Chanting versus meditation

[Mary]

I have recently come to the practice of Krisna Consciousness. I'm attending a meditation class. My spiritual advisor gave me a mantra and I meditate twice a day for approximately 20 minutes. I have found this very valuable. I am a caregiver for my husband and am limited on time, so I've been chanting the Maha Mantra only once a day using beads, but also chant while I'm walking. I recently read the booklet, "Chant and be Happy." This book seems to indicate that chanting this mantra is all that is needed. And the more often the better! So now I'm wondering if I should continue both practices and try to increase chanting the Maha Mantra as time permits.

Thank you for any enlightenment on this.

[Rasa1976]

Most followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism (the ones who mostly chant Hare Krishna mantra) would probably want to know the scriptural basis of your other mantra to tell if it is authentic or beneficial. Also, the character of the one who gave the other mantra may come into question. Typically Krishna followers don't chant mantras that refer to other divinities than Krishna or Vishnu.

[devotee]

I have recently come to the practice of Krisna Consciousness. I'm attending a meditation class. My spiritual advisor gave me a mantra and I meditate twice a day for approximately 20 minutes. I have found this very valuable. I am a caregiver for my husband and am limited on time, so I've been chanting the Maha Mantra only once a day using beads, but also chant while I'm walking. I recently read the booklet, "Chant and be Happy." This book seems to indicate that chanting this mantra is all that is needed. And the more often the better! So now I'm wondering if I should continue both practices and try to increase chanting the Maha Mantra as time permits.

Thank you for any enlightenment on this.

Start seeing Krishna in your husband. Keep Krishna in your heart & do your duties. For a Hindu woman, there is no duty higher than taking care of her husband first. Please remember ... if there is no Krishna for you in your husband ... there is no Krishna in the stone image too for you which you worship.

OM

[Mary]

Thank you, Devotee and Rasa. I have been given a mantra, which is the same as Krisna by a qualified spiritual advisor, a priest. I liked your reply Devotee. Sometimes it's difficult to see krsna in my husband but I will try. I'd still like to know whether it's more beneficial to chant the Maha Mantra or to meditate, keeping in mind that I'm working toward being a devotee.

[Rasa1976]

I'd still like to know whether it's more beneficial to chant the Maha Mantra or to meditate, keeping in mind that I'm working toward being a devotee.

It's interesting that you would see the two as different when there are a number of Krishna devotees that would say that chanting and meditation are non-different. From my own past experience of having chanted japa every day for 12 years I know that Hare Krishna japa chanters often do not appear particularly meditative, and may even be seen bouncing around or pacing the floor while chanting. Apparently it creates another type of energy than what is normally considered meditative - a kind of bhakti fervor perhaps. Wheras when you are chanting some other authentic Vedic mantra that begins with "Om" - if you are actually attentive and work to pronounce everything properly - it has the capacity to sort of freeze you in your tracks, and make you sit very still and be very attentive.

But to what extent 'meditativeness' or 'bhakti fervor' are a result of a certain mantra or type of mantra chanter I do not know. What I do know is that there is a big similarity in both yoga and bhakti systems that they seem to demand all of your time. So complete devotion to *one* of them would seem to be the key, even though they may be 'non-different'.

Back when I was in Iskcon, we were trained that if we chanted the Hare Krishna mantra very attentively early in the morning, we would likely have a good day on book distribution. It did seem to work. Meditation to my knowledge teaches similarly, that your powers of concentration and relaxation will be better throughout the day if you meditate nicely. Though in the West of course, yoga and meditation are sought mainly to increase one's health and material well-being, without any thought for eternal spiritual understanding at all.

[devotee]

Namaste Mary,


Thank you, Devotee and Rasa. I have been given a mantra, which is the same as Krisna by a qualified spiritual advisor, a priest. I liked your reply Devotee. Sometimes it's difficult to see krsna in my husband but I will try. I'd still like to know whether it's more beneficial to chant the Maha Mantra or to meditate, keeping in mind that I'm working toward being a devotee.

