Category:Engaging in Chanting
Theme Analysis
The practice of engaging in chanting the holy names of the Lord is the central, animating force of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. According to Śrīla Prabhupāda, the tongue is specifically given to the human being to vibrate the transcendental names of God. When the tongue is instead used to vibrate mundane nonsense or political gossip, it is compared to a prostitute. Engaging in chanting—specifically the mahā-mantra: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare—is the only effective method to cure the material disease, purify the core of the heart, and free the living entity from the false conception of "I and mine."
This engagement is not meant to be a temporary or introductory practice; it is the constant occupation of the highest spiritual authorities. The great mahātmās are not manufactured by rubber stamps; their primary symptom, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā, is that they are always engaged in chanting the glories of the Supreme Lord. Even liberated paramahaṁsas like Haridāsa Ṭhākura and the Six Gosvāmīs strictly engaged in chanting a fixed number of rounds on their beads. A pure devotee has no desire for material elevation or merging into the Brahman effulgence; their only anxiety is to associate with other devotees and continuously engage in hearing and chanting.
The power of this chanting is absolute. By force, it engages the disturbed mind, bringing it to the transcendental platform. It is the supreme medicine that cures psychological distress, eradicates the effects of past sinful habits like drug addiction, and nullifies the urge for illicit sex. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally exhibited the perfection of this process by chanting twenty-four hours a day, demonstrating that true spiritual life is not about becoming "zero" or inactive, but rather being vigorously and happily engaged in glorifying Kṛṣṇa.
- The Purpose of the Tongue: The tongue is meant exclusively for chanting the Vedic hymns and eating prasādam; engaging it in mundane topics degrades its spiritual value.
- The Symptom of a Mahātmā: The defining characteristic of a great soul is constant engagement in chanting the glories of Kṛṣṇa.
- Eternal Engagement: Chanting is not just for beginners; even fully liberated souls like Nārada Muni and the paramahaṁsas are always engaged in this transcendental vibration.
- The Supreme Cure: Engaging the mind and tongue in chanting the mahā-mantra is the ultimate remedy for mental disturbance, sinful habits, and material entanglement.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Engaging in Chanting - The Constant Engagement of the Mahātmā.
Subcategories
This category has only the following subcategory.
Pages in category "Engaging in Chanting"
The following 71 pages are in this category, out of 71 total.
1
A
- A devotee engaged in chanting the holy name of the Lord should practice forbearance like that of a tree. Even if rebuked or chastised, he should not say anything to others to retaliate
- A full-fledged free soul like Narada, always engaged in chanting the Lord's glory, is free to move not only on earth but also in any part of the universe, as well as in any part of the spiritual sky
- A host of Gandharvas is always engaged in chanting the glories of Lord Ramacandra. That chanting is always extremely auspicious. Hanumanji and Arstisena, the chief person in Kimpurusa-varsa, constantly hear those glories with complete attention
- A person properly initiated by a bona fide spiritual master and engaged in chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare gradually becomes freed from the conception of I and mine
- A person who is situated in KC and is engaged with determination in the process of chanting Hare Krsna (maha-mantra), should be considered to be in the transcendental position, even if by chance or accident he is found to have fallen. BG 1972 purports
- A prostitute has no reputation for good womanly qualities. Similarly, the tongue, which is given to the human being for chanting the Vedic hymns, will be considered a prostitute when engaged in chanting some mundane nonsense
- A pure devotee is not anxious to stop the repetition of birth and death, but is always eager to associate with other devotees who are engaged in chanting and hearing about the glories of the Lord
- According to external vision, Haridasa Thakura belonged to a Muslim family. Nevertheless, because he engaged himself in performing the yajna of chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, he became a regularly initiated brahmana
- According to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, there are three kinds of devotees, known as bhajana-vijna - experts in DS, bhajana-sila - devotees engaged in DS, and krsna-name diksita krsna-nama-kari - initiated devotees engaged in chanting
- After this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to meet Haridasa Thakura, and He saw him engaged in chanting the maha-mantra with ecstatic love. Haridasa chanted, "Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare"
