Chanting in a Way to Attract Krishna’s Heart
A devotee gives his life to
God, everyone is liberated by his influence. In the end everyone will be most
proud and satisfied. That is Krishna consiouness. And this faith, this
determination is what is required, otherwise there are so many obstacles, so
much propaganda to divert our attention. And how is this faith and
determination developed? practically by associating with people who have that
determination. By hearing from them and by learning the process in that
association of congregationally chanting the holy name of the Lord. Because,
that way the holy name of the Lord in it of itself kali-kāle nāma-rūpe
kṛṣṇa-avatāra. He is the full
opulence of God himself incarnated through the sound vibration. ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ
bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ.
And you can cleanse the heart of all of these impurities and reawaken the
natural of the nature of the soul which is unmotivated, uninterrupted loving
desire to serve the Lord everywhere, at all times. But in order to chant the
holy name properly we must develop proper service attitude. Srila Prabhupad
used to tell us to chant sixteen rounds every day. And he told us all of our
advancement is based on chanting of the holy name. So sometimes we would ask
“why we are chanting two hours and for next twelve hours we are just doing all
other services?” One time Prabhupad used this example often I was in New York
city Srila Prabhupad said “all we are doing is chanting, dancing and feasting.
That’s all we doing.” So some devotees you know they didn’t want to accept
things blindly so they ask. “But what about we have to go out in middle of the
winter and distribute books and magazines in the freezing cold?” Prabhupad said
“No, all we are doing is chanting, dancing and feasting.” “What about we have
to follow these regulative principals, to give up all nice sex and meat,
intoxication and gambling? this is austerity.” “No no chanting dancing and
feasting is all it.” “But what about we have to cook so many offer’s to the
deities. We have to deal with all of our Godbrothers, who are fighting with
us?” “No no all we are doing is chanting, dancing.” And then everyone was just
completely silent. And Prabhupad looked at the whole congregational devotees
and said so what are we doing? And they said “only chanting, dancing and
feasting.” What can you say? It’s because factually everything we do is to
prepare our consciousness to properly chant the holy names. It is a fact.
Unless we approach the holy name in a humble service attitude Krishna will not
reveal himself through his name even if you chant sixty four, hundred and
eight, three lakhs of names everyday for the rest of your life you will never
see Krishna in his name, unless you chant with a proper humble service
attitude. Therefore if you are developing this service attitude by humbly serving
the Vaishnavas throughout the day, then when you come to sit and chant Krishna
will be attracted by your chanting then the quality of our chanting will
attract Krishna’s heart. So let this be our firm determination. vyavasāyātmikā
buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana. Let us not allow anything to divert our attention
away from this. When we come together, the greatest service is to encourage and
inspire one another to take shelter of holy name of Krishna. And what is the
best way we can do that? By our own example to chant with great enthusiasm and
feeling. Because whatever influence we create has tremendous effect on other’s
lives. If during the kirtan we are like this thinking what is I am tired, I am
hungry. He is been speaking too long. First he makes us dance in this hot room
in April, Bombay and then he is talking for so many hours and we were invited
for dinner. We know what kind of dinner’s they cook here. Why is he doing this
to us? So that’s the way you are thinking during kirtan then everyone with your
influence, everyone is just going to think about eating. And the longer we keep
you waiting, the more you will enjoy Prasad. Because absence makes the heart go
founder. Sambhog and Vipralamba, separation makes the meeting more sweet and
delightful. But during the kirtan if we are really sincerely, honestly not as a
show not trying to do some fancy dance to make everyone think I am a good
dancer, no but with enthusiasm we just expressing through our body, through our
words, through our mind we are expressing our seeking of the shelter of
Krishna’s name. Mahaprabhu Caitanya he raised his arms when he would chant
reaching out for the mercy of Sri Krishna, like a helpless child reaching out
for mother. That is how we chant the holy name with enthusiasm and with life.
And such a great service that is because it will enliven others to take shelter
of the holy name. So let us glorify Lord Sri Krishna. Let us worship Sri
Ramachandra by sincerely crying out the holy names.
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