Sunday, June 18, 2006

Chant and be happy

You can chant the Hare Krsna mahamantra (Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare) at any time, and in any place. Although you can chant it alone (japa), it is most certainly best to do it in a group (kirtana). Why?

Observe any group of people engaged in the same activity: go to a football match, or a rock concert, or a political convention. The audience in each of these things are gathered for the same reason - to support their team, their favourite musicians, or their politicians of choice. They will join in cheering, applauding and singing along. Any one of them will tell you that it is better to be there, with their fellow supporters, than to be at home alone watching it on the television. It is the same with chanting, not just the Hare Krsna mahamantra, but any chant, mantra or hymn.

Shouting out support for your football team raises the players' morale, and also promotes and cultivates a feeling of camaraderie between the individual members of the crowd. Similarly, to sing the mahamantra in a group, one feels part of an alliance of like-minded people, and also shows to the Lord that you do indeed love Him, which is what He deserves in return for what we have received by His grace.

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