devotees went to bless little Nimai with gifts. Specially Sita Thakurani, wife of Advaiitacarya had gone with lots of gifts. We should take note of this. When Mahaprabhu appeared in Mayapur , Srila Haridas Thakur & Advaiitacarya were in Santipur. They both were of similar age. They both became jubilant and started dancing. Haridas Thakur is also sarvajna . They understood that Nimai has appeared and became ecstatic. Both of them were dancing in ecstasy. Everyone was wondering about the reason behind their dancing. So those who were arriving in Mayapur on that day, were bringing gifts. But Mahaprabhu himself had a gift for whole world. That gift is the holy name.

Golokera prema dhan harinama sankirtana.

That is what he did throughout his life. For years he was giving the gift of harinama. He did so himself. For 6 years He was propagating the holy name prior to his departure returning to his own abode. He made a prediction that in every town, every village of the world the holy name will be chanted. He wanted to ensure that the gift is not only available in India. Mahaprabhu is not only Indians’ God. He is a God of the whole existence. Jai Jagannatha! He is Lord of Russians, Ukrainians and of people from Mauritius and Indians. That most merciful Lord – mahavadanyaya wanted to make sure this gift reaches far and wide.

Then commander in chief of the sankirtana army Srila Prabhupada made sure that Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s will is executed. He founded this International Society for Krishna Consciousness which is spreading the holy name. See disciples, devotees are chanting everywhere. We are one family with one father – Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Advaiitacarya. They are our Supreme father. Today is Advaiitacarya’s Appearance day. We have to remember Him and pray to Him and express our deep gratitude for bringing Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu in this world to give the gift of holy name to the world. Sri “Advaiitacarya avirbhava tithi mahotsav” ki Jayi! Nitai Gaur Premande Hari Hari bol!

Today afternoon I will go to Kaudinyapur, birthplace of Rukmini. We have ISKCON over there. Thank you all for joining, thank you for your association.
Hare Krishna!

I am here at ISKCON Amaravati for Jagannath Ratha-yatra. These are the first two Deities of Rukmini – Dwarkadhish in ISKCON. Amaravati is not far from Kaudinyapur , which is the birth place of Rukmini Maharani. As far as we the chanters of holy names are concerned, we have to learn from the life of Rukmini Maharani. When Rukmini was a baby girl in Kaudinyapur , she would hear the glories of Dwarkadhish. Raja Bhismak , father of Rukmini was a ‘Rajarshi’ ( saintly king) and had close relations with different sages. Many of them would visit his palace, and he use to honor them. Those sages, would talk about Dwarkadhish. Little Rukmini would hear that with full attention along with the King. She never fell asleep while listening to nama, rupa, guna,and lila of Dwarkadhish. She would forget everything, and would listen with full attention, full concentration and full devotion. What was the outcome of this? –

She became attached to Dwarkadhish. As we know – sadhusanga, bhajana-kriya, … Anarth-Nivritti, Nistha, Ruchi and then Asakti and then Bhava and Prema. Like that it goes higher and higher. By hearing and hearing daily, regularly, with attention and devotion, she developed sambandha – a relationship with Dwarkadhish and got attached to Him. When she was grown up and it was time for her marriage, she wanted to marry Dwarkadhish. Her elder brother Rukmi was not in favor of this. But Rukmini was determined that if she will marry it will be only with Dwarkadhish and no one else. This kind of determination was the outcome of hearing about Dwarkadhish. So we pray and take inspiration from Rukmini Maharani to chant and hear, that we also may get attracted to and attached to Dwarkadhish. The way she had the enthusiasm to hear – utsahat, nishayat dhairyat( Nectar of Instruction, Verse 3) may we also experience similar enthusiasm to hear. Rukmini was hearing the pastimes of Dwarkadhish. This is a pastime of Rukmini. So while chanting we could remember and meditate on Rukmini hearing, the pastimes of Dwarkadhish. Chanting is the time to remember Krsna’s pastimes, Krsna’s form, His abode, His paraphernalia. As I am here in Rukmini-Dwarkadhish temple, I am reminded of her pastimes. So while chanting we should remember this. There are so many other pastimes also. This place is not far from Kaudinyapur, so these pastimes are naturally remembered.