Truly speaking, the aim of both the ways is the same ... Be one with the God-consciousness and obliterate the deep impressions of limitations imposed by your false individual consciousness. So, whether you chant or meditate it would produce the same result if you do it complete devotion and sincerity. If chanting helps you to connect yo Krishna-Consciousness then concentrate on that. Moreover, it is easier to chant than to meditate. However, meditation can speed up your spiritual journey. It improves your focus to the object of meditation & helps you in discarding the worldly thoughts easily.

You should learn meditation from a good teacher. You can mix chanting and meditation in your practice, which imo, is the best option. Start with chanting and then meditate ... it would be beneficial. While attending to your worldly duties, you can keep chanting the holy mantra mentally.

OM

[sm78]

I'd still like to know whether it's more beneficial to chant the Maha Mantra or to meditate, keeping in mind that I'm working toward being a devotee.

Chanting is more beneficial ... meditation will automatically follow.

[Eastern Mind]

I have recently come to the practice of Krisna Consciousness. I'm attending a meditation class. My spiritual advisor gave me a mantra and I meditate twice a day for approximately 20 minutes. I have found this very valuable. I am a caregiver for my husband and am limited on time, so I've been chanting the Maha Mantra only once a day using beads, but also chant while I'm walking. I recently read the booklet, "Chant and be Happy." This book seems to indicate that chanting this mantra is all that is needed. And the more often the better! So now I'm wondering if I should continue both practices and try to increase chanting the Maha Mantra as time permits.

Thank you for any enlightenment on this.

Vannakkam Mary: Although this is not my particular Hindu tradition, and others can most likely give you an answer from this tradition, I think such questions of , "Which is better?" don't have universal answers. Instead the question should be, "Which is better for this individual?"

An analogy might be methods of teaching applied to various learning styles. There is no one correct best way. Sadhana or worship or even sect choice should match the jiva's needs.

Aum Namasivaya

[Mary]

I want to thank everyone for their most helpful answers to my questions. All good advice.

[uttam]

Mary madam, i should say it does not matter for how long you chant or meditate ,the matter is what ever you do please do it from your heart from your mind because god reads our mind only . if you walk and chant at the same time you may slip and get hurt. so take care of your husband and do your duty and arrange some time at your convenience for chanting or meditating whatever you like.just reserve the time for this purpose only.May Sri Krishna help you !

[Harekrishnayoga]

Radhanath swami says : Chanting produces best results when we go deeper into chanting. Standing on the shores of the ocean one can�t access the precious gems and jewels on the bed of the ocean; one will be tossed away by the waves. However if we go deeper into the ocean, we can access the pearls. Similarly by chanting superficially or occasionally, we can�t avail the benefits; we�ll be thrown away by the waves of material energy. We need to go deeper in our chanting to reap the fruits of chanting. What does it mean to go deeper?

http://krishnayoga.info/2011/10/radhanath-swami-going-deeper-through-internal-changes/

[Believer]

Namaste,

Thanks for the post.

High points from Swamiji's message are:

".......his emphasis has always been on developing the proper mood for practicing this yoga. The internal mood of being eager to serve is more effective in pleasing the Lord and attracting His grace than being an expert in the practice of chanting Hare Krishna.

....along with essential chanting, a spiritual practitioner lives his or her life centered on sacred principles; humility, tolerance and forgiveness. Radhanath Swami’s formula is to integrate the Hare Krishna meditation with the overall acceptance of spiritual culture - a life centered on integrity and servitude."

Pranam.

PS: If I may add, developing proper mood = sitting comfortably at a quiet place and being single minded when chanting; essentially shutting out mundane thoughts from one's mind/consciousness and being focused on chanting alone with thoughts of Lord Krishna in one's mind. In other words doing chanting as an act of devotion, making an effort to link (yog) with Krishna, and not as a routine physical exercise.

[SriGauranga]

Hare Krishna. Please accept my bumble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Gauranga!

