Conquering Over Stress

In this material we must often face very stressful situations. How do we deal with it? Krishna instructs us in the Bhagavad-gita that this world is full of dualities. Just as seasonal changes are unavoidable, we must experience so many varieties of pleasant and unpleasant situations. The key is to not allow ourselves to be affected either way. If we don't get excited when things are going well, we are setting ourselves up not to be disturbed when things are going wrong.

The advanced transcendentalist understands that from the higher perspective everything is always going on perfectly according to the Lord's plan. Therefore he is always able to be happy by taking complete shelter of the Lord in all varieties of circumstances: both the so-called good and the so-called bad.

Answers According to the Vedic Version

Question: Regarding Chanting On Beads...

Regarding counting the Maha mantra on Japa beads:

Is there a certain significance counting the Maha mantra on Japa beads?

I know you have previously said that if we want to master the science of chanting then we must follow in the footsteps of the mahajanas, the great enlightened personalities of the past.

But I do not understand the difference between chanting 16 rounds on Japa beads or using some other method to keep count.

Does not counting on Japa beads degrade the chanting of the Maha mantra?

Please advise,

An aspiring Sri Krishna Devotee

Answer: We Must Follow the Mahajanas to Be Successful...

We should not try to invent our own method of bhakti according to our own fertile imaginations. Such invented bhakti systems will not liberate us from this material existence. We must instead follow the pathway chalked out by the great liberated souls of this past. This and only this will bring about our deliverance. Since the great acharyas have personally chanted on japa beads and have also ordered us to chant on japa beads, this is what we must do. By obediently following their instructions we will achieve all success and happiness. However, if we proudly think, "Why I should listen to them and obey them? I will invent my own method." we will not be able to solidly establish ourselves on the pathway back to home, back to Godhead.

The great acharyas prescribe that we should chant the holy names while counting on japa beads. Therefore there is no question that chanting while counting on japa beads degrades the chanting. Rather is quite to the contrary. Chanting on japa beads enhances the absorption of the mind on the transcendental plane. By engaging our various senses in the chanting the holy names the mind becomes captured in the transcendental ocean of the nectar of the names. We engage the tongue in the pronouncing the names. We engage the ear in hearing the names. And we engage the sense of touch in counting our chanting on the japa beads. In this way the mind, the pivot point of the gross senses, becomes automatically absorbed in the names.

The mind can be our best friend or our worst enemy. If we fully absorb the mind in the names, it becomes our best friend. If the mind is not absorbed in the names, it is our worst enemy. Therefore we should intelligently agree to accept whatever means have been given to us by the grace of Sri Krishna and fully absorb our minds in His unlimitedly sweet transcendental names:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

Sankarshan Das Adhikari