Answer
Krishna's protection is always there. The real question is whether we are conscious of His protection and able to maintain our connection with Him so that we can feel His presence everywhere, at all times, in every circumstance.
The way to remain in touch with Krishna is by constantly chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Therefore, practice chanting Hare Krishna always. Even when you are not able to vibrate the tongue, you can remember Krishna internally. Maintaining this background consciousness of Krishna is the essence of Krishna consciousness.
Developing such consciousness takes time. By regularly chanting, honoring prasadam, and engaging in devotional activities, our consciousness gradually becomes spiritualized. Krishna consciousness then becomes the natural background of our existence.
In that Krishna-conscious state, whatever we do and wherever we go, we remain under Krishna's protection. Krishna is present everywhere; He is never absent from any part of His creation. Therefore, the key is to invoke His presence by connecting with Him through chanting, hearing, and spiritualizing our consciousness.
In Srila Prabhupada's books, the term "Krishna consciousness" means being constantly conscious of Krishna. This is not difficult to understand. If you study the Bhagavad-gita—especially Chapters 7, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18—you will find many explanations of how Krishna is present within our body, throughout material nature, and in countless aspects of existence.
Study these teachings carefully and become aware of Krishna's presence everywhere. In this way, you can begin to understand His presence intellectually and eventually perceive it directly through the process of constant remembrance, chanting His holy names, and hearing His instructions in the Bhagavad-gita.
The next part of the question is: Does inattentive chanting also protect one from dangers?
Yes, chanting always brings protection, regardless of one's level of attention. However, if we do not make progress in our chanting, we may gradually lose our taste for it. Mechanical chanting cannot be sustained enthusiastically for a long time.
In the beginning, we may not be able to chant properly, but we should sincerely learn how to improve the quality of our chanting. We should strive to become more involved in the chanting process so that it evolves from mechanical chanting to mindful chanting, where the mind is actively engaged in hearing the holy name.
Ultimately, chanting should become wholehearted chanting—where our body, mind, intelligence, ego, and consciousness are fully absorbed in glorifying Krishna through His holy names. This takes time and practice.
Therefore, inattentive or mechanical chanting should not be accepted as the ideal standard. In fact, inattentiveness is considered an offense in chanting. Beginners may be excused due to inexperience, but as we learn about the offenses to the holy name and how to avoid them, we should make a sincere and determined effort to overcome them.
When we chant attentively and steadily advance in devotional service, there is no doubt of Krishna's protection in all circumstances. Gradually, we become fearless.
One great acharya, Sri Govinda Dasa Kaviraja, composed songs that teach us to continually instruct our own mind to engage in devotional service to Krishna. By taking shelter of Krishna's lotus feet, we become fearless in this material world. His lotus feet are the supreme refuge, and under their protection one can remain fearless under all circumstances.
