Why Sixteen Rounds of Japa?

Why do strict followers of the bhakti yoga system chant the Hare Krishna mantra for at least 16 rounds every day on their japa mala beads? They do so because this is the order of the world's leading exponent of the bhakti yoga system, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Why did he order that at least 16 rounds should be chanted every day without fail? He did so because this is the minimum amount of chanting which will give the devotee sufficient spiritual energy to remain connected with Krishna 24 hours day.

What is the advantage of remaining always connected with Krishna? Why does a fish like to remain in the water? He does so because this is how he is able to sustain his life. If he remains outside of the water too long, he will die. In a similar way, devotees want to remain always connected with Krishna because this gives them life. If they become disconnected from Krishna, they can immediately feel how they are dying. And if they are connected with Krishna, they experience an ever-increasingly sublime existence of eternity, knowledge, and bliss at every minute.

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Why Souls Chose to Leave Krishna?

I was trying in the last days to find out an explanation of the next described point. On one hand, the pastimes of Lord Sri Krishna in Goloka Vrindavan are the most attractive events that ever exist. On other hand, the material world/creation is ¼ of Sri Krishna's creation. (Some devotees says that is smaller like a cloud in the Vaikuntha sky). Anyway, this still means that a lot of souls (jivas) are living in separation and ignorance regarding their original position.

My question, and I am asking gladly you to help me understand this point, is how and why is it possible that so many souls chose not to stay together with Sri Krishna, but to come to this material creation. Till now I don't get any acceptable answer to this point. So please give me instruction how should I understood this point.

I hope this meets you in the best of health.

Your humble servant,

Minaketana Ramadasa das

Answer: Love Requires Freedom of Choice

Since love is voluntary, unless the living entities have a choice to love Krishna or leave Krishna, love cannot exist. Since Krishna wants our love, He gives us the choice to love Him or to reject Him. The freedom of choice cannot exist unless there is the possibility of misusing it. And possibility of misuse means that there has to be some probability of misuse. If there is no probability of misuse, there is no possibility of misuse, and free will does not exist, and love cannot exist. So in order for love to exist there has to be some degree of probability that free will can be misused. That most unlikely probability will naturally be infinitesimally small, i.e. so small that you cannot measure it. But if we take the most infinitesimally small, inconceivably small fraction of the unlimited number of living beings in the spiritual sky we will still end up with an infinite number of living beings who enter into this material world in a futile attempt to be God here in this abode of birth and death.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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