Page 20 - Lekha-mala (English)
P. 20
10 Lekha-mālā
18 May 2002
I would like to ask your opinion on chanting 64 rounds.
The real aim is to chant always, why only 64 rounds? But even
more important is to develop the service attitude that is the real
meaning of chanting. To be truly nama-parayana (attached to
the name) means to be nama-sevi (a servant of the name), not
nama-bhogi (an enjoyer of the name). We are warned that we
may chant for many lifetimes but not get love of God if we
maintain an offensive attitude.
It is not that all who chant much actually have love for the name.
It is seen that some devotees who take pleasure in chanting in
kirtana and often do so for hours together nevertheless have
little taste for other forms of service such as japa or hearing or
studying the philosophy of Krsna consciousness. From this it
is understood that their actual attachment to the holy names
has hardly awakened, and their pleasure in chanting comes
principally from enjoyment of the music or of the prestige
of being known as a kirtaniya. Real attachment for the holy
names is manifested as enthusiasm for service.
Srila Prabhupada wrote:
“If one is purified by following Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s
orders – that is, by chanting the holy name of Krsna – one
must certainly be eager to render service to the Lord. This
is the test. When one engages enthusiastically in the Lord’s
service, it is to be understood that he is reaping the results of
chanting the names of Krsna and Hari.”
It may be that devotees who are actually nama-parayana
superficially chant less than others, yet they are always busy
serving the name by preaching the glories and necessity of
taking suddha-nama.