UPBUILDING THE SELF

Safe vs. Quality Problems

Meditation on sacred sound has been practiced across traditions as a way to quiet the mind, open the heart, and reconnect with the divine. In this episode, Vipin, Hari Prasada, and Rasanath focus on the maha-mantra, exploring the philosophy behind it and the lived experience of making it a daily practice. They discuss how sacred sound penetrates the consciousness, why the maha-mantra is considered uniquely potent, and what begins to shift internally as one chants. Throughout the conversation, they offer reflections from decades of practice, describing how chanting uproots materialistic desires, cleanses selfishness, and strengthens the longing of the soul for pure connection. They also provide guidance for the beginner: how to start chanting, how much to chant, and why community support is essential. We invite you to start experiencing sacred sound as a way to uncover the true self beneath all the layers of our ego conditioning.

Podcast Hosts: Rasanath, Vipin & Hari Prasada

Highlights

  • [03:00] What mantra meditation is and how it works

  • [06:40] The influence of sound on consciousness in daily life

  • [12:00] The maha-mantra: the great deliverer of the mind

  • [13:20 Two modes of practice: kirtan (musical meditation) and japa (personal meditation)

  • [16:20] How to chant on beads, what a “round” is, and understanding the benefit of tactile practice to anchor the mind

  • [18:00] The daily vow of 16 rounds minimum and the importance of sustained commitment

  • [21:10] Rasanath’s first experiences with chanting the maha-mantra

  • [26:30] The mysteries of mantra meditation

  • [28:00] Hari’s experience with chanting the maha-mantra

  • [38:00] The power to uproot egoic and materialistic motivations

  • [52:20] The meaning of the names: Hare, Krishna, and Rama

  • [55:30] How to begin your chanting practice

  • [59:40] The imperative of sanga: sustaining the practice through community

  • [61:00] An invitation to join us for Morning Rounds

Quotes

  • “Sound has a very profound effect on our consciousness, even in our daily lives… When someone speaks harshly to us, it affects our consciousness. When someone speaks kindly to us, it affects our consciousness. So sound has a very important place in our life, perhaps…the most important place.” -Rasanath

  •  ”The chanting of the maha-mantra started to reset my desires…It's a rewiring. I've experienced that I become more and more myself. I have greater clarity, greater conviction, greater passion, and greater selflessness. I don't find myself so selfishly oriented...” -Hari Prasada 

  • “Just as you don't go a day without brushing your teeth, for us, we don't go a day without chanting.” -Hari Prasada

  •  ”The cleansing of the heart allows us to be able to see the true self more clearly.” -Vipin

  • “I want to invite you into the struggle [of controlling the mind and the spiritual path]. I'm unapologetically, unabashedly inviting you into that struggle because it is the greatest struggle there is.” -Hari Prasada

For first timers, welcome to Upbuilding the Self

About the podcast: Two former monks, a former startup founder and CEO, and a former equity derivatives trader dive into how to be our best selves, free from the ego. Our egos are the identities we create for ourselves and wish the world to validate, but when we are not seen as we want to be, we feel insecure. This podcast lives at the intersection of leadership and spirituality. It will help you understand your ego and shed light on your inner world so that you can act with greater clarity, compassion, and the freedom to be your best self.