Chanting Japa while listening to Music?

Why Chant Hare Krishna?

HH Jayadvaita Swami
From Back to Godhead, May-June 1994

Here’s a page full of reasons. I’ll spare you the footnotes, but each reason is fully upheld by evidence from Vedic writings like Bhagavad-gita, the Upanisads, and the Puranas.

• Chanting Hare Krishna awakens love of God.
• Chanting Hare Krishna brings liberation as a side benefit along the way.
• When you chant Hare Krishna, you automatically develop knowledge and detachment.
• Chanting Hare Krishna gets you out of the endless cycle of birth and death.
• It is the most effective means of self-realization in the present Age of Quarrel. Nothing else works nearly as well.
• Chanting Hare Krishna cleanses the heart of all illusions and misunderstandings.
• By chanting Hare Krishna, you become free from all anxieties.
• Chanting Hare Krishna brings you to self-realization—and shows you how to act as a self-realized soul.
• It keeps you ever mindful of Krishna, the reservoir of pleasure.
• There are no hard and fast rules for chanting. You can chant anywhere, any time, under any circumstances.
• Krishna Himself is fully present in the transcendental sound of His name. And the more you chant, the more you realize it.
• All other Vedic mantras are included in the chanting of Hare Krishna. So just by chanting this mantra, you get the benefit of all others.
• Chanting Hare Krishna purifies not only you but every living entity around you. Whoever hears the chanting gets spiritual benefit.
• A person who chants Hare Krishna develops all good qualities.
• You can chant Hare Krishna softly for personal meditation or loudly with your family or friends. Both ways work.
• Srila Prabhupada chanted Hare Krishna, and so did great souls in the past. So why not you?
• It’s free. Chanting Hare Krishna never costs you money.
• Chanting Hare Krishna brings the highest states of ecstasy.
• There are no previous qualifications needed for chanting Hare Krishna. Young or old, anyone can chant—from any race, any religion, or any country of the world.
• Even if you don’t understand the language of the mantra, it works anyway.
• Chanting Hare Krishna brings relief from all miseries.
• Chanting Hare Krishna is easy. When the best way is also the easiest, why make life hard for yourself?
• Chanting Hare Krishna invokes spiritual peace—for you and for those around you.
• When you chant Hare Krishna, Krishna Himself becomes pleased.
• When you chant Hare Krishna, Krishna dances on your tongue.
• By chanting Hare Krishna you can return to Krishna’s world, the eternal abode of full happiness and knowledge.
• Chanting Hare Krishna frees you from the reactions of all past karma. Chanting Krishna’s name even once, purely and sincerely, can free you from the reactions of more karma than you could possibly incur.
• Chanting Hare Krishna counteracts the sinful atmosphere of Kali-yuga, the present Age of Hypocrisy and Quarrel.
• By chanting Hare Krishna you can relish at every step the full nectar that’s the real thirst of the soul.
• The more you chant Hare Krishna, the better it gets.
• If you look through all the Vedic scriptures, you’ll find nothing higher than the chanting of Hare Krishna. Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Result of Perfection in Chanting

Srila Prabhupada Letter to Susan Beckman -- Herts, England August 29, 1973

Due to long term association, the mind absorbed in material things has become contaminated, or dirty, the chanting process purifies the mind. Then the next stage, when the mind is cleansed one becomes free from the symptoms of material existence. Material existence means to be always hankering and lamenting. I must have a ew automobile, I must have more money, I must have good wife, I must have this I must have that. Then when I have the thing, I lament, I have lost my wife, I have lost my money, I have lost my car, simply lamenting. So the second stage is to be free from this anxiety. The third stage is

Brahma-bhutah prasannatma

na socati na kanksati

samah sarvesu bhutesu

mad bhaktim labhate param

"He never laments nor desires to have anything; he is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto me." Bhagavad Gita 18/54
The next verse continues, "And when one is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God." It is further stated in the Gita that when one is so situated even in the midst of greatest danger he is not disturbed. In other words when one has achieved perfection in chanting the Holy name of God he is always joyful, even death does not disturb him, what to speak of other things.

A Devotee is always Joyful .. :)

Srila Prabhupada Lecture on SB 1.2.20 -- Vrndavana, October 31, 1972:
When one has realized Brahman, prasannātmā, prasannātmā, brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā... Here also it is said, evaṁ prasanna-manasaḥ. The same thing you will find everywhere. There cannot be any contradiction. Prasanna-manasa and prasannātmā, the same thing. So how one can become prasannātmā or prasanna-manasa? That is described here. Bhagavad-bhakti-yogataḥ. Evaṁ prasanna-manaso bhagavad-bhakti-yogataḥ [SB 1.2.20]. If you accept bhagavad-bhakti-yoga, devotional service to the Lord, you shall be prasanna-manasa. You shall be always feeling jolly. If I am not jolly, if I am not prasanna-manasa, that means māyā has attacked me. A bhagavad-bhakta shall never be aprasanna, not joyful. Always joyful. If he is actually in contact with Kṛṣṇa, how he can become morose? No. If he is morose, if he is unhappy, that means māyā has attacked him. This is the test

Taste of Devotional Service

 

Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 14: Persons who have been thoroughly cleansed by devotional service and are always joyful, being situated in elevated consciousness, who are very much attached to the studies of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, who are always cheerful in the association of devotees, who have accepted the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa as the ultimate shelter of their lives, and who are pleased to perform all details of devotional service, have in their pure hearts the transcendental ecstasy of attachment. When that ecstatic state of being is enriched with love of Kṛṣṇa and the transcendental experience, one gradually attains to the mature oneness of spiritual life. Such spiritual life is not possible for those who are not situated in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and devotional service. This fact is further corroborated in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu wherein it is said: "It is very difficult for the nondevotee to understand the taste of devotional service. Only one who has completely taken shelter of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and whose life is merged in the ocean of devotional service can understand this transcendental pleasure."