We need some topics or object of meditation. So the Lord’s form, pastimes is the topic or object of meditation. I have been watching and seeing the Amaravati devotees on the screen, but today I am seeing face to face. So keep chanting. On Monday HH Hanumat Preksh Swami Maharaja advised us with an eight word mantra – Get up early morning and Chant your rounds. This is our culture to get up early.

I was in Kumbha-mela last week and from one of the pandal very loudly they would play this record not at 4.00am but later, “ Bhor bhayo sab Jago”. ( It’s Dawn now , get up every one) That was their morning program. It was musical. You should attend mangal-arati by getting up in morning. That’s a preparation also for chanting. Get up early, come to the temple, attend mangala aarti , pray to Rukmini-Dwarkadhish, sing and dance in front of them , and then chant. Worship Tulsi Maharani in morning. You may not be realizing, but tulasi aarti is very deep prayer.

mora ei abhilasha, vilasa kunje dio vasa
nayana heribo sada yugala-rupa-rasi (3)

If you have attended mangala aarti, those prayers are not only sweet but deep, meaningful.

Oh! Tulsi maharani give me residence. Where? – in Vilas-kunj, and I would like to witness the pastimes of Radha and Krsna. Let my eyes, my mind, my heart be filled with those pastimes. I have stayed long in this material world. Now enough is enough. Make me a resident of Vrindavan. Let me experience the pastimes of Lord to my heart’s content. We should contemplate while singing, the meaning of what we are singing.

Even Gurvastaka prayers
vande guro sri caranaravindam.

We remember Guru and acaryas. While singing Gurvastaka we should try to understand what we are singing. Then it is some preparation of chanting. And then also happens –

ceto darpana marjanam bhava mahadavagni nirvapanam . (Siksastakam verse 2)

We sing Gurvastaka during mangala aarti and Siksastakam after that. But who knows when we are going to understand , what we are singing. Siksastakam prayers are the condensed essence of all the instructions. Caitanya Mahaprabhu would spend whole night, reciting and remembering with emotions and bhava and feelings of the one verse of Siksastakam. It is so deep and vast.

We should be thinking of the prayers we chant. Then take up to the chanting. We also recite the ten offences against the holy name. aparadh sunya haiya laho krsna nama. If we remind ourselves of the offences against holy name then we should carefully avoid it, not only at the time of Japa but also for the whole day. If we do such preparations we will be able to chant with attention.

Hare Krsna!

We have 246 participants today. Numbers keep changing, as some of you are not regular. They are in and out or on and off. Yesterday we had Jagannath Ratha-yatra festival here. You also should join festivals wherever you are. Festivals bring Utsaha – we have been saying this repeatedly. We get devotees’ association – Sadhu sanga. Our temple programs are also festivals. Grhastha devotees attend temple festivals. Today is Sunday festival. Prabhupada gave us so many festivals – Sunday festival, Ratha-yatra festival, Janmastami festival, Mayapur-Vrindavan festival and like that. Morning programs in Temples are also festivals. There is a feast. A feast for our eyes, a feast for our ears, a feast for our tongue and ultimately a feast for the soul.

Today is also Vasant-Panchami. Yet another big bathing day at Kumbha-mela. I am not there, but Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj is there at Kumbha-mela today leading our devotees to Triveni Sangam and they are chanting on their way to Triveni Sangam.

The Temples in our IMPM zone ar suggesting that we can conduct Bhagvatam class for all the temples conjointly. That’s an idea, as many temples are joining us for Japa sessions like, Solapur, Nagpur , Sangali, Beed, Pandharpur. Devotees from there are joining with us for Japa sessions. So we can conduct a Bhagvatam class for all the temples, with one speaker.

Everyday you are taking extra special effort, not just to chant, but to attend the session. You have to drag yourself out of the bed, or stop all other business and chant with us, that’s an endeavor. Certainly you should do such efforts to chant everyday at the same time with attention, chant with devotion, Chant while remembering Krishna. Effort is needed to be attentive, offenseless.

I came across one conversation of Srila Prabhupad, which is entitled, ‘This is tug of war’ referring to chanting Hare Krishna properly. There is a book about chanting consisting of Srila Prabhupada’s comments and thoughts, talks,conversations and instructions. It has the glories of the holy name. One such thing I want to share with you. Visnujana asked Srila Prabhupada which is a common question,’How would it be possible for a man whose mind is crowded to constantly chant Hare Krishna?’ Man who is always thinking about family, friends, country and nation. So the mind remains clouded. Then how can it be possible for such a person?