Actually chanting is meditation. When we chant 16 rounds in the Brahma Muhurta, we are not just chanting. We also hear each and every word of the Maha Mantra and meditate on the transcendental form of Govinda. But the mediatation that so called yogis preach nowadays is selfishness. The tell you to do yoga to become God or get some kind of benefit. They talk about dhyan, concentration, sitting postures but they never ever talk about love or service to Krishna. For them it's always for personal benefit not for service to God. Please take a look at what scriptures says about the Maha Mantra:
In this age, there is no use in meditation, sacrifice and temple worship. Simply by chanting the holy name of Krishna--Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare--one can achieve perfect self-realization. (Vishnu Purana 6.2.17)
Kali-santaraṇa Upaniṣad:
hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare
hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare
iti ṣoḍaśakaṁ nāmnāṁ kali-kalmaṣa-nāśanam
nātaḥ parataropāyaḥ sarva-vedeṣu dṛśyate
�Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare; Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare�these sixteen names composed of thirty-two syllables are the only means to counteract the evil effects of Kali-yuga. In all the Vedas it is seen that to cross the ocean of nescience there is no alternative to the chanting of the Holy Name.�
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 12.3.52:
kṛte yad dhyāyato viṣṇuṁ tretāyāṁ yajato makhaiḥ
dvāpare paricaryāyāṁ kalau tad dhari-kīrtanāt
�Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Viṣṇu, in Tretā-yuga by performing sacrifices, and in Dvāpara-yuga by serving the Lord�s lotus feet can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.�
Nārada-pa�carātra:
trayo vedaḥ ṣaḍ-aṅgāni chandāṁsi vividhāḥ surāḥ
sarvaṁ aṣṭākṣarāntaḥsthaṁ yac cānyad api vāṅ-mayam
sarva-vedānta-sārārthah saṁsārārṇava-tāraṇaḥ
�The essence of all Vedic knowledge�comprehending the three kinds of Vedic activity [karma-kāṇḍa, j�āna-kāṇḍa and upasāna-kāṇḍa], the chandas, or Vedic hymns, and the processes for satisfying the demigods�is included in the eight syllables Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa. This is the reality of all Vedānta. The chanting of the Holy Name is the only means to cross the ocean of nescience.�
The path to liberation is guaranteed when a person once chants the holy name of Lord Hari. (Skanda Purana)
Your eternal Servant.

[shian]

in this Kaliyug,
the best way to control our mind and guide to the deeper state is

Chanting with pure devotion

this is suitable , easy and best way for us in Kaliyug

[Believer]

Namaste SriGauranga,

Please be advised that in the past, there has been lots of verbal sparring between high strung ISKCON devotees and others in the forum. Here are the reasons:

1. Srila Praphupad said some very unkind things about many other Acharyas who are revered by many Hindus. These comments were never retracted and are adhered to by people in the upper echelons of the movement, much to the consternation of many Hindus. We generally consider all Acharyas (and sampradayes) to be part of our heritage and don't go about insulting any of them. We just pick the one who resonates with us and go with him
2. Having that mind set and trying to be a proselytizer by using words like, 'so called yogis....', you essentially insult every guru other than your own. This will cause nothing but bad blood, and you will not get too far with your intended goal.
3. Gaudiya Vaishvanism works for you, and you may not have known (or have no use for) other paths under the big umbrella called Hinduism. Others may find solace in other sampradayas. Please be aware of and be respectful about that.
4. Having been associated with ISKCON for 42+ years, I know that the devotees do a cut a paste of what is written in their books without ever adding a word of their own to recap or summarize an idea/concept in their own simple words. This comes across as somebody parroting something without knowing its meaning and reduces the impact of whatever is said.
5. Youthfulness gives the positive exuberance, which is good. But when it is used to knock holes in dead end walls, you hurt your own fist without making a dent in the wall.

I might be way off base on some or all of my observations. So, if you find any of them to be untrue or offensive, please ignore them and excuse my ignorance.
Hare Krishna, best wishes and a happy journey on your chosen path.

Pranam

[Eastern Mind]

Vannakkam Believer et al: You deserve points for that. Your post reminded of some years coaching volleyball. By no means was I some great coach, but I had 15 years or so of experience, had a couple of 'levels' of coaching certification. Still I had first year volleyball players come along on the first day and start telling me how they 'played' the game. (More likely to be male, if that means anything.) Usually they found some time 'playing' the game their way while sitting on the bench. Some came around. Others were unable to. Too bad for them because they missed out on something.

Aum Namasivaya

[SriGauranga]

Hare Krishna Believer Prabhu Ji(sorry but don't know your real name). Please accept my humble obeisances.

