(Japa Talks, Kadamba Kanana Swami, 29 June 2009)The importance of attentive chanting is stressed again and again. There are many things one can do to improve ones performance. Chanting early in the morning after enough rest, in a peaceful place, in devotee association. We try to focus the mind especially on hearing the name. I aim at chanting 16 rounds in about 2 hours, sometimes it takes a little longer, and sometimes a little faster. Something was mentioned about skipping beads. Skipping beads can happen in various ways, sometimes I catch myself that I am not changing the beads exactly at the end of the mantra and the beginning of a new mantra.That is not good, because then one could easily go through more beads than mantras. Anyway so much about attentive chanting, I try to focus, and the mind sometimes drifts, when I become aware of it, I try to bring it back. Still although attentive chanting is important, that is not my only meditation while chanting. If that was all there was, then chanting would be a struggle and a stressful activity. Rupa Gosvami in his famous verse: tunde tandvini ratim vitanute tundavali, describes how the holy dances in the mouth and he desires millions of mouths and millions of ears. It is clear that Rupa Gosvami's meditation is on the wonderful nature of Krnsa. So we may not have the same deep level of absorbtion as Rupa Gosvami, but we can make a beginning already now and besides trying to be attentive also appreciate Krsna's wonderful nature, and how He so mercifully is present in His name. Then chanting is not just a struggle, but becomes fun...
