Japa or Kirtan..?
Jul 1st, 2010
Q. As it is said we should always keep ourselves always engaged in chanting the holy names, but I get more interest in doing Kirtan than chanting on my japa beads. What should I refer or is that the right attitude?
A. Kirtan is chanting, that is Krishna’s greatest blessing if we have a taste for kirtan of the holyname. The acharyas have explained the proper method of always remembering Krishna and they have given us minimum rule. Prabhupad has thought
us at least 16 rounds of japa where we are exclusively engrossed in taking shelter of the holy name. But he has also taught us nama sankirtan and we can do that all of the time. Krishna’s holy name is equally perfect whether we are chanting nama kirtan or we are chanting nama japa. Krishna reveals him self according to our humility and according to our sincerity and attentiveness in chanting. So it is not one or the other. Prabhupad insisted devotees must perform nama sankirtan together and devoteess must individually chant japa.
So the physician knows how to balance exactly the medicine in such a perfect way that it will heal the disease of forgetfulness of Krishna and bring us back to our healthy state as pure loving servants of the Lord.