Prabhupada replied, ‘Yes you may be thinking of family, relatives but at the same time chant. Two things will go on and this will conquer. Means chanting and remembering of Krsna will conquer. As Maya is forcing you to drag you from this Krishna consciousness, you also force Maya by chanting Hare Krishna. Maya is forcing you to think about her, but Prabhupada said you keep chanting and you force Maya to think of Krsna , remember Krsna. We know Srila Haridas Thakur had succeeded doing that.

Maya was there and Krsna was there. Maya – in the form of a prostitute had her proposal and Srila Haridas Thakur had his proposal. Maya wanted him to think about her and Srila Haridas Thakur wanted Maya – that prostitute to think about Krsna, and you know who was victorious. That’s what Srila Prabhupada is saying. You also force Maya by chanting Hare Krishna. There is a fight then Maya will go away. This is the ‘tug of war’ he is talking about. Both are fighting, but ultimately if we keep chanting with determination and patience and enthusiasm then Maya will go away.

Here Srila Prabhupad is quoting that verse, daivi hyesham gunamayi mam maya duratyaya (B.G. 7.14) which is Krsna’s statement in Bhagavat-Gita . This Maya is very strong. She will force you, entice you to the other path, but if you don’t stop, and chant loudly, your voice or Krsna’s voice should be louder then Maya’s voice. So you chant louder then Maya’s voice, the way Haridas Thakur was chanting and Maya could not victimize him. You know what was his stand , simply chanting

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare

Maya could not be enticed, she failed. Maya became his disciple. He did not become Maya’s disciple. Srila Prabhupada explained further, this is ‘tug of war’. Don’t be afraid of Maya. Simply enhance chanting. Simply improve your chanting. Simply chant attentively. Make extra efforts while you are chanting. Hear what you are chanting, and You will be able to conquer. That’s all. narayan para sarve na kutasya na bibhyati ( S.B.6.17.28)

We are not afraid of Maya because Krsna is there. While we are chanting we are with Krsna. Maya will be afraid when you are next to Krsna. We are not afraid of Maya because Krsna is there. Krsna said, ‘kauntaya pratijanihi na me buaktaha pranashyati. ( B.G. 9.31) Krsna has declared, ‘My devotee will never be vanquished by Maya. Maya cannot do anything. Simply you have to become strong”… and what is that strength? Chant Hare Krishna loudly. So this was from Prabhupad’s lecture on 23 rd December 1968.

That’s the food for thought for the day. See you Chanting another day. I am going to Amaravati, for again Ratha-yatra there. Not far from there is the holy land where Rukmini was born and brought up and also eventually kidnapped in Kaudinyapur. So we will end here.
Hare Krishna!

We have 250 participants today. We welcome you. This chanting is bringing us together. Syamsundar Prabhu is here in Nagpur and his son is chanting from Australia, but I am seeing them next to each other.

Holy name is Krsna. This is Krsna in the center and we are all around, that is a kind of experience for me here. The other day it was an experience of kind of Viratrupa. Devotees from all over the planet , I can see them at one glance. At some places, climate is warm, and other places it’s cold and I can see devotees bundled in a warm clothes with heaters on. Devotees are chanting regardless of the heat or cold. All the devotees – boys and girls, young and old , ladies and gentlemen are chanting. Small children from Vishrambaug Sangli Gurukul are chanting. Everybody can take part. Srila Prabhupada would say that even a dog can take part in it. Indians and so called foreigners are chanting together. But we have to remember that everyone is a foreigner here. We have to always think that the holy name is Krsna. It is not something vague or some concept, some light or some all pervading aspect. The holy name is Krsna. So Krsna is bringing us together, binding us together. Vairagya Rupini Mataji is chanting from Vrindavan and I see her mother chanting from Pune. Family that prays together, stays together.

There is a cyclone in Mauritius and still the devotees are chanting. We pray for Mauritius iIsland that everything settles fast. Devotees are transcendental to the cyclone. I see around 15 to 20 devotees chanting from there, happily chanting. Usual climate or cyclone, doesn’t make a difference for them. You are transcendental to all mundane considerations and trials and tribulations of dual nature. As I was pointing out – heat or cold, young or old, boy or girl doesn’t matter as chanting ultimately is done by the soul. Soul is the chanter. It has nothing to do with the body we are in. Right now we are all spirit souls. We also have to realise that by chanting and chanting. We are not these bodies, but we are spirit souls, devotees of Krsna. As we Chant Hare Krsna we are with Krsna , around Krsna. That is what we have forgotten.

