Is Silent Chanting within mind effective to give desired results?
A male devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“I chant the holy name in my mind, so I cannot get holy name grace because I chant it in my mind? Compulsory to chant only loudly? thx in advance for reply!”
REPLY:
You might have taken chanting as a casual event. Unless we chant Lord’s names with utmost sincerity, we can’t get desired results. RESULT means, the mercy of Lord.
Because of Chanting while thinking of material problems, pleasures, etc., our mind can not concentrate on the names of Lord. Only our lips will be uttering them, but, the mind will be dwelling somewhere else.
(Tips for reducing the mind diversions while chanting! Tips! READ HERE!)
Only if our mind and heart are situated in Krishna’s names, glories and lilas, the chanting will be effective.
So, allot a time interval of about 30 minutes to 120 minutes every day exclusively for chanting. In this time, do not think of any other things except Krishna.
Out of 24 hours, can’t we spare just half an hour or one hour for chanting as an exclusive activity?
You can even split this time in to two or three sessions and perform chanting as an exclusive activity.
I have seen many devotees chanting in the temples or home while giving their ears to the discussions around them. Such type of chanting is not recommended.
As far as loud or in-heart Silent chanting is considered, as per the scriptures, Chanting within mind is of highest standard as it needs more focus on the Lord’s Names. It needs serious efforts to focus your mind only on Lord.
However, in this kaliyuga, we have so many diversions and problems. So, when we chant within mind, we may not be in a position to focus the mind beyond a level only in chanting .
(Will Offensive Chanting give Heavenly life instead of Goloka Life? READ HERE!)
And, when we are chanting within mind, we can’t ascertain whether we are pronouncing the words properly.
So, Srila Prabhupada recommended chanting in a mild voice. Thus, we can hear our chanting and hence we can ascertain that we are pronouncing correctly.
Everyone’s loud chanting will divert the attention of another as everyone will be chanting in their own speed.
However, loud chanting should be done in the form of KIRTANS. Because, in kirtans, every participant sings in the same tune and tone. So, it will be very nice to hear.
So, chant in a mild voice, but, LET THE NAMES OF THE LORD COME FROM OUR MIND and HEART.
If you like to follow the loud chanting, sing kirtans at home and the temple along with the other devotees.
Hope you are clear about whether Silent Chanting within mind is effective to give desired results or not.
(Science behind loud kirtans and active dancing in devotion! READ HERE!)