Thanks you for your reply and stating your concerns. Yes there are devotees who are unkind to people. I don't disagree. But we can't blame the whole ISKCON for this. Actually ISKCON's teachings have nothing to do with being unkind to others. Lord Chaitanya said: A Vaishnava should be humble as grass, and tolerant as tree. He taught us to be kind to others and spread his message to the whole world. He taught us to think that we are inferior to others not superior. But neophyte devotees, when they hear this think that we can behave anyway we like when preaching. So I hope you understand this matter and excuse theses devotees we might act unkind and harsh.

Now you say Srila Prabhupada didn't accept some gurus and sampradayas. Yes that is right. And if you refer to Padma Purana which states:
sampradāyavihīnā ye mantrāste niṣphalā matāḥ
ataḥ kalau bhaviśyanti catvāraḥ sampradāyinaḥ
Śrī-brahmā-rudra-sanakā vaiṣṇavā kṣitipāvanāḥ
catvāraste kalau bhāvya hyutkale puruṣottamāt
rāmānujaṃ śrī svicakre madhvācaryaṃ caturmukhaḥ
śrīviṣṇusvāminaṃ rudro nimbādityaṃ catuḥsanāḥ

All mantras which have been given (to disciples) not in an authorised Sampradāya are fruitless. Therefore, in Kali Yuga, there will be four bona-fide Sampradāyas. Each of them were ignaugurated by Śrī Devī and known as the Śrī Sampradāya, Lord Brahmā and known as the Brahmā Sampradāya,Lord Rudra and known as the Rudra Sampradāya; and the Four Kumāras and known as Sanakādi Sampradāya. Śrī Devī made Rāmānujācārya the head of that lineage. So too Lord Brahmā appointed Madhvācārya, Lord Rudra appointed Viṣṇusvāmī and the four Kumaras chose Nimbāditya (an epithet for Śrī Nimbārkācārya).

Note that Brahma Sampradya is the linage of ISKCON. And Rudra Sampradya doesn't refer to Shaivism. It is another Vaishnava Sampradaya coming from the linage of Lord Shiva.
So only these 4 Sampradyas are bona fide and their gurus and acaryas. A spiritual master must be in an authorized disciplic succession to be bona fide. It is not possible for someone to be a bona fide spiritual master in a line of spiritual authority that does not come from Krishna. Sometimes pseudo-spiritual masters create a line of philosophy. They have a "vision" or dream in which they imagine that they have become empowered by God, or that they are God, and they should start teaching others. But this is never accepted by the true followers of the Vaishnava tradition. And that is why Srila Prabhupada didn't accept many gurus and sampradayas. By the way, Srila Prabhupada didn't really mean to say unkind stuff about the people. He just wanted to make sure that people don't get mislead by follow bogus gurus and sampradayas. Remember the mother has to chastise her son/daughter to turn into a good human even though it may seem unkind to the son/daughter. So that's what Srila Prabhupada was doing.
You say that some ISKCON devotees copy and paste from their scripture.
First of ISKCON didn't write any scripture. All the scriptures like Puranas, Upanishads, Mahabharata was written by Srila Vysadeva about 3000 years ago:) Secondly, if don't copy paste words of scripture what will you do??? You can't simply make up scriptures with your own "simple words".
Yes, many Hindus(also in this forum) don't agree with ISKCON. I am well aware of that. But we ISKCON devotees have no purpose except to preach the message of Lord Chaitanya, we don't make an concocted view.

Sri Sri GauraNitai Ki Jay!!!

[JayaRadhe]

I have recently come to the practice of Krisna Consciousness. I'm attending a meditation class. My spiritual advisor gave me a mantra and I meditate twice a day for approximately 20 minutes. I have found this very valuable. I am a caregiver for my husband and am limited on time, so I've been chanting the Maha Mantra only once a day using beads, but also chant while I'm walking. I recently read the booklet, "Chant and be Happy." This book seems to indicate that chanting this mantra is all that is needed. And the more often the better! So now I'm wondering if I should continue both practices and try to increase chanting the Maha Mantra as time permits.