As per Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s words, this holy name is spreading, to every town, every village, every home, every soul. It is the Lord’s instruction that we have to reach out to many more souls. yare dakho tare kaho krsna upadesa (C.C. madhya 7.128) – if you do that, then the Lord is pleased.

So many things come to my mind. Not only that we have a relationship with Krsna, but we also have a relationship with each other, interpersonal relationship. Krsna in the center and then we have a relationship with each other. Soul has a relationship with another soul and ultimately we have a relationship with all the souls beginning with Krsna. By the chanting of Hare Krsna our forgotten relationship with Krsna as well as other souls gets revived. So the present relationship with others such as wife and husband or father and son or daughter are not for long or not for ever. They come and go. This has happened many times. With the chanting of Hare Krsna our eternal relationship with the Lord as well as devotees is revived. We are looking forward to that relationship. This changing relationship is heartbreaking. We are united and then disunited for various reasons. But when we leave our bodies it’s finished. We are no more husband and wife, or sons and daughters or whatever. Temporarily we come and go. We last here for a few days , a few months, a few years or for one lifetime and then it is finished. But with chanting of Hare Krsna we transcend these dual natures or temporary nature, temporary relationships. Then finally become firmly fixed in the eternal relationships.

Everything begins with Sambandh. Then there is Abhidhyeya i.e. settling into that relationship, working or practical relationship and then ultimate is Prayojan – attaining love of Godhead. We should not forget, when we have attained Krsna-prema, we have also achieved Bhakta-prema. So let’s begin developing friendly, loving relationships with other devotees, other souls and simultaneously also with Krsna. Don’t just focus on developing loving relationship with Krsna only, and don’t care for relationships with other devotees. Otherwise we remain Kanistha adhikari -Third class devotees. Kanisthas try to love and serve only God. Which is not a great thing to do. Just by doing that one becomes third class or lower class. But by loving and serving Lord and his devotees one is upgraded to madhyàm adhikari and eventually raises to level of Uttam adhikari which is the goal,
You Know the three modes of material nature.. passion divides , goodness unites, and transcendental goodness Shuddha Sattva, unites us permanently. Contemplate on what I just said.
Hare Krsna!

Today HH Hanumatpreksha Swami Maharaja was a guest speaker for the Japa session.
Maharaja had the following to say:

The first time I met Lokanath Swami was when he started United States Padayatra, and he came to San Francisco. Before that also we took Nitai Gaursundar out around San Francisco and we inaugurated them. Later I went to Vraja-mandala Parikrama many times and it is one of the valuable experiences in my life because you go out in Vraja and don’t want to come back. You want to merge into the Vrindavan atmosphere, go into Brajavasi’s farm house and – chant, chant, chant. I had some handsome experiences of spiritual reality.

Around seven years back someone asked me what is the essence of Krishna consciousness. Thinking about it, I came to eight words, ‘ Get Up Early, And Get Your Rounds Done’. In the beginning our tongue and jaw should move, but we should also fix our mind on the mantra, not thinking about something else, something pleasurable. We should actually chant with meaning. Two dacoits are actually sitting by the road, sharing a bottle of wine and the Harinama party passes by there, chanting ‘Radhe Radhe’. Prabhupada explained that one of the dacoit said to other, ‘I like it when the Harinama party passes saying, ‘Radhe Radhe. So other dacoit inquired, “Why do you like it even though we are not religious men? The first dacoit said, “The barber’s wife is named Radhe and I am always thinking but can’t spend time with her. So not like this, our attention should be on real meaning. We chant with attention and meaning. The basic meaning is Oh! Krishna , Oh! Radha , Oh! Rama please engage me in your service.

HH Lokanath Swami –
So you already have heard the japa instructions from HH Hanuman Preksha Swami Maharaja. I am trying to get some visiting speakers to give some jape-talks and now there was an opportunity . What you hear, the guidelines, instructions is chant with attention. Chant with a prayerful mood. Those guidelines or tips are not just for that day, but should be followed every single day and every time you chant. Like what Maharaja said, eight words, ‘Get Up Early And Get Your Rounds Done’. These words of wisdom which Maharaja has shared to inspire you should be followed every single day, and likewise. Take note, remember what we have been saying. It is also transcribed in English, in Hindi , in Russian. Devotees always go back and revise or refresh the memories and apply that whenever you chant your Japa.

