ive been around for awhile, but have not gained much knowledge so im not sure about a lot of things. simple things like how to set up an altar correctly. would anyone be so kind as direct me how to do this?
thanks for all your help.
There is some information on setting up an altar, along with procedures for worship here:
http://swami.org/downloads/BeginningArcana.pdf
It was written by Bhrigu and is especially meant for the uninitiated.
There is some information on setting up an altar, along with procedures for worship here:
http://swami.org/downloads/BeginningArcana.pdf
It was written by Bhrigu and is especially meant for the uninitiated.
I have never read that before. Very nice.
The part on japa defines it as, silent repetition of the holy name. I'm wondering why silent? Is it better to chant silently, than aloud?
Gauravani, thanks for posting that! I really needed that. I too would like to know the difference b/t chanting japa softly to oneself vs. out loud. Thanks again.
Verbal (aloud) -- vaikhari
Whispering (humming) -- upamshu
Silent (mental) -- manasika
Vaikhari japa is a limb of sankirtan
Manasika japa is a limb of dhyan
When the mind wanders too much, do vaikhari japa. Manasika is very powerful, but very difficult to do because requires high concentration. I did read somewhere that upamshu brings fruits thousand times more than that of vaikhari, but manasika brings fruits crores (10 million) of times than vaikhari. In our tradition all three are acceptable and, if I remember correctly, Sri Haridasa Thakura daily chanted 64 rounds silently, 64 humming, and 64 aloud.
Btw, japa literally means muttering or whispering.
The part on japa defines it as, silent repetition of the holy name. I'm wondering why silent? Is it better to chant silently, than aloud?
Silent isn't really the best word, I have to admit. Whispering would perhaps be better. In the Gaudiya Matha, most devotees do japa whispering, so silently that you cannot almost hear anything. In ISKCON, the style is to utter the mantra more loudly, so that other as well hear it. I have come to like the former style better, and find it rather distracting to do japa in the company of loud chanters. Prabhupada says somewhere that one should pronounce all the names clearly moving the lips, but I don't remember whether he said anything re. the volume!
Prabhupada says somewhere that one should pronounce all the names clearly moving the lips, but I don't remember whether he said anything re. the volume!
I know that I have read something to the effect of one should chant loudly enough to hear oneself. That is pretty quiet. I'm interested if anyone who had Prabhupada's association can comment as to how he chanted. I remember one movie where Prabhupada is walking around in his room in L.A. and he really seems to be whispering, muttering - very quietly chanting. I don't think you can really hear him, though the camera is right there in his space. Somehow it has become the norm in ISKCON that loud chanting of japa is the way it is supposed to be done; maybe from the japa tape which came from an initiation ceremony, right? Out loud japa would be understandable in that atmosphere.
As Bhrigu implies, I find myself hearing others and losing concentration on my own chanting in a loud group japa session. I like Nanda Tanuja's practical advice for when to utilize the different styles.