# Enlightenment and Service By chanting the holy name, one becomes enlightened with transcendental knowledge, freed from false bodily identification, and pleases the Supreme Lord. The holy name attracts one to Kṛṣṇa, awakens remembrance of Him, and invokes an attitude of service to the Lord. --- ## Enlightenment Through the Holy Name ### Freedom from Bodily Identification ![[sb/6/2/38|I shall not fall victim again to the false lures of material sense gratification. Now that I have become fixed in the Absolute Truth, henceforward I shall not identify myself with the body. I shall give up false conceptions of "I" and "mine" and fix my mind on the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa]] —SB [[sb/6/2/38|6.2.38]] --- **By chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, one realizes that he is not the material body:** When we cleanse our heart we will realize that we do not belong to this material world. Because people are identifying with this material world, they are thinking, "I am an Indian, I am an Englishman, I am this, I am that." But **if one chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, he will realize that he is not this material body.** "I do not belong to this material body or this material world. I am a spirit soul, part and parcel of the Supreme. I am eternally related with Him, and I have nothing to do with the material world." This is called liberation, knowledge. —*The Science of Self-Realization* --- ![[sb/2/1/11#purport|The effect of chanting the holy name of the Lord is perceived by the chanter as liberation from the conception of false egoism]] —SB [[sb/2/1/11|2.1.11]] Purport --- ### The Holy Name Dispels Māyā **The medicine to awaken all living entities from the sleeping condition of material existence is the holy name:** ![[sb/5/13/9#purport|I have brought medicine to awaken every living being from perpetual sleep. Please receive the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, and awaken]] —SB [[sb/5/13/9|5.13.9]] Purport --- **By chanting, one is freed from the darkness of māyā and becomes fully enlightened:** The method is very simple: chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. **The more one goes on chanting, the more the darkness of many lives is dissipated.** Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam: by chanting, one can cleanse the dust from the mirror of his mind and perceive things very distinctly. Thus one will know what he is, what God is, what this world is, what our relationship with God in this world is, how to live in this world, and what our next life is. —*Kṛṣṇa Consciousness: The Matchless Gift* --- ### Transcendental Knowledge Through Chanting ![[sb/4/24/40#purport|The real essence of śabda-brahma is the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. By vibrating this transcendental sound, the meaning of everything, both material and spiritual, is revealed]] —SB [[sb/4/24/40|4.24.40]] Purport --- **Chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa is the easiest process for purifying the intelligence and understanding spiritual knowledge:** Chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa is the easiest process by which to become purified, especially in this age, when people are so dull that they cannot very easily understand spiritual knowledge. **If one chants Hare Kṛṣṇa, then his intelligence becomes purified, and he can understand spiritual things.** —*The Science of Self-Realization* --- ## Pleasing Kṛṣṇa **Kṛṣṇa is pleased when one chants His holy name:** ![[sb/8/17/24#purport|A devotee knows that the Lord is present everywhere and that one can please Him simply by chanting His holy name]] —SB [[sb/8/17/24|8.17.24]] Purport --- **Anyone who addresses the Lord by chanting His holy name attracts His attention and obligates Him:** This statement by Kṛṣṇa gives evidence of how one can please the Supreme Lord simply by addressing Him: "He Kṛṣṇa! He Govinda!" **The mahā-mantra is also simply an address to the Lord and His energy. So to anyone who is constantly engaged in addressing the Lord and His energy, we can imagine how much the Supreme Lord is obliged.** It is impossible for the Lord to ever forget such a devotee. —*The Nectar of Devotion* --- ## Kṛṣṇa Helps the Sincere Chanter **If Kṛṣṇa sees that one is chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa sincerely, He helps internally and externally:** If Kṛṣṇa sees that someone is sincerely chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, He will help. He is within everyone, and He can understand whether one is sincere or not. **Kṛṣṇa helps a sincere devotee internally and externally.** Internally He helps as Paramātmā by giving intelligence from within. Externally He helps as His representative, the spiritual master. —*Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahūti* --- ## Remembering Kṛṣṇa **To always remember Kṛṣṇa and never forget Him is possible by constantly chanting the holy name:** ![[cc/madhya/22/113#purport|This is possible when one chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. Therefore one must strictly chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra twenty-four hours daily]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/22/113|Madhya 22.113]] Purport --- **Lord Caitanya says that one can practice remembering Kṛṣṇa by chanting His names always:** Lord Caitanya also advises this. He says that **one should practice remembering the Lord by chanting the names of the Lord always.