Today we had 272 participants. We also had special chanter today. Sakshi-Gopal Prabhu’s little son who is only 11-.12 years old. He chants 16 rounds. He was chanting with us today. We are pleased to see him on this conference. He did the disciple course and he is an aspiring disciple. Let’s welcome him. His name is Gauranga and he goes to our Gurukul school in America. Like that many of you are making efforts, to get your family and friends to chant on the conference. I am seeing some newer and newer faces with your efforts and inspirations. You could have your own conference like this, you could be the host and If you are a Bhakti-vriksha leader, or youth preacher or Temple president, besides this conference, you could have your own conference. Get devotees of your own congregation , devotees of BACE who are not based at the base, but elsewhere, Bhakti-vriksha members, who are at their homes, you can connect with them, chant with them. You could also do Japa instructions the way we are doing, or you can repeat some of the points from here.

We will have to conclude , as I am leaving Pune today, going to Nagpur for Ratha-yatra. You can write your comments, realizations, notes on this conference or on Lok-sanga also.
Hare Krishna!

I am in Sri Sri Radha-Vrndavancandra Temple which is full of devotees chanting. Today we will conclude early, as I have to give Bhagavatam class.

What can I say? Keep chanting. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, ‘kirtaniya sada hari’. But before saying this he also said that which is explained in one of the purports of Siksastakam – in such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly. Before we started Japa this morning there was a recitation of Siksastakam which is done in many other temples also.

I am recommending that you also to do so. By reciting it try to imbibe the spirit of Siksastakam, study purports of Siksastakam. It is Siksa – astaka. means eight instructions. They are instructions given by Caitanya Mahaprabhu about chanting. param vijayate sri krsna sankirtanam) (Siksastakam – verse 1) While chanting also you can take one of the stakes and meditate and contemplate on what Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is saying in that. Meditate on the purport of the Siksastakam commentaries of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakur as well as Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur. They both have written commentaries on Siksastakam. So while chanting humility is required – trinadapi sunicena (Siksastakam – verse 3) and tolerance is required – tarorapi sahishnuna…. (Siksastakam – verse 3) so that you could chant. You can do kirtaniya sada hari. Or amanina manden kirtaniya sada hari.

(Siksastakam – verse 3) You have to honor the devotees. That’s a positive thing. Normally we care or respect ourselves, but who cares or respects other devotees. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that if you wish to chant all the time kirtaniya sada hari, then you have to respect devotees, honor them , serve them. By doing this you will not be offending them and be free from Vaisnava aparadh, which is a big stumbling block on the path of chanting. So amanina manden kirtaniya sada hari.

Take one verse and meditate while you are chanting Hare Krishna. In the last chapter of Caitanya Caritamrita, you will find the Siksastakam. There it is mentioned that Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to have sleepless nights. It was difficult for him to sleep. How could you sleep when you are remembering the Lord. So much Krishna conscious that there was no question of sleeping.

So he would stay awake all night long and each night, he would take one verse from the Siksastakam and dive deeper into the meaning of that verse. The whole night he would contemplate and immerse himself in one verse of Siksastakam. He would chant – ‘Krishna Krishna , where are you Krishna?’ Hare Krishna Hare Krishna is also reciting, remembering and contemplating on the Siksastakam. There are no hard and fast rules , but that’s the practice. Abhyasen you kauntay vairagyen ch gruhyate. ( B.G. 6.35) So do the ‘ abhyasa’ over again and again and again. That’s the practice. Also ‘ vairagyen’ , Krsna said in Bhagavad-Gita that by chanting over again and again there has to be spirit of detachment. When there is attachment to Krsna then only you could detach. Try to attach yourself to the Holy name. You have to attach to Krsna, Krsna’s name , form , qualities and pastimes. You relish this attachment then instantly or simultaneously detachment takes place. We are practicing to get attached to Krishna, so keep chanting.

This morning before chanting Rasaraj Prabhuji who is also bureau member was discussing that the soul chants and not the tongue. The tongue is flesh. What makes the tongue chant is the soul. The soul is a chanter. The ears can’t hear if the soul’s participation is not there. The tongue is not the chanter and ear is not the listener, but it is the soul who chants and hears. Remember the soul’s full participation is there in chanting and hearing also. Do the attentive chanting, remembering that the soul is chanting and the super soul is the witness and listener. He listens to your chanting.