- Although it is correct that one who fully engages in chanting the holy name need not depend upon the process of initiation, generally a devotee is addicted to many abominable material habits due to material contamination from his previous life
- Any person who is purely Krsna conscious and who engages in chanting the Hare Krsna mantra is the purest in the whole universe
B
- By executing one's prescribed duties in devotional service, or simply by hearing about God & chanting about Him, if one's mind is always engaged in chanting & hearing and is not allowed to go elsewhere, one can realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- By His personal behavior, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu showed that He was never distressed but always happy in chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. One should follow in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and engage constantly in chanting the maha-mantra
C
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommends, kirtaniyah sada harih: (CC Adi 17.31) one should engage in chanting twenty-four hours a day. That is the business of Krsna conscious devotees
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu says: "Don't become zero, but be engaged always in chanting Hare Krsna maha-mantra." That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's cult. We are not going to be zero. We want to be very active, active not for sense gratification but for Krsna's service
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to count on His fingers. While one hand was engaged in chanting, the other hand kept the number of rounds
E
- Engaging in Deity worship is as good as chanting, hearing or remembering
- Even if a low caste person is engaged in chanting the transcendental vibration, it is to be understood that he has performed all types of renunciation, austerities & sacrifice & has studied all the Brahma-sutras. Thus one can be able to chant Hare Krsna
- Even in the paramahamsa stage, one cannot give up chanting. Haridasa Thakura and the Gosvamis were all engaged in chanting a fixed number of rounds; therefore chanting on beads is very important for everyone, even though one may become a paramahamsa
- Everyone engaged in the practice of chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra will be completely cleansed, from the core of his heart, and be saved from the cycle of birth and death
G
- Garuda Pandita, the thirty-seventh branch of the tree, always engaged in chanting the auspicious name of the Lord
- Garuda Pandita, the thirty-seventh branch of the tree, always engaged in chanting the auspicious name of the Lord. Because of the strength of this chanting, even the effects of poison could not touch him
I
- If one is engaged in chanting and hearing with devotion and faith, his material misgivings gradually become vanquished
- If you remain in the fire, you cannot avoid the temperature. So the only means is, as Narottama dasa Thakura says, that so long you are engaged in chanting and making these transcendental vibrations, then you'll feel comfortable; otherwise it is not
- In Mathura and Vrndavana, where we had a chance to stay, people are awake from early in the morning at 4 A.M. up until nighttime and are constantly engaged, some way or other, in chanting the holy glories of the Lord
- In the material world, if one engages in chanting a material name, he will feel tired after chanting a few times. However, one can chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra all day and night and never feel tired
- In the Narada Pancaratra it is clearly said that the Supreme Personality of Godhead Narayana personally appears before the chanter who engages in chanting the astaksara, or eight-syllable mantra, om namo narayanaya
- In the Western countries, many young boys who were addicted to drugs & who had many other bad habits, abandoned all those propensities and very seriously engaged in chanting the glories of the Lord as soon as they joined the Krsna consciousness movement
- In this horrible condition of life there is only one way of liberation - to engage in the activities of transcendental chanting and hearing of the holy name of the Supreme Lord: Hare Krsna
- Instead of actively taking part in politics, saintly persons should engage in chanting the maha-mantra, Hare Krsna
- It has been proved in many places that one who is not contaminated by any material condition, who is a pure devotee engaged in chanting the glories of the Lord, should be understood to be perfect
- It is essential, therefore, that one constantly associate with pure devotees who are engaged morning and evening in chanting the Hare Krsna mantra
- It may be questioned why there is a necessity for initiation or further spiritual activities in devotional service for one who engages in the chanting of the holy name of the Lord
O
