“The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it is more difficult than controlling the wind.”
– Bhagavad-gītā 6.34
Struggle is natural in japa. The mind resists, wanders, and protests. But if our chanting is only a battle with the mind, it can leave us drained and even vulnerable to seeking relief in worldly distractions.
When we are mentally or socially fatigued, the natural tendency is to seek relief. The mind looks for something that requires little effort and gives quick stimulation. Movies and sports provide this “downhill” relief — they don’t demand much inner effort, but they stimulate the senses and imagination enough to feel like a break. Chanting or hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, on the other hand, though deeply nourishing, asks for a certain inner attention. In fatigue, that feels like “uphill work.” So, the tired mind instinctively gravitates toward the easy path.
The desert fathers of Christianity used to say: “When tired, the monk runs to distraction, because prayer asks for attention.” Our Gauḍīya ācāryas would call it śrama eva hi kevalam — misdirected labor, or seeking solace in the wrong well.
A brother came to Abba Antony and said: ‘Pray for me, Father, for I am weary with my thoughts.’ The old man said to him: ‘Do not be astonished, my child, but know this: that every time you resist a thought, you are giving battle to a thousand men.’
This incident shows that struggling with the mind alone is exhausting; constant resistance can leave us drained.
There is a deeper way: moving from struggle to surrender, from fighting with the mind to resting in Krishna’s embrace.
Chanting is Not for Me—It Is for Krishna
The first step is to acknowledge that chanting is not for my pleasure or happiness. It is for Krishna. Even if my mind rebels, even if I feel miserable, I continue to chant because it pleases Him. I can say:
“Krishna, I am Yours. These next two hours of chanting are for You. My mind may run wild, but it does not matter. Please accept me, please let me be with You.”
This mindset shifts the focus away from “what I am getting” to “what I am giving.”
The Trap of Fighting the Mind
Too often, we sit to chant and think the main business is fighting with the mind. Struggle is necessary—Srimad-Bhāgavatam compares the mind to a captured animal that will devour us if we become lax. But if our struggle is only with the mind, without turning to Krishna, the mind eventually wins.
Why? Because we are not yogis. Yogis seek control. Devotees seek love. A yogi’s goal is mastery over the mind; a devotee’s goal is shelter at Krishna’s lotus feet. When I identify only as a “mind-fighter,” I remain absorbed in the mind. When I identify as Krishna’s servant, I turn my energy toward Him.
Relaxing With Krishna
Surrender means “relaxing with Krishna.” It means moving into the soul’s natural state of sat-cit-ānanda: eternal, conscious, and blissful.
In practice, this means telling Krishna honestly:
“Yes, my mind is wandering. Yes, I am full of faults. But Krishna, even with all this, I am Yours. I belong to You, and that is enough. Your love and mercy are greater than my nonsense. My worth is not in my purity but in being Yours.”
I once heard a senior monk in the ashram say, “You cannot prevent the birds from flying in the air over your head, but you can prevent them from building a nest in your hair.”
This is a vivid analogy for wandering thoughts. The mind will wander, but we need not “build nests” by over-fighting or identifying with those thoughts. Instead, we can gently return to and relax in Krishna’s presence during japa.
When chanting is approached in this way, the heart relaxes. Instead of endlessly struggling, we begin to experience peace, sweetness, and the simple joy of being with Krishna.
The Test of True Japa
How can we know whether our japa was with Krishna or with the mind? The test is after the session.
- If after chanting, I feel drained, restless, and eager to distract myself with news, social media, or gossip—it means I was in “struggle mode,” fighting the mind but not resting in Krishna.
- If after chanting, I feel peaceful, refreshed, and satisfied, then I was truly with Krishna.
Struggle-only chanting is like climbing uphill for hours; naturally, the mind seeks a “downhill slide” afterwards. But chanting in surrender is refreshing because Krishna’s presence nourishes the soul.
Balancing Struggle and Surrender
Of course, some struggle is always there. The mind wanders and we must bring it back. But if all 16 rounds are only struggle, at least reserve a couple of rounds to chant in a softer mood of surrender and acceptance. Compare the difference in your consciousness—you will feel the contrast.
If our devotional life is only a battle, exhaustion will eventually push the mind toward old, easy habits. But if we allow chanting to be relaxing and refreshing, rooted in Krishna’s love, then instead of collapsing into maya, we will rise into Krishna’s embrace.
We need to learn to rest in God’s love despite our weakness. Many sincere sadhakas have the mood, “Though I fall a thousand times, I will get up and continue on the way.”
This inner attitude helps us tell Krishna “Yes, I am weak and my mind wanders, but I am Yours.” We need to see spiritual life as not perfection in mind-control but perseverance in surrender.
The Heart of Krishna Consciousness
Our movement is not “mind consciousness” or “maya consciousness.” It is Krishna consciousness. By always struggling with the mind, we stay stuck with the mind. But by offering our heart to Krishna, even with all its imperfections, we taste the essence of surrender:
Being with Krishna is not a fight—it is a homecoming. And peace comes not by winning mental battles, but by turning to Krishna directly.