Attention is very important while chanting. Chanters are atmas, the souls. Chant with devotion and then meditate on it. That is Devotion. Bhakti unites Bhakta and Bhagwan. Bhakta is connected with Bhagwan through the process of attentive chanting

Hare Krishna

Hare Krishna to you all chanters. You will be pleased to know that, ISKCON Pune distributed 200000 Bhagavad-Gitas this marathon.

For our chanting session we had 307 participants today, which is the maximum till now. You are seeing me most of the time, but I get to see all of you, on a bigger screen. Seeing you all chanting from all over the world is a kind of ‘Vishwarup-darsans’. This kind of chanting is becoming more and more popular. I am seeing devotees from New Jersey and Burma today. I met devotees from Bangalore at the airport while coming to Pune. They were discussing among them that they saw each other in the chanting session. They told me that they are becoming my fans. I have some fans. Kirtana Mela fan, this kind of fan or that kind of fan and now Japa session fans. So keep chanting.

I saw some of you are chanting together and talking with each other in between. Don’t talk in-between unless it is an emergency that you must talk to devotee sitting next to you. Don’t do that. You are already busy. Chanting means you are busy. You are occupied. You are with Krsna. Just focus, concentrate on the business of chanting. CHANT WHILE CHANTING. Don’t mix it with anything else. Let it be the exclusive business of chanting only. Be with Krsna. I know it’s not easy, but at least we should try to hear the complete mantra. We are saying, but not listening. Then the circuit is not complete and there will be a short circuit when we say but do not hear the complete mantra. Hear with concentration. Do not waste even a drop of the nectar.

It has 16 names. ‘ iti sodashaka namnam kali klalmash nashanam.’ (Kali Santaran Upanishad- text 6).Hear all the names. And remember while hearing those names. Srvanam kirtanam has to result in remembrance. Meditative chanting is remembering. You are meditating on Krsna. Krsna’s form. You have to do mananam of this. You are meditating on the qualities of Krsna, pastimes of Krsna. Devotees , associates of Krsna. I am meditating upon you- the devotees, the chanters. Meditating on the ‘Virat-rupa’. Souls are chanting. I have to make you all pure devotees of Sri Krsna. That is remembrance of the devotees. That is the part of my meditation.

Japa as we understand from the scriptures that you have to do ‘mananam’. You repeat over again and again the names of the Lord – utter and recite , hear and contemplate, reflect i.e. mananam. Try to digest, assimilate Krsna. Make Krsna part of your consciousness. Part of you. They say animals eat two times. First they gobble up, and then they sit down and chew the food. When animals eat the second time, that is assimilated. That enters their system or blood and that gives them energy , life. They thrive on that. So while chanting, that kind of reflection, contemplation, assimilation is ‘mananam’. That is what he did. In Bhagavat- Mahatmya it is mentioned, Gokarna was doing Katha. At the end of it the celestial plane from Vaikuntha landed and Dhundakari was told to take a seat by air-hosts – Visnudutas. Gokarna asked why they were taking only one person back home. Visnudutas explained that every one listened but this person did ‘mananam’. Only one person assimilated the Katha, digested the Katha. Made the Katha and Lila as part of his life. Katha consists of all the aspects of Krsna i.e. Nama-Kirtana, roop- Kirtan, Leela-kirtan of Krsna. So only one person, digested and assimilated the Katha. They also mentioned other aspects like ‘Faith’. They said that only this person had genuine faith in what he was hearing. He also had faith in reciter. But they mainly stressed on the ‘Manan’ part. Even when the Katha ended , he kept thinking and remembering the Katha which he heard. He was trying to make that as part of him, make that as his consciousness.

So with the chanting also we have to do this ‘mananam’ part, remembrance part, ‘smaranam’ part. That is why it is called as ‘Naam-smaran’. You have to remember the name. How do you remember the name? Name is Krsna. abhinnatvat ma’am namino. (C.C. madhya Leela. ? text.)So remember to “Remember” , by chanting of ‘Hare Krishna’. So keep practicing this chanting day in and day out, every day. You have to make endeavor to hear, and Chant and remember.
Hare Krishna! Gaur premande Hari Haribol !!