Introduction When you think of yoga, what comes to mind? For many people, yoga is about stretching and flexibility. But did you know that there’s an entire branch of yoga that focuses on chanting? It is known as “kirtan” or “call and response chanting,” and this type of yoga is becoming increasingly popular in the West. It … Read more
The following is the third and final in a series of 3 articles titled Alignment, about aligning the body, mind, and heart so that one can better chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. This article is adapted from the teachings of His Holiness Sachinanadana Swami, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, adapted for our Chant Now friends … Read more
A protector like no other. Have you ever wanted or needed someone like that? Well, I guess externally it may not look like it. It may look like one of those movies which could have ended without the drama had the protagonists done something sooner. Movies about murders are really intense. They leave you in a … Read more
The following is the second in a series of 3 articles titled Alignment, about aligning the body, mind, and heart so that one can better chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. This article is adapted from the teachings of His Holiness Sachinanadana Swami, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, adapted for our Chant Now friends and students. … Read more
Among many benefits, mantra meditation brings deep joy to our hearts, and one of the most blissful experiences I’ve had since I began to practice it is kirtan. Playing different instruments, a group of people sing together the maha-mantra, putting all their focus and intention just as if they would be meditating by themselves; but … Read more
The following is the first in a series of 3 articles titled alignment, about aligning the body, mind and heart so that one can better chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. This article is adapted from the teachings of His Holiness Sachinanadana Swami, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, adapted for our Chant Now friends and students. … Read more
“God and the devil were walking down a path one day when God spotted something sparkling by the side of the path. Picking it up and admiring the substance, God said, “Ah, Truth,”To which the devil replied, “Here, give it to me… I’ll organize it.” Religion is often seen as rigid rules and regulations that … Read more
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve likely heard of intermittent fasting. While it has only recently caught the attention of mainstream scientists and the general public, you would be surprised to know that it is an age old practice prescribed in ancient Indian yogic texts and followed by many practitioners for its spiritual … Read more
The French Catholic writer Charles Péguy said, “Everything begins in mysticism and ends in politics.” I’ve always harboured the greatest mistrust and suspicion towards all forms of organised religion. I’ve also forever been seeking – “truth” and “meaning” and “purpose”. Today, I’m a monk in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. It has been a … Read more
Mantra recitation also called ‘Japa’, consists of repetition of a single syllable (e.g., om) or a string of mantric sounds (e.g., Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare). These sound vibrations have a profound effect on our consciousness, elevating it from the mundane to the transcendental. They … Read more