Morning Rounds: Opening Up the World of Bhakti Through Japa Meditation
In short, Morning Rounds is: How to make the most of our most important practice.
Like a doctor making rounds to support healing, Morning Rounds is about tending to the soul. Through the chanting of the Holy Names, we gradually quiet the mind, soften the pull of the ego, and reconnect with our deeper spiritual nature.
Drawn from our weekly japa meditation gatherings at Upbuild, these reflections offer a few minutes of inspiration to support your meditation and begin your day with greater clarity, humility, and joy.
In the Bhagavad-Gita, Krishna describes japa, the chanting of the Holy Names, as the highest form of sacrifice. This timeless practice has the power to transform our consciousness through the simple act of returning, again and again, to the sound of the Holy Names.
Whether you are new to chanting or have an established practice, these reflections are an invitation to deepen your relationship with the maha-mantra:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
Through consistent practice and the support of community, we begin to experience a deepening sense of joy and connection that arises simply from hearing and chanting these sacred names.
Morning Rounds: Opening Up the World of Bhakti Through Japa Meditation
9 - Breath: The Role of Respiration in Chanting
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Breathing plays a crucial role in both physical functioning and mental clarity, which impacts how we engage in Krishna Consciousness. Hari reflects on the relationship between breath and posture, emphasizing the importance of presence. Although there are no strict rules about breathing during chanting, incorporating pranayama practices prior to japa can create a sacred space that aids in connecting with Krishna. He explores practical tips, including the significance of taking deep breaths and pacing oneself.
Quotes
- "The breath is very important because it controls the different functions of the body; it also has a huge impact on the mind."
- "The point is to connect with Krishna. Whatever will aid you in doing that is welcome."
- "Breathing beforehand is wonderful; it can help you create a more sacred space."
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Our heartfelt thanks to Jahnavi Harrison for graciously allowing us to feature her recording, "Divine Maha Mantra," in our intro and outro. Learn more about her divine music: https://www.jahnavimusic.com/.
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In short, Morning Rounds is: How to make the most of our most important practice.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare. Welcome to Morning Rounds. These are short 5 to 15 minute episodes from our weekly Japa meditation program with the Upbuild community, offering guidance and inspiration for your chanting practice. Rooted in years of monastic training, the study and teaching of the Phagavat Gita, coaching, and our own spiritual practices, these teachings are meant to support you in the most important journey there is: the journey from the ego to the true self. You can also join us for the live version of this program by visiting upbuild.com forward slash morning-rounds. So we will speak a little something about breathing for Jappa. So the breath is very important because it controls the different functions of the body. It also has a huge impact on the mind. So we talked about last time how posture affects the consciousness, breathing does as well. Should I integrate a kind of breathing meditation or exercise into it? And um the answer that I've encountered from those who are very, very experienced in chanting and uh at a high level of chanting is not really. There's not anything particular that you need to do with your breath while you're chanting. The point is to connect with Krishna. Now, whatever will aid you in doing that is welcome. So the great acharya and self-realized soul, uh Bhaktivinoda Thakur, he recommends breathing before chanting. And you may be familiar with pranayamas. This is uh a very core practice of yoga, it's one of the stages of Ashtanga Yoga or the Eightfold Yoga Path. And uh pranayama is controlling the breath, and it's very powerful on the consciousness once again. So if you do that beforehand, it's wonderful, and there are different ways that you can do pranayamas, but also if you just take a deep breath and then release, and a long exhale is nice, you can get rid of a lot of tension. So when we do guided meditations at our upbuild events, we often integrate breathing into it to come to a more sacred space. And in the case of Japa, it's helpful to invite Krishna into our hearts and minds by creating that more sacred space and that greater presence, which breath can help with. Now, I should also tell you that my guru, who has observed my chanting of Japa at different times, Sachinandan Swami has given me instructions based on what he's seen. And at one point, some years ago, he told me, Hari Prasad, you don't even breathe when you're chanting. So that is not recommended. We don't want to be right. We have to also pace ourselves and allow for breathing to happen. Just because it's not a special component doesn't mean that it shouldn't take place. So we should also breathe as we're chanting. In between mantras or in between a few mantras is most common. Um, and that is sufficient. So calm your mind with breathing at any point. You can also pause for a moment to catch your breath or to breathe more consciously, but there's no right or wrong way to do it. It is not something that you have to be particularly attentive to unless you're neglecting your breath. So, with that, we will chant today. Um, creating a sacred space by breathing beforehand consciously and making sure that we are not uh rushing through and missing our breath, right? We want to be present for Krishna and not straining ourselves. Thank you. Thank you so much for listening to Morning Rounds. Upbuild is a leadership and spiritual development organization that offers courses, workshops, coaching, and other services to help you on the path toward being your best self, free from the shackles of the ego. Please join us for the live version of this program by visiting upbuild.com forward slash morning dash rounds.