CHANTING THE HOLY NAME OF LORD KRISHNA. Part 4.

By constant chanting, then one come to realize Parabrahman (the Supreme Brahman), or the Absolute Truth.Any person, under any circumstances, can reach an elevated state of consciousness by properly hearing the Bhagavad-gītā, and then, by constantly chanting the name of God, he can win God over.One can constantly chant any name of the Lord at any time, and at stage of life, and thereby constantly associate with Him.The statements of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta are so practical that anyone can test them. As far as we are concerned, we are most confident of the success of the distribution of the great fruit of love of Godhead through the medium of chanting the mahā-mantra—Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.Transcendental qualities of the Lord attract even the liberated souls and carry them to the assembly of devotees where the Lord's glories are constantly chanted.By constantly chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and remembering the transcendental pastimes of Kṛṣṇa, one can be fully in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and thus make his life sublime and fruitful.The prime symptom of pure devotional service is constant chanting, hearing, and remembrance of the holy name.Constant chanting of the holy name will make one free of offenses.The sacrifice recommended in this age is saṅkīrtana, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord.People in general in Kali-yuga are so fallen that it is not possible for them to obtain perfection simply by studying the Vedānta-sūtra.One should therefore seriously take to the constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord.In this age, the simplest method to realise Kṛṣṇa, be freed from all the complexities of life and to return home back to Godhead, is constantly chanting the holy names of the Lord, the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.All mantras and all processes for self-realization are compressed into the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. (Narada-pancaratra)Chant the holy names, chant the holy names, chant the holy names. In this age of Kali [the age of quarrel and confusion] without a doubt there is no other way, there is no other way, there is no other way. (Brihan-naradiya Purana 38.126)The self-realization which was achieved in the Satya millennium by meditation, in the Treta millennium by the performance of different sacrifices, and in the Dvapara millennium by worship of Lord Krishna [as the Deity in the temple], can be achieved in the age of Kali simply by chanting the holy names, Hare Krishna. (Bhag.12.3.52) (Verses similar to this are also found in the Padma Purana, Uttara-khanda 72.25, and the Brihan-naradiya Purana 38.97)Living beings who are entangled in the complicated meshes of birth and death can be freed immediately by even unconsciously chanting the holy name of Krishna, which is feared by fear personified. (Bhag.1.1.14)When instructing King Pariksit, the great sage Sri Shukadeva Gosvami said, "O King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord after the ways of the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, including those who are free from all material desires, those who are desirous of all material enjoyment, and also those who are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental knowledge. What is the value of a prolonged life which is wasted, inexperienced by years in this world? Better a moment of full consciousness, because that gives one a start in searching after his supreme interest." (Bhag.2.1.11-13)The reason that chanting the Lord's names is such an effective process is because the Lord and His names are identical: they are the same spiritual energy.By chanting Hare Krishna we are in immediate contact with God. If we chant someone else's name, we cannot enjoy their association because the name and the person are different. For example, by chanting "water, water, water," we do not quench our thirst because water and the name are two different things. But in the spiritual world everything is absolute.Krishna is nondifferent from His names and, therefore, we can feel His presence simply by chanting His names. This is further elaborated in the Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-lila, 17.131-133), which explains that there is no difference between the Lord's name, form, or personality, and they are all transcendentally sweet.Krishna's name is the same as Krishna Himself, and is not material in any way. It gives spiritual benedictions and is full of pleasure. But in the material world everything is different.Furthermore, in Caitanya-cartamrta (Adi-lila, 17.22, and thePadma Purana), the Hare Krishna maha-mantra is said to be the sound incarnation of Krishna, and anyone who chants this mantra is in direct association with Krishna and is delivered from the clutches of the material energy.Some Benefits Of ChantingTHE HOLY NAME:• Evokes love of God• Links one directly with the Lord• Revives one’s dormant, eternal Krishna consciousness• Eradicates material desires and sinful activity• Cleanses the heart and frees one from material contamination• Liberates one from the miseries of material existence• Protects one from danger and fear• Improves one’s power of concentration and memory• Relieves stress and depression• Helps one get rid of anxiety• Helps one to understand & realize Krsna• Fixes the mind• Brings enlightenment• Qualifies one to return home, Back to Godhead.The name "Krishna" literally means "the greatest pleasure," or "He who is all-attractive."All living entities are looking for pleasure and happiness.God is the storehouse of all pleasure and whatever happiness we feel in this material world is simply due to contact with His energy.However, by chanting His holy names, we can transcend whatever temporary pleasure is found on the material platform and experience actual spiritual happiness by coming in direct contact with the Supreme, the source of all pleasure.The Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi-lila, 7.73) verifies that simply by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra a person is freed from material life and will be able to see the Lord.For one who takes shelter of the maha-mantra, he is sure to reach the Supreme because such mystic meditation engages the mind and intelligence in Krishna.By such continued remembrance of Krishna, even though one may seem to be engaged in so many duties, one regains his spiritual consciousness which is the prerequisite for entering back into the spiritual world.As Sri Krishna explains in Bhagavad-gita (8.7-8), a person should think of Him as Krishna and carry out one's duty with the mind and intelligence fixed on Him. Thinking and meditating on Krishna in this undeviated way, one can be sure to reach the divine Supreme Spirit.