TRAINING LET TER FOR R E T R E AT PA R T I C I PA N T S No 2|5
THE LIVING NAME PART 2
A Guide to Chanting with Absorption
I am an atomic
SAMBANDHA
particle of
consciousness
and Kåñëa’s
Chanting with the awareness of our eternal eternal servant.
relationship with Rädhä and Kåñëa
The Sanskrit word sambandha indicates ‘relationship’ but literally
it means ‘bound together’ (sam: together; bandha: bound).
Sambandha is that understanding which binds you to Kåñëa. It is
an inner orientation for chanting the Holy Name that brings you
into the presence of the Lord. Kåñëa is the
infinite conscious
Sambandha begins with a general sense that ‘I am a part of Kåñëa.’ entity and my
Later, when you chant the Holy Name free from offences, your only master.
relationship with Kåñëa becomes clearer. At the last stage, the
Holy Name reveals your unique spiritual identity, including your
spiritual body, character traits, and the particular service you have
for Rädhä and Kåñëa in the spiritual world.
THE REAL NAME VERSUS THE
SHADOW NAME
Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura states in Harinäma-cintämaëi (3.15)
that if we chant with no awareness of our relationship with Kåñëa,
we will attain only a shadow of the Holy Name, not the real Name.
What will happen when you eat only a shadow of a meal? You The material world is a house of
remain hungry and will fell the need to go elsewhere to satisfy your correction meant to reform my tendency
appetite. Similarly, we tend to seek happiness in illusory things to remain absent in our relationship.
when we taste only a shadow of the Holy Name. Our heart feels
spiritually weak and we become willing to offend the Holy Name.
By these anarthas, or acts against our own interest, our spiritual ‘kåñëa, tomära haìa’ yadi bale eka-bära
progress can be almost permanently blocked. mäyä-bandha haite kåñëa täre kare pära
One is immediately freed from the clutches of mäyä if he seriously and sincerely
To end “shadow chanting” Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura in his says: ‘My dear Lord Kåñëa, although I have forgotten You for so many long
Harinäma-cintämäëi, (3.25) recommends a simple meditation years in the material world, today, I am surrendering unto You.
that fixed the mind in a correct understanding of our position in I am Your sincere and serious servant. Please engage me in Your service.’
relation to Kåñëa (sambandha-jïäna): (Çré Caitanya-caritämåta, Madhya 22.33)
This, then, is an effective cure for the spiritual undernourishment TRY THIS:
that will force us to remain attached to this world. Chanting with a Before starting to chant pray, “My dear Lord Kåñëa, although I’ve
sense of relationship is nourishing. You are a soul, a part of Kåñëa. forgotten You for so many long years in the material world, today, I’m
You are in this world only to realize your relationship with him. surrendering unto You. I’m Your sincere and serious servant. Please
Here is a powerful prayer to facilitate this awakening: engage me in Your service.”
Then consciously address Rädhä and Kåñëa, whose Names you chant.
Amåta Väëé, Training Letter for Retreat Participants
