Hare Krishna's Rejection Of Meditation: A Spiritual Paradox

The Hare Krishna movement, or the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), is a monotheistic Hindu denomination that follows the teachings of founder Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who began teaching in the 15th century that Krishna was the supreme Lord above every other god. The movement is centred around the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, which is considered a form of meditation.

While Hare Krishnas do not denounce meditation, they believe that the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra is the easiest and most effective form of meditation, and that it is the only way of salvation for people in the current age of Kali. They believe that other forms of meditation are less effective in this age, and that the Hare Krishna mantra is the culmination of other yoga practices.

Chanting the Maha Mantra is a form of meditation

The Maha Mantra, or the "Great Mantra" for Deliverance, is a central aspect of the Hare Krishna movement, a branch of Hinduism also known as Gaudiya Vaishnavism. The mantra is composed of three Sanskrit names: "Hare", "Krishna", and "Rama", and is repeated in various patterns to form a 16-word mantra.

Chanting the Maha Mantra is indeed a form of meditation. In fact, it is considered a sound meditation, where the act of listening attentively purifies the heart. The process of chanting involves focusing the mind on the recitation of the names of God, which is a recommended method for spiritual awakening in the Vaishnava tradition. This tradition holds that meditation takes three distinct forms: japa, kirtan, and sankirtan. Japa involves softly reciting God's name using beads, similar to a rosary, while kirtan and sankirtan are public meditations performed individually or in a group, respectively, with musical accompaniment.

The Hare Krishna mantra is chanted in a similar manner, either sung out loud (bhajan), congregationally (kirtan), or to oneself aloud or mentally on prayer beads made of tulasi (japa). The act of chanting the mantra is believed to awaken the soul to its spiritual reality, connecting it to Krishna or God. The sound vibration of the mantra is thought to transcend lower levels of consciousness, allowing direct contact with the spiritual realm.

The physical process of chanting the Maha Mantra involves using a mala with 108 beads, placed on the middle finger, and chanting near a Tulsi plant or in front of a deity. Chanting can be performed while walking or sitting, and ideally during the Brahma Muhurta (early morning). The entire process is centred around the recitation of the names of God, with the belief that repetition of the mantra brings strength, peace, and happiness, ultimately connecting the chanter with Lord Krishna and their original spiritual life of eternal bliss and knowledge.

Chanting is a spiritual cleansing

The Hare Krishna mantra is known as the "Great Mantra" or "Great Sound Vibration" and is considered to be the most effective mantra for delivering or freeing the mind from undesirable conditions. The chanting of this mantra is said to be a process of purification, just like using soap to cleanse the body. It is believed to clear away a person's ignorance and unhealthy habits naturally, without harmful repressions, by allowing them to experience a higher pleasure.

The chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra is recommended in the Puranas, the Pancharatra, and throughout Vaishnava literature. It is said to remove all grievous sins for those who worship Lord Hari, the Lord of all lords, and chant the holy name. The mantra is composed of three names: "Hare," which refers to the divine feminine potency of God; "Krishna," which means the all-attractive one; and "Rama," which is the reservoir of all pleasure.

According to the philosophy of ancient India, the soul is spiritually asleep, and the Hare Krishna mantra acts as an alarm clock to awaken the soul to its spiritual reality. The sound vibration of the mantra is believed to have a direct impact on the soul, transcending the sensual, mental, and intellectual levels of consciousness. By chanting the mantra, one can experience their eternal connection with Krishna or God and attain spiritual awakening and empowerment.

The practice of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra is not limited to any specific time or place. One can chant it anywhere, at any time, either softly to oneself or loudly for others to hear. It can be chanted while sitting, standing, or even walking, and one can keep their eyes open or closed during the process. The chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra is a spiritual cleansing that purifies the mind and frees one from the symptoms of material existence, ultimately connecting them to their original spiritual life of eternal bliss and knowledge.

Chanting purifies the mind

Chanting also helps us develop an introvert attitude. By chanting, our inclination towards the materialistic world reduces, and we begin to delve within ourselves. This helps us in developing an introvert attitude.

