Satsvarupa dasa Goswami - Free Write Journal #396: Japa Quotes from Japa Reform Notebook (part 9)
REFLECTIONS/JAPA MEDITATIONS
Anyone who is proud can move his mouth and chant Hare Krsna, but he will not be able to experience the actual taste of serving the holy name, unless he becomes very humble. “I am very fallen. I am not a big independent living entity. I am simply dependent on Your mercy, so please give me attention or else I cannot stand.”
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Why is it a struggle on some days to concentrate while on other days it is easier? This is the very definition of unsteadiness. When you become steady, it will be good every day. You can make advancement in japa when you always look forward to doing it, feel pleasure when you do it, and do it with steady consciousness. Another measure is that you will feel less material desires. That symptom is more important than exactly how much bliss you feel while fingering the beads.
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When the spiritual master asks you to chant Hare Krsna, which he especially does at the time of your initiation, that is an order different than is given to you by any other person in Krsna consciousness. His request that you chant Hare Krsna, when you take it up, forms the most intimate, personal relationship between yourself and your spiritual master, and yourself and Krsna in disciplic succession. So this is the real link for your friendship and your dependence on his instruction.