Thank you for any enlightenment on this.
Namaste Mary!
In the Garga Samhita, it is stated in 1.15.71 that:

[T]hose who, again and again, chant the Names of Radha*-Krishna attain Lord Krishna directly. What are the four goals of life** for them?
Therefore, I would say that chanting is the easier path. From chanting Krishna's name, meditation on his glories will easily follow.
Good luck and happy chanting! :)

*Radha is Lord Krishna's beloved.
**The four goals of life are: kama (desire), artha (wealth), dharma (social/religious duty), and moksha (liberation).

[Arjunesh]

Vannakkam Mary: Although this is not my particular Hindu tradition, and others can most likely give you an answer from this tradition, I think such questions of , "Which is better?" don't have universal answers. Instead the question should be, "Which is better for this individual?"

An analogy might be methods of teaching applied to various learning styles. There is no one correct best way. Sadhana or worship or even sect choice should match the jiva's needs.

Aum Namasivaya


I agree

[Necromancer]

Even though I am Shaiva now, there weren't moments when I also felt this same love for Lord Vasudeva and also for Lord Rama being the perfect Shiva bhakt and Lord Hannuman, thus his.

The message within the Bhagavad Gita is so powerful, I still apply it to a lot of my beliefs.

When I was 17, in a fervent quest for spiritual knowledge, I joined ISKCON and stayed there for 2 years but never took initiation because I knew it just wasn't 'for me'. I just really liked it there and made many friends.

I would chant the Maha Mantra 108 times after taking my morning bath and doing rounds of the sacred basil tree....before breakfast.

I personally found that I didn't get to finish 108 most of the time. I'd get up to about 50 or so (I don't know how many) and my mind would go into meditation by itself. Having a picture of Lord Krishna in front of me helped too.

This happens to me now whenever I chant the sacred Mahamrityunjaya Mantra even about 10 times.

Chanting Mantras are a great tool to use.

Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna
Krishna krishna
Hare Hare
Hare Rama
Hare Rama
Rama Rama
Hare Hare

[markandeya 108 dasa]

Namaste,

Old thread but bumped into this today. Meditation like Yoga is taken to cheaply these days, when Classically Meditation "Dhyana" is a very advanced stage. I wrote this somewhere else and borrowed some words from Swami Laxman joo

There is Yoga and the process of Yoga, at both times one can be considered a yogi if they are sincerely engaged within the process.

The study/practice of patanjali as complimentary to Bhagavad Gita, its a great aid. Yoga or the state of yoga only happens when one reaches niruddha. We sometimes consider that Yoga is like the rung of ladder, but in fact there is only the stages of the mind, and within the yoga system these stages are kṣipa, agitated state, the ordinary state of the human being, where mind just moves from one state to the next without any real purpose direction or meaning. Second is vikṣipa where one applies Sadhana to control the mind from wandering. Then comes third state of mind when you are bent upon putting it on one point with concentration. That is called ekāgratā, one-pointed. This understanding and practice can applied very nicely to Japa. And afterwards the state of mind comes in such a way that it becomes nirudha, it does not go away at all. If you drive it away it won’t go, it will go to one point. That is nirudhāvāsta, that is when this mind has taken the position of nirudhāvāsta. Nirudhā-vāsta is one-pointedness, automatic, when you have not to drive him again back and back to return to his point.

When one reaches Nirudha one has attained the stage of Yoga, perfect union with the Supreme in the first initial stages. This is where actual yoga starts. Asana as I am sure your aware of in Sanskrit means seat, so in the stage of Nirudha ones seat is steady and fixed as Spoken by Sri Krsna in Gita and even in the midst of the greatest of difficulty he remains fixed.

http://www.bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-06-18.html

So what people think as meditation in the classical sense is not really meditation what one is more than likely doing is vikṣipa or practice of controlling the mind, even if it we hit some form of equilibrium or calmness or peace it doesn't make it as Samadhi or true mental absorption in the finer recces of mind/consciousness. When the third state comes ekāgratā, one-pointed this is ( and correct me if I am wrong ) is when real Sraddha comes in, Sraddha often gets translated as meaning faith, which usually means something closer to accepting a belief system, but Sraddha is much more powerful, so I like or prefer the word conviction over faith.

I think in this day and age, unless one has a very good supporting environment, of which I have only found on Buddhist retreats which observe noble silence , or your in a quite place where there is concentrated practice, or living out in nature meditation in the classical sense is very difficult.