The radiant energy of God’s Name destroys the impressions in the subconscious mind. Just as the sun destroys faeces and its odour, the radiance generated by chanting God’s Name destroys the internal impurities.

According to psychology, chanting God’s Name and that of a worldly object are quite similar. When a mother utters or hears her son’s name, numerous emotions arise in her subconscious mind. These could be motherly affection, happiness, worry, aspirations, etc. This is because all emotions associated with the name of the object, that is, the son, co-exist. The memory of or hearing that name constantly activates the emotions. This is spontaneous and is a powerful driving force in a mother’s life. Sometimes, due to this very force, a mother is prepared to sacrifice everything for her son.

The psychological response to chanting God’s Name is the same. When we chant His Name, we have some emotion or image about God, consciously or unconsciously. We also have some notion about His qualities. We know from discussions that we benefit from God’s grace and that chanting His Name is the tool to acquire grace. Hence, the spiritual emotion that we are chanting God’s Name, who has distinguished qualities, accompanies God’s Name. Due to this very spiritual emotion, emotions such as respect, love, and devotion for God, and fear of wrong actions, etc., go on increasing progressively, while other emotions keep diminishing. Thus, gradually the subconscious mind gets purified.

Chanting is a way to connect with the Supreme Self

Chanting is a form of meditation that has been practised for thousands of years by religious groups such as Buddhists, Hindus, and Christians. It is a way to focus the mind and connect with the divine.

The Hare Krishna movement, a branch of Hinduism, centres around the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, also known as the Mahā-mantra or "Great Mantra". This mantra is composed of three Sanskrit names: "Hare", "Krishna", and "Rama". "Hare" refers to the divine feminine potency of God, "Krishna" means the all-attractive one, and "Rama" is the reservoir of all pleasure.

The act of chanting these names is believed to be a powerful method of spiritual awakening, connecting us with Lord Krishna and our original spiritual life of eternal bliss and knowledge. It is said to awaken the soul, bringing strength, peace, and happiness.

According to the philosophy of ancient India, the soul is spiritually asleep, and the Hare Krishna mantra acts as an alarm clock, awakening the soul to its spiritual reality. The sound vibration of the mantra transcends the sensual, mental, and intellectual levels of consciousness, putting one directly in touch with the spiritual. This idea is supported by research, which suggests that chanting healing mantras helps synchronize the right and left hemispheres of the brain, promoting alpha waves, which are associated with a relaxed and restful state.

Chanting is, therefore, a way to connect with the Supreme Self by calming the mind, elevating consciousness, and facilitating a direct experience of the divine.

Chanting is a way to connect with Krishna

Chanting is a form of meditation that has been practised for thousands of years by various religious groups, including Buddhists, Hindus, and Christians. It is a way to focus the mind through intense concentration on a single point, in this case, the Maha Mantra or "Great Mantra" of Hare Krishna.

The Hare Krishna mantra is composed of three Sanskrit names: Hare, Krishna, and Rama. "Hare" refers to the divine feminine potency of God, "Krishna" means the all-attractive one, and "Rama" is the reservoir of all pleasure. The mantra is repeated over and over by devotees, either out loud or mentally, and is believed to be a powerful method of spiritual awakening.

Chanting the Hare Krishna mantra is said to connect us with Lord Krishna and reveal our original spiritual life of eternal bliss and knowledge. It is believed that the sound vibration of the mantra has a direct impact on the soul, awakening it to its spiritual reality and allowing it to experience its eternal connection with Krishna or God.

The practice of chanting the mantra can be done individually or in a group setting through kirtan, a form of public meditation where the mantra is sung loudly and accompanied by musical instruments. Chanting in a group setting has been shown to increase social connection and promote a sense of oneness with those around us.

Chanting the Hare Krishna mantra is a way to connect with Krishna by bringing the soul closer to its spiritual reality and opening it up to an empowering experience of eternal bliss and knowledge.

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