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.
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