Also unless one has a natural inclination, which is more to do with past lives then meditation for modern times is not recommended, I think this is slowly becoming more apparent in the west, often now when people talk about mediation they say it doesn't work and many people struggle. So chanting, japa/mantra yoga and reciting of verses and so on with what ever tradition inspires one I think will bring much faster results and give the same benefits as within classical meditation and other types of yogic methods, also for the ones who have a mind for study and memory of Shastra I think this is better than most mediation practices, as this will give one a lot of things for deeper contemplation and will purify the intelligence.

Most people in the west associate mediation with Buddhism, Hinduism too especially with the recitation of AUM. But if the life of the Buddha is studied he did not teach meditation to everyone, perhaps only a few who were already adapt Yogis and ascetics and then he taught the Jhanas and insight meditation.

One can hear direct from Swami Laxman Joo here, the sound quality is not the best but beneath there is a transcription.

http://www.universalshaivafellowship.org/stages-of-mind/#.VZ10v_kkhc8

[Ashish_Marathe]

Chanting, if done correctly, will eventually guide you into meditation.

[Believer]

Namaste,


Chanting, if done correctly, will eventually guide you into meditation.

+1

Pranam.

[ajay]

Yes, chanting definitely helps to keep the mind one-pointed and reduces the flow of unnecessary thoughts, and prepares the ground thus for meditation later on.

I would even say that chanting well for a long time can also bring one to the company of holy ones.

I remember reading about a devotee meeting Ramana Maharshi for the first time, complaining that he had been chanting for many years and had not got any result.

Ramana Maharshi replied that it is his chanting that brought him to the holy company of Ramana Himself in the first place.

Sri Ravi Shankar had stated that chanting increases prana and makes the body strong as well.

So there are a lot of benefits to be gained from chanting, which aids meditation.

[shian]

When we chant Mahamantra, what is the sign of the vanishing of sins ?

[smaranam]

When we chant Mahamantra, what is the sign of the vanishing of sins ?
Dear Shian, Chant the Mahamantra over a period of time and you will see for yourself :)

[myth]

What benefits have the people on this Forum seen from chanting??

[ratikala]

Namaskaram ji , ...

what benifits ? ......detatchment from material concerns, absorbtion and bliss , ...

to me meditation and chanting go hand in hand , ...a grounding in meditation is certainly helpfull , l came from a buddhist tradition where one first goes through the preliminary stages of stilling the mind , then progresses on to contemplative meditation , this to me was a huge blessing when first coming to chanting , ....as it enables one to focus singlepointedly on the object of ones chanting , thus easily becoming absorbed .

[smaranam]

Namaste

Totally agree with Ashish Marathe, Ajay and Ratikala

1. chanting leads to the meditative state.
2. chanting brings you towards/in the association of Holy ones or Mahapurush, and even the Lord Himself -- svayam BhagvAn -- nAtha nArAyaNa vAsudeva ~


Mantra japa is recommended for anyone and everyone, to jivas in any life-situation, no matter how difficult or easy, just to get out of the material entanglement and a worldly mind-set to begin with.

[shian]

Is chanting give us maturity of behaviour and manner, and the ability of selfcontrol ?
More chanting amount, so more good quality arises ?

[smaranam]

Yes. Basically, due to the spiritual journey itself -- where chanting may be just one limb of it -- the I (the ego) gets lessened.
You are not interested in mundane and not running towards anything mundane, as the interest is more on the real that is already giving the results
you do not seek a social support from others in terms of approval, appreciation, even acknowledgement --- so no differences arise with others
you do not want to do something that BhagavAn will not approve, want to do the right thing for the sake of the right thing, not for some candy, and sometimes not even to please the Lord.
You care about the society, environment, others -- you will automatically keep it greener and cleaner. Its about your conscience
you do not want to go anywhere or come anywhere

You are a harmless quiet being who does not affect anyone, and if at all, pray for and work towards the upliftment of yourself and others

[Ametyst]

Hare Krishna,
I have a question regarding meditation. I'm practicing only japa chanting, sometimes I do some pranayama to calm my mind, but I would really love to have some meditative practise besides. As I don't know devotees who meditate in this way and I don't have a guru, where do I get advices on how to meditate and on what?
If any of you could help, I'd appreciate it.
:)