- One must drink the nectar of the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and this means that one must be always engaged in hearing and chanting the glories of the Lord. It is the prime method for advancing in spiritual life
- One should not imitate such great personalities but one should try to see how much taste he has developed for chanting, so that one can remain alone simply being engaged in chanting
- One should note that chanting involves the activities of the upper and lower lips as well as the tongue. All three must be engaged in chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra
- Our Krsna consciousness movement is chiefly engaged in chanting the Hare Krsna mantra all over the world
- Our mind is so disturbed that concentration of meditation is not possible. But this chanting, as soon as we chant, by force our mind is engaged in chanting and hearing, by force: "Hare Krsna." So even my mind is disturbed, by the vibration I am attracted
P
- Prahlada said, "If you are always engaged in chanting the glories of the Supreme Lord and always relishing the nectar of the lotus feet of the Lord, then there is no necessity for any of these"
- Priests and brahmanas were sumptuously fed and, according to ritualistic ceremony, were given sufficient wealth and cows in charity. In this way, they were engaged in chanting Vedic hymns
- Psychiatrists are humbug, all humbug. They cannot help. Best thing is to be engaged in continuously chanting and hearing Sankirtan, that will cure anyone of mental disease
S
- Since Your two hands will always be engaged in chanting and counting the holy names, how will You be able to carry the waterpot and external garments
- Some people were filling the pots, and others were washing the rooms, but everyone was engaged in chanting the holy name of Krsna and Hari
- Sometimes it is found that a person actually attached to material enjoyment or salvation has the good fortune to associate with pure devotees while they are engaged in chanting the holy name of the Lord
- Sometimes Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu engaged Vakresvara and other devotees in chanting and dancing. Three times daily - morning, noon and evening - He would perform sankirtana in the yard of the Gundica temple
T
- The cultivation of Krsna consciousness is possible where great devotees live together and constantly engage in hearing and chanting the glories of the Lord
- The Lord also says that the mahatmas, or great souls, always engage in the process of chanting the glories of the Lord, and just by hearing, others derive the same benefit
- The mahatma cannot be manufactured by rubber-stamping an ordinary man. His symptoms are described here (in BG 9.14): a mahatma is always engaged in chanting the glories of the Supreme Lord Krsna, the Personality of Godhead. BG 1972 purports
- The materialistic experts do not agree with the spiritual expert Narada Muni but this does not mean that Narada Muni will give up his engagement of chanting the Hare Krsna mantra
- The members of this Krsna consciousness society are sometimes refused entrance into some of the temples in India. We should not feel sorry about this as long as we engage in chanting the Hare Krsna mantra
- The only cure is Hari Nama. You simply be engaged in chanting all day and serving Krishna and any time there is no service, simply chant Hare Krishna
- The spirit soul, the living entity, who is in full knowledge of his position is always engaged in chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare and is not concerned with the bodily functions
- The tongue should be engaged in chanting and in eating the Lord's prasada so that the other senses will be controlled
- This chanting and dancing do not belong to this material world. They are actually transcendental activities, for the more one engages in chanting and dancing, the more he can taste the nectar of transcendental love of Godhead
- This practice of forbearance (taror iva sahisnuna) is very difficult, but when one actually engages in chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, the quality of forbearance automatically develops
- Those who are mahatmas are always engaged in chanting Hare Krsna. Bhajana is the chanting of Hare Krsna. If we serve a mahatma like Haridasa Thakura, who was always engaged in chanting Hare Krsna, our path of liberation is opened
W
- We are offering only minimum of sixteen rounds. It will take about, utmost, three hours. Out of twenty-four hours, you should engage at least three hours for chanting. So this is the beginning of initiation
- While addressing Arjuna He (Krsna) says, "Anyone who is engaged in chanting My transcendental name must be considered to be always associating with Me. And I may tell you frankly that for such a devotee I become easily purchased"
Y
- You simply be engaged in chanting all day and serving Krishna and any time there is no service, simply chant Hare Krishna. Then there is no chance for illicit sex
- Your suggestion that the devotees visiting Vrindaban engage in preaching and chanting and not in gossiping is very good. I have instructed that this be taken to the GBC and implanted