English translation by Radhanath Das.
harer nama harer nama hare namaiva kevalam, kalau nasteva nasteva nasteva gatir anyatha:
Only hari naam, this is the remedy for Kali-yug, the same thing has been said thrice here for the sake of being firm. This our sanatan dharma, our scriptures are telling us this.
People in Kali-yug they have a short life span, disturbed minds and hearts, low intelligence etc.
They do not think of Bhagvan. They are fallen and do not have peace.
So, how will they do bhajan? How will they fix their hearts upon bhajan?
In this way in Kali-yug harinam is the ideal sadhana. In Satya yug, dhyana [meditation] was the way of devotion. In Tretra yug, through yagya [fire sacrifices] and in Dwapara yug through seva [thakurji/deity worship]. In Kali yug we do harinam-sankirtan, chanting of the names of Lord Krishna. There is so much power in harinam, it is very dominant.
The name and the possessor the name are non-different. It is not like other names, this name, that name. God has many names, some people do kirtan of this name and that name. You must chant the name received from your guru, with faith (sradha) and (nishta). There is no difference between the name and god.
Our Mahaprabhu says everything is in the name, but it is our misfortune that we do not have faith in the name. We just think it to be mere words.
Everything is in the name. Like a whole tree is within the seed, but if you break the seed, you will not find the tree in there. Even if you look into it scientifically, you will find nothing. The seed must be planted in the mud .. you must give it water in order for it to seed and grow. The tree does not come from the seed. They say that a plant comes from the seed. However, the plant doesn’t exist because of the seed! The seed itself has become the plant. If you try to look for the seed later, you will not find it anywhere. Where has the seed gone? The seed has become the plant. Until you don’t put it in mud and water it, no plant will come. But all that power is within it.
Similarly you should water the holy name with your tears…with your faith and tattvika understanding. You must pray to name, when will I taste the real name?
Sravan, Kirtanam, naam – that will reveal Bhagavan’s svarup, Bhagavan will appear in front of you.
Naam – in Lila rupa, in Prem rupa becomes apparent. It is all naam manifesting.
There are three methods of chanting: chanting in the mind – mentally [manasika], whispering [upamsu] and chanting loudly [vachika]. When you are alone, softly – Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare or Radhe Krishna Radhe Krishna Krishna Krishna Radhe Radhe Radhe Shyam Radhe Shyam Shyam Shyam Radhe Radhe, it is one [referring to both mahamantra and yugala mantra].
Where there is much noise, many people around, someone bothering you, much distraction. Then with force chant maha mantra loudly.
When travelling, soft japa. If you do loud, maybe they will think you are mad or some big babaji and taunt you [laughing]. This is our Sanatan dharma these days, people aren’t respecting. The way our own Hindu, our own Sanatan dharmi brothers and sisters disrespect our own religion is unseen in other religions. You’ll see Muslims, from children to elderly, they have so much love for their own religion, it’s beautiful, we don’t have that, our own Hindu brothers insult it first. This is our misfortune. Our Hindu dharma. So upamsu, soft japa whilst going along.
Chanting japa in the mind, brahma muhurta or the dark night, no sound, the tongue will be still. Sitting in a yoga posture, still, naam-smaran, meditating with one’s mind on the name. This is very effective, very effective indeed. One should practice naam smaran before dhyan. For this reason during brahma muhurta, or before bed for one to two hours, do naam smaran. This is very effective and you will reach pure and powerful name very soon. This is not possible when in a loud busy environment, so should be done when it’s peaceful and quiet. Ekanta [solitary], naam smaran, close your eyes, sit down, straight back, have darshan of naam svarup. This is called chanting in the mind.
We should practise all 3 types of chanting according to the time and circumstance.
Sasanga-bhajan – meditating on Bhagavan’s naam, rupa, guna, lila, lila sphurti can come – Yugal Kishore sitting in the nikunj. Meditating upon our own svarup. That I am not this body. I am spiritual, I am blissful. Remember the [svarupa] form Guru has given you. That I belong to Thakurji, with that mindset that I am serving Yugal Kishore.
Chintan is of two types – rajavat chintan and sratavat chintan, rajavat chintan is where Yugal Kishore is sitting in the nikunj and you are serving them according to the appropriate time, giving them happiness. In the hot weather fanning them with chamara fan, massaging their lotus feet, feeding them etc. All in accordance with the appropriate time, doing seva and meditation like this.
And Sratavat chintan is where it just flows. Radharani is going to Radha kund to meet Krishna, Krishna is going cowgrazing/herding etc as explained in our gaudiya songs, the meeting, ashtayam. This is like the waves. The mind should become one with these waves. This lila smaran system/process has to be learned from one’s guru. If this type of meditation is not possible or one doesn’t have the time, then can do rajavat chintan.
