THREE STAGES OF ATTAINING PERFECTION IN CHANTING!
PERFECTION IN CHANTING can be achieved in three stages.
Everyone can not come to pure chanting straightaway. They have to improve stage by stage by crossing the following three stages in chanting to attain perfection.
(How to avoid Tension, Anger, Abusive Thoughts and Yawning while chanting? READ HERE!)
When you clean your house, all the dusts will come out and spread all over.
Similarly, when Nama Japa is cleaning yourself, all your anarthas will come out.
So, you are getting GRADUALLY purified.
So, you should Chant with faith, sincerity and love.
Finally, you will become pure.
Therefore, chanting will improve stage by stage only.
Let us know these three stages of attaining the perfection in chanting:
STAGE-1: NAMA APARATHA
Offensive chanting, ie, chanting of the holy name which is subject to the ten kinds of nama-aparadha.
(CHANTING HARE KRISHNA MAHA MANTHRA – IMPORTANCE, TIPS AND COMPLETE PROCEDURE! READ HERE!)
But, you may not be aware that you are offending against the Holy names of the Lord.
Even some small offences will be there during the initial stage of chanting.
What are those important ten offences against chanting? (from Nectar of Devotion):
STAGE-2: NAMABHASA
The stage of chanting in which one is becoming cleared of sins and offenses but has not yet attained pure chanting.
You will be aware that you are offending against the Holy names of the Lord and be willing to correct those offences.
(Ten offences against chanting the Holy name of Krishna! READ HERE!)
How to go to the Suddha Nama Stage?
If you get the manthra from a bonafide guru this will become easier with the mercy and blessings of all the acharyas in the Guru Parampara.
Thereafter, By serving the spiritual master with full attention while chanting namabhasa, one gradually rises to the platform of suddha-nama.
STAGE-3: SUDDHA NAMA
This is our destination in which we would have reached the pure stage of chanting where Krishna fully reveals Himself.
A devotee who chants suddha-nama will be able to observe or feel that Krishna is appearing and even dancing personally on his tongue.
(32 WAYS OF HOW NOT TO CHANT! READ HERE!)
As a great effect of this chanting, the devotee is bestowed pure love of God. Suddha-nama can be achieved by taking nama with a humble and favorable attitude, by remaining free from all material desire, and without the confusion of different concepts.
One can’t receive suddha-nama as long as he still has the desires in the fruits of performing different spiritual/ devotional practices.
From the above descriptions, evaluate yourself in which stage you are now. If you feel that you are in the first stage, sincerely continue chanting rectifying mistakes to attain stage by stage the third stage of Suddha Nama Japa.
Let Krishna be with all of us to attain the perfection in chanting Lord’s Names.
(I am disturbed by NEGATIVE THOUGHTS while chanting. What to do? READ HERE!)