The Mentality Needed to Overcome

Inattentive Chanting
I always take care not to neglect completing the number of Names to be chanted
according to my vow. I see to this regularly, again and again.

I chant the Holy Names with great attention;

free from the offense of inattentiveness, I engage in bhajana.

Giving up the ambition to simply increase my numbers, I constantly chant the

Holy Name in the awareness that I do so by Your mercy.

Please be merciful to me, O Lord, so that the offense of inattention in chanting

never blocks my ability to relish the rasa of the Holy Name.

I should spend a little time alone in a quiet place

and practice concentrating deeply on the Holy Name.

Therefore I pray constantly at Your lotus feet to be able to always

utter each Name distinctly and to experience emotion when meditating on them.

Simply by one’s own effort, no one in this material world can overcome inattention.
Such a victory can only come by Your merciful blessings.

I take great care to beg for Your mercy, my heart overcome with emotion,
knowing that You are all-merciful and will always be generous with Your blessings.

If I make no effort to attain Your mercy,

O Çacénandana, then I will remain ever unfortunate.

— Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura, Çré Harinäma-cintämaëi 12.43-51