Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Antya 11.24
Follow a Fixed Practice of Chanting
“Now that you have become old,” the Lord said, “you may reduce the number of rounds you chant daily. You are already liberated, and therefore you need not follow the regulative principles very strictly.
What the purport teaches
- The Lord allowed Haridāsa Ṭhākura to reduce his daily rounds because he had become old and was already liberated. This was not a general instruction to abandon strict practice.
- Unless one has reached spontaneous love of God, one must follow the regulative principles. Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī were living examples of following them.
- One must chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra loudly enough to hear oneself and vow to chant a fixed number of rounds. Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī also vowed to offer obeisances to the Lord many times.
Try this today
During your chanting today, make sure you can hear yourself, and give attention to keeping your fixed commitment.
Ask yourself
How can a fixed, audible chanting practice help you become more steady?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport; the practice and question are plain words for trying the verse today.