Sharanagati

Haridas Thakur was chanting under the bakula tree and he was meditating on the temple of the Lord. And there is a secret for his chanting so much. In India 100,000 they call “one lakha”. And he was chanting three lakhas for specific purposes and in different ways. One lakha he was chanting in the mind, only thinking. The second lakha he was chanting in a very soft voice, whispering. And the third lakha he was chanting loud. Why he was doing like this? Do you remember?

Prema Bindu: In order to use all the senses.

Tirtha Maharaj: Very good, very good idea, close to the essence. What was that?

Shyamasundara: Chanting in the mind is to achieve calm state of mind.

Tirtha Maharaj: Yes.

Shyamasundara: While chanting whispering…

Tirtha Maharaj: Well, let’s stop on this stage. So if we chant our prayers, any kind of prayers, or the mahamantra in our mind, in our heart and soul, then it will bring peace of mind for us. I think this is very important! Because these days we are so much under the influence of the outside world, so many impulses are coming to us, so much disturbance is there. So if you want to protect yourself from all these influences, you should chant the holy names in your mind and you will have peace of mind. Just like an inner shield to protect yourselves.

So first he was chanting for his inner peace of mind. What do you think, what was the second lakha for? What can we expect more than inner peace?

Prema Bindu: Blessings of God.

Tirtha Maharaj: Very close. The second reason was to achieve his own liberation, purification. Therefore he was chanting it a little louder, to be able to hear. Because, remember, we were discussing: hearing and chanting, chanting and hearing. You can provide a feedback for yourself. So for his spiritual benefit he was chanting in a soft tone. And finally for sharing the blessings, to liberate all the other living entities around him – for that reason he was chanting loud, so that others also hear. Like the trees, mosquitoes, this and that. Therefore he was chanting that much.

Yashoda: Shall we try like Haridas Thakur to chant in three stages – in the mind, softly and loudly?

Tirtha Maharaj: Loud! Loud is the best. Because all other is included there. If we want to help all living entities, naturally we help ourselves; we gain our peace of mind, like this.

Still it shows that one simple mantra meditation will work on different levels. Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.