Valuable Instructions from HH Krishna Kshetra Swami on Chanting Japa
When you catch yourself that your mind is wandering somewhere, direct your attention to the japa beads. Consciously try to feel each bead between your fingers while chanting.
Try to hear the syllable Hare as attentively as the name Kṛṣṇa, and the name Kṛṣṇa as attentively as the name Rāma, and the name Rāma as attentively as the name Kṛṣṇa.
Keep paper and pen within reach; when something comes to your mind that you have to do that day, write it down. In this way the paper can “remember” it, and your mind will be free for chanting.
Focus your chanting on Kṛṣṇa – either on a picture of Kṛṣṇa in front of you or on an image of Kṛṣṇa in your mind (heart).
Make a collection of notes about the glories of the holy name and remind yourself of the importance of proper chanting by reading one of them before chanting, or even before each round (there is a complete collection of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s notes about the holy name entitled Śrī Nāma-amṛta).
When you catch your mind wandering, try to trace what kinds of thoughts are coming and mentally “put” them into the appropriate “files”, which you will deal with later (by reading, discussing with other devotees, instructing yourself, or something similar). These are drawers such as: desire, lamentation, making material plans, lust, anger, speculation, aimless daydreaming, etc. You may also discover other “mental garbage bins” for mentally throwing away and burning all the thoughts that you do not consider worth keeping in any of the “files”.
Pray to all the ācāryas, especially to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, the Nāma-ācārya, for the blessing that you may chant well.
Pray to the holy name – Nāma Prabhu – to give you His blessing, to dance on your tongue.
If you feel sleepy, keep a cup of water with you to sprinkle your eyes for refreshment, or chant by an open window or in the fresh air. You can also stand up or walk back and forth (personally I do not recommend chanting regular rounds while walking – the attention turns too much to looking around and the rounds take more time).
Keep track of time. You should know how long it takes you to chant one good round and try to maintain that speed. By checking the time you can see whether perhaps you are not unconsciously getting distracted.
Try to chant as many rounds at a stretch as possible. The ideal is 16 rounds non-stop. If your daily duties allow you to chant two rounds, then two or three, then five, and then seven sleepy rounds in the evening, it will take you a long time before you will be able to taste the holy name.
Chant as early in the morning as possible. Pray to Kṛṣṇa in the evening, before going to sleep, for help in rising early in order to chant His names.