** The names of the Lord and the Lord are nondifferent. So Lord Kṛṣṇa's instruction to Arjuna to "remember Me" and Lord Caitanya's injunction to always "chant the names of Lord Kṛṣṇa" are the same instruction. —*Bhagavad-gītā As It Is* Introduction --- **One can remember the Lord in constant devotion by the great blessing of the process of chanting the mahā-mantra:** ![[bg/8/14#purport|This is the great blessing of the Kṛṣṇa conscious process of chanting the mahā-mantra, Hare Kṛṣṇa]] —Bg. [[bg/8/14|8.14]] Purport --- ## Associating with the Lord **We can associate with Kṛṣṇa through His vibrational presence:** When we feel separation from Kṛṣṇa or the spiritual master, we should just try to remember their words of instructions, and we will no longer feel that separation. **Such association with Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master should be association by vibration, not physical presence. That is real association.** By seeing Kṛṣṇa, we will not understand Him, but by listening carefully to His teachings, we can come to the platform of understanding. **We can touch Kṛṣṇa immediately by sound vibration.** —*Elevation to Kṛṣṇa Consciousness* --- ![[sb/2/5/25#purport|One can immediately enjoy the association of the Lord by the pure vibration of the sound representation of His holy name, and the concept of the Lord is immediately manifested before the pure devotee]] —SB [[sb/2/5/25|2.5.25]] Purport --- **By chanting the mahā-mantra, one can associate with Kṛṣṇa directly:** Kṛṣṇa tells Arjuna to always remain in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This is possible through the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa. Since Kṛṣṇa and His spiritual kingdom are nondifferent, being absolute, **Kṛṣṇa and His sound vibration are the same. Simply by vibrating Kṛṣṇa's name, we can enjoy Kṛṣṇa's association.** If we are walking down the street chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa is also going with us. —*The Path of Perfection* --- **When a devotee chants Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa and His internal potency are dancing on his tongue:** ![[bg/12/8#purport|The holy name of the Lord and the Lord are nondifferent; therefore when a devotee chants Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa and His internal potency are dancing on the tongue of the devotee]] —Bg. [[bg/12/8|12.8]] Purport --- ## The Holy Name Attracts One to Kṛṣṇa **By hearing the holy name, one becomes attracted to Kṛṣṇa:** As soon as there is the chanting vibration, Hare Kṛṣṇa, immediately Kṛṣṇa's paraphernalia, Kṛṣṇa's name, Kṛṣṇa's fame, Kṛṣṇa's abode, Kṛṣṇa's associates—everything—all of a sudden become manifested within because He is present. This is the beginning of one's Kṛṣṇa consciousness. —*The Science of Self-Realization* --- **By chanting the holy name, the devotee becomes attracted to Kṛṣṇa:** ![[bg/12/6#purport|Such transcendental chanting attracts the devotee to the Personality of Godhead]] —Bg. [[bg/12/6|12.6-7]] Purport --- ## Service Through the Holy Name **The test of successful chanting is eagerness to render service to the Lord:** ![[cc/madhya/16/188#purport|When one engages enthusiastically in the Lord's service, it is to be understood that he is reaping the results of chanting the names of Kṛṣṇa and Hari]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/16/188|Madhya 16.188-89]] Purport --- **By chanting the holy name, one achieves liberation from material existence and direct engagement in the service of the Lord:** ![[cc/adi/7/73#purport|Simply by chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa one can obtain freedom from material existence. Indeed, simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra one will be able to see the lotus feet of the Lord]] —Cc. [[cc/adi/7/73|Ādi 7.73]] Purport --- ## Understanding and Seeing Kṛṣṇa **By chanting, one comes to understand Kṛṣṇa:** Kṛṣṇa says that out of many millions of people, one may understand Him. But, **by chanting of this Hare Kṛṣṇa, as introduced by Lord Caitanya—chanting and dancing—you can understand Kṛṣṇa within a very short time.** —*Kṛṣṇa Consciousness: The Topmost Yoga System* --- ![[sb/6/3/22#purport|After chanting the holy name of the Lord and dancing in ecstasy, one gradually sees the form of the Lord, the pastimes of the Lord and the transcendental qualities of the Lord. This way one fully understands the situation of the Personality of Godhead]] —SB [[sb/6/3/22|6.3.22]] Purport --- **Kṛṣṇa reveals Himself to one who performs devotional service, beginning with chanting:** Your service begins with the tongue. How? By the tongue you can chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, and by the tongue you can taste kṛṣṇa-prasāda, spiritual food. So, the beginning of the process is very nice. You can chant Hare Kṛṣṇa—and whenever prasāda is offered to you by Kṛṣṇa, by His kindness, you accept it. **The result will be that if you become submissive, and if you begin this service—chanting and eating prasāda—Kṛṣṇa will reveal Himself before you.** —*Kṛṣṇa Consciousness: The Topmost Yoga System* --- **The Lord reveals Himself to the offenseless chanter:** ![[sb/4/8/53#purport|When the chanting is performed offenselessly the Lord will automatically reveal Himself to the view of the chanter. The chanter, therefore, has to concentrate on hearing the vibration, and without extra endeavor on his part, the Lord will automatically appear]] —SB [[sb/4/8/53|4.8.53]] Purport --- **[← Back to Śrī Nāmāmṛta](wiki/compile/sri-namamrita)**