Following the advice of Rūpa Goswāmī and Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā, we can understand that we have to be consistent in chanting to begin with. We must use our intelligence. Kṛṣṇa says, "Conquer the lower self by the intelligence." So, when we're clear that this is medicinal and we have to trust that the doctor is qualified, then we can practice chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa for consistency. And here are just a few points.

One is being professional. Professionals show up no matter what, not when they feel like it; otherwise, that person will be fired. So, for your japa and practice of japa, go for steadiness, not taste. Be very, very patient over the years to show up for your japa based on your intelligence and practice a lot.

Those who learn to play the mṛdaṅga, who mess around, who don't take a teacher, who don't practice the rudiments, end up playing a sloppy mridanga, or concocting. I mean, if they're playing devotionally, there's no harm in it, but they end up slapping it in weird ways that disturbs the kīrtana rather than help it move along. And if we don't practice carefully—and practice means correct practice—and that means practicing again and again, even if out of 16 rounds, we can only hear one mantra, at least you hear one mantra. That can change everything. But we have to be patient. We have to practice a lot and keep showing up again and again.

And we have to have determination of Rukmiṇī Devī. As I mentioned yesterday, she told Kṛṣṇa (SB 10.52.44),

"yasyāṅghri-paṅkaja-rajaḥ-snapanaṁ mahānto

vāñchanty umā-patir ivātma-tamo-’pahatyai

yarhy ambujākṣa na labheya bhavat-prasādaṁ

jahyām asūn vrata-kṛśān śata-janmabhiḥ syāt"

I'm prepared to do this for hundreds of lifetimes if that's required." That is sheer determination. That's sadhana bhakti. It's not, "I'm not getting enough juice. I don't feel the bhāva. Therefore, this must not work. I quit. I'll go scroll on the internet instead." Don't do that. Be very professional. Show up for your japa. Be determined. If you don't get anything, then be prepared to give up this body and start over again in the next life and do it again.

That's what Rukmiṇī says. She said, "If I can't have you as my husband in this life, I'll perform such severe austerities that I'll give up my body. In my next life, I'll do it again until you consent that you're going to marry me." So we have to be like that in sādhana-bhakti. Sādhana-bhakti is not messing around. It's very serious. So the place to be really serious is with our japa.

Come as a pro. Do your work, bring your lunch box, and stay for the long term. And if you do that over many, many lifetimes, then maybe hear one mantra and realize that Kṛṣṇa and his name are not different. If we have that, then we have a joyful life dedicated to chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa.

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