Rajavat chintan, where Yugal Kishore are sitting in the nikunj and certain services are performed in accordance with the time and so on. We must try to dissolve our mind into naam. Even if it’s done a little bit, this is good. If such meditation is done along with naam, this is called Sasanga bhajan.
Anasanga bhajan is inattentive, going from here to there, the mind is wandering in Delhi..Bombay. I must do this work and that work, this happened or this didn’t happen, all whilst chanting. This is not good for the sadhaka and wastes so much time. Everything is about focusing the mind, if you do it, then all is good. If your mind is not focused, then your bhajan is not right. But still even if inattentive, our bhajan isn’t useless. It will just take a longer time to progress. A lot longer.
Focus with your heart on the bhajan. Sasanga bhajan – naam, rupa, guna, lila of bhagavan with focus. This is best practise [uttama-prakriya]. You will get the fruit of the name [prema] by this method of chanting. Very quickly.
In anasanga-bhajan [inattentive worship] we just get our prescribed number of rounds of chanting done and then put the beads away. And even whilst we were chanting, our mind was wandering throughout the worldly objects. Not like this. We have to take our mind away from this world when chanting.
Ananya-chit [one-pointed exclusive mind] in this way it becomes very surlabha [easy]. Chintan [meditation in the method described] is very important, without it, bhajan becomes anasanga. Such meditation [chintan] is essential.
Ananya-chit [one-pointed exclusive mind] means the mind should not be in any other activity, other person, other object, nothing else. Completely absorbed in Bhagavan’s lotus feet.
If you go with this person and that person, your bhajan will not be complete. In some types of association bhajan is not possible. So it’s important to make some excuse at times and avoid certain people. If we get too involved with too many people and situations, then how will the mind’s restlessness be stilled? Our association is most important, other people can influence the heart.
By these methods, in this way doing bhajan is uttama. Slowly, slowly, slowly do this naam-sadhan.
Whether the mind is attentive or not! Mahaprabhu said – Standing, sitting, sleeping, eating – in any way – never give up chanting naam. You will taste ecstasy and your heart will be satisfied, at peace.
Your mind will become naturally attracted, easily attracted, simple. You will have to do some practise earlier on. Not after two days giving up naam, and saying baba I am not feeling anything.
First of all we have to practice. Then it becomes natural [svabhavika]. Some people say “my mind is not focusing on bhajan. What benefit will I get then?” It is not like this! Whether the mind becomes interested or not, just do it. Keep trying.
Attempt and enthusiasm and to do more and more, more and more. You must do it in this life, this birth. There is no guarantee in the next birth that you will have an opportunity to practice bhakti. No guarantee of human life. Don’t waste this chance. Don’t hang your hopes on some future birth. Don’t be fooled. Don’t give up faith, hope and practise. Never give up these three.
Don’t think “oh the great saints of the past had so much kripa on them”. You also have such kripa available. Bhagavan delivers those who are surrendered.
Q. Baba, when we’re hearing the katha of some sadhu, can we chant at that time as well?
A. Chanting the name becomes a habit for some people, this does not happen for everyone. For some listening to katha, the name keeps going for them. Their mind is in hari-katha and they are chanting also and experiencing. With practise this is possible.
Q. Baba – manasika japa [mental japa], how is it? This is not my habit/practice, how can I chant in my mind?
A. Close your eyes, mouth, no moving of tongue. And keep thinking of the name in your mind. Think of the Hare Krishna mantra, this is a very effective practise. Don’t worry about speed of chanting. Worrying about speed is an illness. Chant with faith, peacefully, with nishta [dedication].
Q. Baba, should we focus on number of names chanted or on quality?
A. Keep the maala beads with you, then chanting becomes automatic. For this reason mala, is very important. Really we want to be doing bhajan more and more, as much as possible. Without maala it may be difficult. It’s not that if we chant without maala, we will not get the fruit of chanting. It is not like this [meaning: we will get fruit even by chanting without mala]. In the primary stages, we should chant a prescribed number of maalas [rounds] and increase that gradually. In the remainder of the time, when we are not holding our maala, we shouldn’t give up chanting. Naam should be in our mouth. Give up this illusion that chanting is only done with a maala and that without a maala there is no fruit. It is not like this. Naam is Bhagavan’s complete form of rasa. One name can destroy all sins. It is the fruit of navadha bhakti [the 9 forms of devotion]. All the bad sanskaras [impressions] are destroyed. Naam is very capable of bestowing Krsna prema.
Jay Jay Sri Radhe-Shyam.
Vinod Bihari das babaji.