How Chanting Helps us Defeat Maya
Hare Krsna to all devotees. Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Many of us who have listened to Prabhupada’s lectures are familiar with the analogy of the donkey chasing after a carrot on a stick placed by his master who wants the donkey to carry a burden. The foolish donkey, not being cognizant of the freely available grass around him continues chasing after the carrot while carrying his burden. The intelligent donkey, aware of the freely available grass, knowing he doesn’t have to work for his master, stops going after the carrot at the end of the stick, and instead chooses to enjoy the grass. After a few beatings, the frustrated master gives up and puts the burden and carrot in front of another foolish donkey.
Those of us who choose to serve Maya are like the foolish donkey. Maya thrusts a huge burden upon us and holds many carrots in front of us. If we ever get aware of the freely available infinite bliss of Krsna consciousness, we will stop going after the many carrots she dangles in front of us. After a few frustrated beatings, like the frustrated master, Maya will remove the burdens and carrots, allowing us to enjoy the freely available infinite bliss just as the donkey enjoys the grass.
The question becomes how we become like the intelligent donkey. The answer is through chanting. Repeated practice of chanting is one of the best ways to serve Krsna, and as such, it is recommended not only by Prabhupada, but also by all other acharyas in all Vaishnava sampradayas. Thus, as practicing Vaishnavas, we should remember to take some time out of our daily schedules to chant the Lord’s name because then, the Lord will reciprocate by making time for us and give us more time we can spend with Him.
