Chanting and Dancing - Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's Simple Formula
The path to spiritual perfection in the modern age does not require painful austerities or solitary meditation. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu inaugurated a sublimely joyful and universally accessible process: the congregational chanting and dancing of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.
The Joyful Process
The practice of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is meant to be deeply satisfying and full of bliss. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that unlike dry philosophical paths, the saṅkīrtana movement offers a dynamic, pleasurable experience that immediately elevates the practitioner above material anxieties.
- Simply chanting, dancing, and eating nice sweetballs, kachori. So su-sukham and kartum avyayam. While performing, while practicing this process, it is very pleasurable, and avyayam.
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu does not give you such prescription. He gives you very nice program: chant, dance and take prasadam. Still we are unwilling. We cannot accept this tapasya.
- Anyone can visit our Temple and see how our students are in blissful life. Naturally they are in jolly mood by chanting, dancing, and taking Prasadam.
- We can easily see that activities in Krsna consciousness are joyfully done. There is chanting and dancing, eating prasadam (food that has been offered to Krsna) and discussing Bhagavad-gita. These are the main processes.
Universal Accessibility
One of the greatest features of this movement is that it requires absolutely no material qualifications. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that regardless of one's age, education, or background, anyone can achieve the highest spiritual benefit simply by joining the chanting and dancing.
- Anyone can join us. And the joining method is very simple. Just like you have seen, even a small child can chant and dance. So our method is very simple.
- You don't require to become M.A., Ph.D., D.H.C. or D.A.C. If you are, it is already very good. But even if you are not, if you have no knowledge, still you simply join with us in this chanting and dancing.
- Even if you do not understand the philosophy, even you do not read the books, simply if you take part in these three things, chanting, dancing and taking part in eating the prasadam, your life will gradually progress in spiritual advancement of life.
- In our Kirtana there is no need of so called meditation and gymnastic of bodily exercise. It is simple and can be practiced even by the small children and we have practically seen it how small boys and girls do take part in it by chanting dancing with us.
Not Mere Sentiment
Because the devotees express their love through physical jubilation, ignorant scholars often dismiss the movement as sentimental. Śrīla Prabhupāda fiercely counters this, asserting that the chanting and dancing are supported by the deepest, most rigorous Vedic philosophy available.
- Foolish Mayavadis, not knowing that the Krsna consciousness movement is based on a solid philosophy of transcendental science, superficially conclude that those who dance and chant do not have philosophical knowledge.
- We are not sentimental, simply chanting and dancing. We have got more than two thousand volumes of books. If you want to learn it through science, philosophy, it is also there. Otherwise, the simple method - simply chant Hare Krsna.
- It is not that we are simply chanting and dancing. If you are philosopher, if you are scholar, if you are scientist, we can give you proof in a scientific way, in a philosophical way, scholarly way; therefore these books are there.
- Krsna consciousness movement is not one-sided. It is not that people may think that they are sentimentalist and simply chanting and dancing. No. There is volumes of philosophy of life, from all angles of vision. Dharma, artha, kama, moksa.
Transcendental vs. Material Dancing
There is a vast gulf between the dancing in a nightclub and the dancing in a temple. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that while material dancing is driven by lust and sense gratification, the dancing of the devotees is a pure, spiritual manifestation of their awakening love for Kṛṣṇa.
- You don't compare with that (footpath) dancing. It (Hare Krsna dancing) is not dog's dancing. They (the devotees) chant, they feel - they dance.
- There is sense gratification. Here when you chant and dance, this is not your sense gratification; this is Krsna's sense gratification.
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "I never chanted and danced to make an artificial show. I dance and chant because I firmly believe in the words of My spiritual master."
- This chanting and dancing do not belong to this material world. They are actually transcendental activities, for the more one engages in chanting and dancing, the more he can taste the nectar of transcendental love of Godhead.
The Cleansing Power
The process of chanting and dancing is not just an expression of joy; it is an active, purifying agent. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that simply by engaging the body and voice in this transcendental vibration, the accumulated dirt of material existence is wiped away from the heart.
- We can attain the platform of sattva-guna by following the instructions given in Bhagavad-gita. Hearing krsna-katha, topics about Krsna, clears all the dirty things from the mind. Also, if we chant and dance, these dirty things will be wiped away.
- To chant the holy name of Krsna one does not need to speculate on the philosophical aspects of the science of God, for one automatically becomes ecstatic and without consideration immediately chants, dances, laughs, cries and sings just like a madman.
- After chanting the holy name of the Lord and dancing in ecstasy, one gradually sees the form of the Lord, the pastimes of the Lord and the transcendental qualities of the Lord. This way one fully understands the situation of the Personality of Godhead.
- They are so much absorbed in this chanting and dancing, they are no more interested in sex. That is the only way. If you want to stop the pleasure of sex, then you have to take this pleasure, this transcendental pleasure. You'll forget everything.
The Ultimate Policy
The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement operates on an incredibly straightforward and welcoming agenda. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that the ultimate policy of the society is simply to invite everyone, without discrimination, to participate in the sublime formula of chanting, dancing, and taking prasādam.
- Our policy is very simple and plain. We invite people to participate in chanting, dancing and eating prasadam.
- Simply propagate this chanting, dancing, feasting and following the regulative principles. These are the four pillars of our success.
- Our method should be to convert such fools (who criticize the preachers of the sankirtana movement) gradually by asking them to come and take prasadam and chant and dance with us. This should be our policy.
- You write to say that you do not know what is my desire, but my desire is an open secret. I simply want all over the Western countries people may take this simple formula of chanting, dancing and eating Krishna Prasadam, and being happy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda perfectly demystifies the phenomenon of the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement's public chanting and dancing. It is not an artificial exhibition, a sectarian ritual, or the sentimental "dog's dancing" born of mundane frustration. Rather, it is the direct execution of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's sublime formula for delivering the fallen souls of Kali-yuga. While the movement rests upon a massive, irrefutable foundation of Vedic philosophy capable of defeating any mundane scholar, its practical application is so simple and joyful that even a small child can attain perfection without reading a single book. By engaging the body and voice in the transcendental vibration of the holy names, the practitioner effortlessly cleanses the heart of all material contamination and awakens their dormant love for God. Śrīla Prabhupāda's ultimate, "open secret" desire was simply to see human society completely abandon the miserable pursuit of material sense gratification and instead unite in the supreme, blissful ecstasy of chanting, dancing, and feasting on Kṛṣṇa prasādam.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Chanting and Dancing. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.