Why Suffer?

Suffering is the pastime of fools. There is no need to suffer at all. Suffering is unnatural. It is only due to ignorance that we suffer. In this connection Srila Prabhupada explains as follows:

"And why this suffering? Due to ignorance. I do not know. I am committing sinful life, I am committing mistakes; therefore I am suffering. Therefore guru's business is first to rescue his disciple from ignorance."

When the spiritual master enlightens us with transcendental knowledge we are elevated from the realm of suffering to the realm of unlimited transcendental bliss. Therefore those who are intelligent or most fortunate take advantage of the bona fide spiritual master's instructions to become free forever from all the miseries of material existence.

Krishnaloka--The Realm of Unlimited Eternal Bliss

Krishnaloka--The Realm of Unlimited Eternal Bliss

Video For the Day: The Perfection of Selflessness

Answers by Citing the Vedic Version

Question: Music During Japa?

Hare Krishna.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to you and to Gurumataji.

Is it okay to chant rounds while listening to devotional music?

Dear Gurudeva, I wanted to ask if it is okay to chant my rounds while listening to devotional music, because when I do this I feel more pleasure and imagine what the spiritual world would be like. Bbut I am not sure that this is right because I may not be concentrating on the pronunciation of the mantra.

Always at your service
Bhaktin Gilma

Answer: Music for Kirtan, Not Japa

Music is for kirtan, not for japa. Krishna’s holy name alone is so sweet that it does require to be heard or chanted with any melody.

When chanting japa with full concentration on Krishna’s holy names we are already situated in the spiritual world beyond birth and death. So there is no need of music to help us think about the spiritual world.

Your understanding that we should focus on carefully pronouncing Krishna’s holy names is correct. We should carefully pronounce Krishna’s holy names calling out to Him for His mercy like a child crying for its mother. This type of chanting will give us unlimited peace and happiness.

When in kirtan we can make it musically beautiful, but in japa music should not be there.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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