personal note on Japa

Benefits of Japa: Personal note


“By chanting the holy name of the Supreme Lord, one comes to the stage of love of Godhead. Then the devotee is fixed in his vow as an eternal servant of the Lord, and he gradually becomes very much attached to a particular name and form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As his heart melts with ecstatic love, he laughs very loudly or cries or shouts. Sometimes he sings and dances like a madman, for he is indifferent to public opinion.” SB 11.2.40

“Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.” BG 9.14
Devotees who want to become steady in devotional service take up vows to chant the Holy names a certain number of times a day.

Eye of the storm
Calm
Clarity
Connection
Insight
Detachment
Satisfaction
Exclusive
Safety zone
Present time

For me, japa is like entering the eye of the storm. Every hurricane has an eye at its center round which dark clouds and strong winds rotate. Sense and mind impressions rotate with strong force causing me to become distracted and bewildered, resulting in unlimited cravings and anxieties of all description.
Performing regulated japa, we can enter the eye of the storm; there we find a calm environment where there is a break in the clouds and no wind. With clarity and insight we perceive that our consciousness exists independent of thought and sense impressions. We learn how to detach from matter and see our independence. In the process we discover our tiny ness and dependence on Krsna. What relief, what wholeness and satisfaction we begin to feel. We have found a safety zone that we can enter at will and take sanctuary. In order to remain in the storms eye, we have to stay in the present. As we lean back into the past or forward into the future, immediately, we find, we are sucked up by overpowering winds of thought. By attempting to rewrite the past or manipulate the future, in reality we end up perpetuating the very conditions we worrisomely want to change.
Japa may be the only time during the day that our attention is exclusively dedicated to Sri krsna.
By fulfilling our japa vows we maintain our connection with Krsna and the spiritual master. We leave the small world of the mind and body. We enter the protection and security of Sri Guru and Sri krsna.

OM TAT SAT

satyadeva das