Prabhupada explained that this type of chanting is more or less useless because it will not
produce the desired result, love of Krsna. To even call this chanting is a stretch. It is closer
to a ritual. But Prabhupada acknowledged the value in the ritual by saying that although
this kind of chanting is not very productive, at least those who are chanting this way are
keeping their vow to chant.

I call this kind of japa, “courtesy japa.” “Courtesy japa” means that since you have taken a vow -
either to your spiritual master or yourself - to chant a certain number of rounds daily, you keep
that vow while chanting the kind of japa I described above.

Here are a few other examples (methods) of what I call “courtesy japa:”

• Chanting while talking to someone (you talk, and when they reply you chant).
• Chanting while reading (which could really work if you have two heads, one to
  read and one to chant).
• Chanting while listening to a CD or the radio (this is especially challenging while
  listening to the news or listening to rock and roll music).
• Chanting while shopping.
• Chanting while window shopping (this often happens on early morning japa walks).
• Chanting while you are dosing off (sometimes known as dive bomb japa).
• Chanting while site seeing or looking around at a million things (sometimes known
  as radar japa).
• Chanting while watching movies (Krsna Conscious movies are included in
  “courtesy japa”).
• Chanting a little, talking a little, chanting a little, talking a little (sometimes known as
  jibber japa).
• Chanting while …………………… (fill in your favorites).

Note, these are all excellent ways to ruin your japa and thus put your Krsna conscious
transmission in park. You can make incredible advancement during japa. Good japa is like
flying down the highway in fourth gear. Good japa produces inspiration, realization, detachment,
increased desire to serve, attraction to study scripture, and an ability to see maya’s workings more
clearly. And there are so many more gifts japa delivers. Yet we deprive ourselves of these gifts
when we chant “courtesy japa.”

THE NEW MANTRA IS “DOWN WITH ‘COURTESY JAPA’.”

It’s all about fighting apathy in our japa. As Lord Caitanya said, playing the part of a
conditioned soul, “I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for chanting Your Holy
Names.” So we have two choices during japa. One is to go with the flow and just let
the mind wander. The other is to go against the flow and make a valiant effort to focus
on the holy name and chant in a prayerful, devotional mood. That’s not so easy. It takes
effort. It goes against everything “courtesy japa” stands for. And this is not much fun
for lazy japa chanters like me. After all, concentrating is hard work.

Japa can be a creative time. Often when I chant I get all kinds of ideas. Also the many things
I have to do in the day - and even creative ways of doing them - keep popping up in my mind
(or should I say keep pooping in my mind). Don’t dwell on these. If they come up, either neglect
them (those good ideas will most likely come up later) or stop chanting and write them down
so you don’t have to think about them while you chant.

Let’s put an end once and for all to “courtesy japa,” the great enemy of Krsna consciousness.