Practice
Daily practice
You cannot understand bhakti by reading about it, just as you cannot learn to swim by reading about water. This is what a Vaishnava does every day, and how you can try it yourself, starting very small.
1. Chanting the names of God
This is the central practice. The Hare Krishna maha-mantra is chanted in two ways that complement each other:
- Japa: alone, softly, counting on a string of 108 beads. It is the daily meditation, ideally early in the morning. How to use a japa mala. If you have no beads, try the digital japa mala.
- Kīrtan: in a group, singing and responding, with instruments. What is kirtan.
Those who have taken initiation chant sixteen rounds of beads a day, a little under two hours. Nobody starts there: you start with one.
2. Hearing and reading
A little time each day with the Bhagavad-gītā or the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. It is not about getting through pages, but about reading a passage, understanding it and carrying it with you. Temples hold a class every morning; many can also be followed online.
3. Offering your food
A devotee eats nothing without first offering it to Krishna. Offered food is called prasādam, “mercy”, and it turns something we do several times a day into an act of devotion. The diet is vegetarian, without meat, fish or eggs.
4. A place for Krishna at home
Many devotees have a small altar at home: a clean shelf with a picture of Krishna and of the teachers. There they offer their food, a flower or a stick of incense, and there they sit to chant. Nothing more is needed to begin.
5. Company
The tradition says it again and again: you become like the people you spend time with. That is why devotees meet, sing together and help one another. The Sunday programme at any temple is the easiest way to meet them.
6. The four principles
Those who commit seriously to the practice take on four rules of life. Each one protects a quality:
| Principle | Protects |
|---|---|
| No meat, fish or eggs | Compassion |
| No intoxicants | Austerity |
| No gambling | Truthfulness |
| Sexuality only within marriage | Cleanliness of body and mind |
They are not a requirement for coming along or for starting to chant. They are the commitment of those who ask for initiation, and people usually reach them little by little.
7. Ekadashi and the festivals
Twice a month, on the eleventh day after the full moon and after the new moon, devotees keep Ekadashi: they fast from grains and pulses and spend more time chanting and reading. Throughout the year they also celebrate the appearances of Krishna and of the great teachers. You will find all the dates in the calendar, and the full explanation in Ekadashi and Festivals.
How to start this week
You don’t need to buy anything, but if you want to know what helps, see What you need to get started.
- Chant the mantra for five minutes a day, at the same time, out loud, listening to yourself.
- Read one verse of the Gītā with its commentary before your day begins.
- Try a day without meat and, before eating, give thanks in silence.
- Listen to a kīrtan while you cook or walk.
- Visit a temple on Sunday. Ask everything you want to know.
A little and steady is worth more than a lot on a single day. If what you find brings you clarity, carry on. If not, nothing has been lost.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a teacher to begin?
To start chanting and reading, no. Later on, those who want to commit receive initiation from a spiritual master, who guides them personally. Until then, experienced devotees at any temple can point you in the right direction.
Do I have to become vegetarian?
Nobody will require it of you to enter a temple or to chant. Most people give up meat on their own as they go along, because they stop wanting it.
How much time does it take each day?
You can start with ten minutes. An initiated devotee spends about two hours chanting and a while reading, nearly always before the working day begins.
Can I practise if I belong to another religion?
Yes. Chanting the names of God does not require you to give anything up. Many people start this way and decide later how far they want to go.