My family is always watching TV that disturbs my Chanting! Tips!
Two devotees with similar problem approached me:
(1) A male devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
Hare Krishna prabhu. My children are watching movie songs in TV even in the morning time before they go to school. My wife says that she cooks happily while hearing movie songs. i am not able to chant peacefully. How can I chant in this background?
(2) A girl devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
Hare krsna prabhu ji……..actually sometimes it happens……that when i do my rounds….if at that time i hear that this movie is going on the TV…. it usually comes in my mind…..let me watch this movie….after watching this i will do my chanting..so at that time it seems very difficult to stop my mind thinking like this …..plzz enlighten me….what should i do…hari hari…
REPLY:
This is a normal daily scenario in the houses of first generation devotees, ie, whose parents are non devotees.
If we are the second generation devotees, our parents will also be the devotees. So, they understand that we need privacy to chant Hare Krishna because they too will have to chant.
In most of the devotee families, they may not have television or they may use it only for watching news and spiritual contents.
The problems faced by both of you exist only in the houses of devotees who have non devotee parents.
Let us now come to your problems:
There may be two reasons:
1.
You might have have chanted while the TV is on. This is a clear interference.
Therefore, do not chant when there is any dominating noise in that place.
That is why, acharyas advise chanting in the early morning during brahma muhurtha period, ie, atleast between 4.00 to 5.30.
(Sense Disturbances while following Devotion. What to do? READ HERE!)
During the Brahma Muhurtha period, the whole world/ surroundings will be peaceful and the environment will be more favourable for chanting without distractions.
When the sun rays are focused on a paper through a lens without distractions, the paper is burnt into ashes. This is the power of the Sun light that has less or no distraction.
Same applies for the sound also. In the Brahma Muhurtha time, since the entire world is sleeping, there will be no sound distractions.
This makes the atmosphere calm that is very much suitable to chant and the results will be good if we chant in the Brahma Muhurtha time.
Therefore, hereafter, wake up before 4.00 am and chant as much as possible before the sun rise. Then, you will definitely chant without much diversions of the attention.
After completing most of the rounds of chanting during this brahma muhurtha time, chant the remaining few rounds during the day time. If you chant all the 16 rounds before sunrise, it is very good and effective.
The morning practice will make the concentration of your mind sharper, and hence it helps you to neglect the disturbances if any during the day time chanting.
Now, you need not worry though your family does not stop watching television songs or movies in the morning. Because, you have finished chanting. Just proceed to your job or school or college. Study or work thinking of Krishna in mind.
(Mind Control Tips for the devotees while Chanting & Praying! READ HERE!)
2.
Secondly, you may be giving less concentration for chanting. You should single mindedly and tastefully chant from your heart, not from your lips.
If you fully focus your mind in chanting, you will not care these diverting factors. That is why, it is advised to reduce watching mundane things and you should allot time for every activity every day.
If you watch a movie of your favourite hero, you won’t care all your surroundings. Because, you are giving full attention in the movie. Why can’t you show the similar attention in chanting?
Therefore, the problem is with us only. We like to taste both the material as well as spiritual pleasures in our life.
More focus in spirituality should reduce our interest in materialistic activities.
Only if our materialism comes down, our spirituality will come up and Vice versa.
Therefore, give priority for chanting in life. Be convinced and believe that Krishna is hearing your chanting and is taking you closer to Him. Also believe that you will be suitably rewarded by Krishna at the right time in right manner.
This conviction will keep material desires away from us and help us chant without the thoughts of movies, TV Programs, etc.
Hope this helps you if the family is always watching TV that disturbs Chanting!
(Tips for reducing the mind diversions while chanting! Tips! READ HERE!)