Devotees of the Lord are Fearless

In Bhagavad-gītā it is said that in order to make spiritual progress, one must become fearless. Abhayaṁ sattva-saṁśuddhiḥ (Bg. 16.1). Fearfulness is the result of material involvement. It is also said in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.37), bhayaṁ dvitīyābhiniveśataḥ syāt: fearfulness is a creation of the bodily conception of life. As long as one is absorbed in the thought that he is this material body, he is fearful, and as soon as one is freed from this material conception, he becomes brahma-bhūta [SB 4.30.20], or self-realized, and immediately becomes fearless. Brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā (Bg. 18.54). Without being fearless, one cannot be joyful. The bhaktas, the devotees, are fearless and always joyful because they are constantly engaged in the service of the lotus feet of the Lord.
SB 4.24.52, Purport

Vrindavan Daily Darshan - 26.01.2012

A devotee does not attach much importance to the pains and trouble pertaining to the body because he knows perfectly well that he is not the material body. He does not identify with the body; therefore he is freed from the conception of false ego and is equipoised in happiness and distress. He is tolerant, and he is satisfied with whatever comes by the grace of the Supreme Lord. BG 12.13-14, Purport

Without being fearless, one cannot be joyful. The bhaktas, the devotees, are fearless and always joyful because they are constantly engaged in the service of the lotus feet of the Lord. SB 4.24.52

Fill your consciousness with service towards the Lord and keep always within your heart the Divine Darshan of Sri Radha Shyamsunder, Sri Krishna Balaram and Sri Gaura Nitai and dive in the bliss of being Krishna Conscious. Jai Srila Prabhupada!

Do you want to go your Mother?

Krsna’s pastimes in Vraja are filled with loving sweetness evoked by the Vrajavasis. What sweet mood would cause the Supreme Personality of Godhead to utter the words, “Do you want to go to your mother?”
Srila Jiva Gosvami describes kumara Krsna’s playing with Balarama and Their friends in the Vrindavana forest just after they have begun to care for the young calves.

Sri Jiva describes:
“After arranging that the calves eat the green grass that surrounded them, the boys playing until lunchtime. At that time Krsna and Balarama played Their flutes. They and Their friends hurled fruit and other projectiles at each other, kicked each other with angling-anklet-adorned feet, and enjoyed mock-fighting pastimes in imitation of bulls fighting amongst themselves.

They enjoyed water-pastimes, and, decorating themselves with forest-ornaments, They wandered about. The two brothers became filled with wonder upon seeing the varieties birds and animals within the forest. They playfully began imitating the sounds of the animals, but when They imitated the roar of some dangerous forest-beast, Their friends became, for a moment, frightened. They then enjoyed pastimes of wrestling. Grabbing each others’ heels, they made a great commotion.

Krsna and Balarama continued to watch as the calves ate grass and drank water. Krsna approached one calf, massaged the calf’s face and limbs, hugged the calf, and said in the calf’s ear, “Do you want to go to your mother? I will take you to her.”

- By HG Bhurijana Das

Losing everything for Krishna is a Gain

yasyaham anugrhnani harishye tad dhanam shanaih - Krishna says if I especially favour anybody then I take away everything from Him. That is Krsna's special favour, akincana vittaya.. when one becomes finished of all material opulence. To lose material opulence for Krishna's sake is not loss but it is a great gain. When one is akincana then Krishna becomes the only riches. This position, Krishna except yourself, I have no posession - this position is very nice, when we simply depend on Krishna - that is first class position of Krsna Consciousness. The result is that when one takes only Krishna as His posession, immediately he is posted on the transcendental position and at that time He becomes happy with Krishna. When we become dependant on Krishna, we become self-satisfied with Krishna.

- Srila Prabhupada

New Year Darshan from Vrindavan Dhaam - 01.01.2012

I just realized I have not posted New Year Darshan of the most amazing and merciful deities of Sri Vrindavan Dhaam - so here you go!!!!

 

 

If a person who has not seen Vrindavana has a keen desire to see Vrindavana, he will be reborn in Vrindavana no matter where he dies. (Mathura Mahatmya of Srila Rupa Gosvami)

If a man decides in his mind “I will go to Vrindavana and stay there,” — simply by having such thoughts he will be freed from the wheel of samsara.  (Mathura Mahatmya of Srila Rupa Gosvami)

All the sins accumulated through many births can be destroyed in a second by staying in Vrindavana.  (Mathura Mahatmya of Srila Rupa Gosvami)



Those who with devotion for Lord Krishna make a parikramä of Vrindavana — are freed from all sins and at death go straight to Visnuloka.  (Mathura Mahatmya of Srila Rupa Gosvami)



“O friend, Vrindavana is spreading the glories of the earth, having obtained the treasure of the lotus feet of Krishna, the son of Devaki. The peacocks dance madly when they hear Govinda's flute, and when other creatures see them from the hilltops, they all become stunned.”Srimad Bhagavatam (10.21.10)

 

 

Hare Krishna :)