Importance of Chanting

Krishna says:

"I dwell not in the spiritual kingdom

nor in the hearts of yogis;

where the chanting goes on

there, o Narada, stand I." 

                          Padma Purana 

"Cleanliness is next to Godliness.This point should be very carefully observed,then you will advance very quickly to the perfectional stage of Krishna Consciousness." (Letter to Kanchanbala,20.04.70)

 There is no vow like chanting the holy name, no knowledge superior to it, no meditation which comes anywhere near it, and it gives the highest result. No penance is equal to it, and nothing is as potent or powerful as the holy name. Chanting is the greatest act of piety and the supreme refuge.

From Harinama Cintamani

by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

The most complete form of the Lord is the holy name .

Chanting the holy name is the intimate way to associate with Krishna.

By repeating HIS name we always remain in HIS association

Fear personified is afraid of the name of the Supreme Personality of  Godhead. 

HG Vaisesika Prabhu

Devotee: "Srila Prabhupada, it's very difficult to control my mind when I chant. It wanders."

Srila Prabhupada: "So what is the controlling of mind? You have to chant and hear. That is all."

You have to chant with your tongue, and the sound you hear. What is the question of mind?"

Our strength is in following the regulative principles and chanting sixteen rounds japa. Then Krsna will give you protection.

Letter to Visvadharini dasi

12th January 1977

"Everyone of you should be thoroughly convinced of the power of the Hare Krsna mantra to protect you in all circumstances and chant accordingly at all times without offense. Then advancement will be swift and you will gradually come to see everything clearly so that you may act for the pleasure of the Lord without uncertainty."

Letter to Damodara

January 10, 1971

Chanting japa is repairing our broken relationship with Krsna with intense absorption we calm down our mind and get ready to meet Krsna for two and half or three hour’s and if that meeting was very attentive than the whole day the remembrance is present subconsciously.

Japa Retreat

by Mahatma dasa

“Chanting ‘I’m late, I’m late!’

like the rabbit in Alice

in Wonderland. But I shall

not let it ruin the quality of my rounds.

I’ll say them with rapid attention

and hear the syllables go

quickly through my mind.

I’m chanting to please Krishna

and not to complete a race.

I ask Him to forgive me

if I rush and I’ll

try to pray, not run.”

by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

Chanting offenselessly is the remedy for all of these diseases. Therefore I have established that the duty of the president of each temple and also the GBC is to see that each devotee is following the rules and regulations, chanting 16 rounds so that they may be spiritually fit.

Letter to Vidarbha Kanya dasi

19 August, 1974

There is no question of your falldown. Chant 16 rounds regularly and no power in all three worlds will make you fall down. Krishna will save you always.

Letter to Himavati

19 August, 1971 

One should chant attentively with full surrender unto the Holy name. A sincere devotee has full faith in the Holy name. He always tries to improve his chanting by pulling our the weeds of illicit desires. The determined sadhaka enthusiastically moves on the path of devotion by surrendering moment to moment to the Lord of attraction.

Illuminations on Nama Aparadha

by Mahanidhi Swami

"So while you are chanting, you don’t have to get to something else or go somewhere else or wait for "it" to happen, but you just have to realize that this is actually Krsna. Then, as you realize Krsña more, you get more into the chanting. You realize that the chanting is simply to chant Krsna's name, and you want to do it more and more."

From Japa Reform Notebook

by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

When we chant with attention to the sound and really give it our devotion, then we feel something from Krsna and we WANT to keep chanting.

When we wake up in the morning and take bath, we WANT to chant the Holy names because we feel Krsna's presence during Japa and that's the Lord reciprocating with our efforts to hear the Holy names.

In our chanting we should do the same....don't be in a hurry to finish your rounds, really relish the taste of chanting by pronouncing the words and syllables clearly - by giving everything to the Holy names, the Lord will certainly reward us.

This respectful chanting will invoke the Lord's reciprocation and we can leave behind us mechanical Japa and really experience a sweet taste for chanting the Holy names.

by Rasa Rasika

"If you follow these two principles, Kṛṣṇa will be within your grip.”

“So our process is very simple. Simply engage your tongue. Leave aside all other senses. The tongue is very strong. And tongue is our bitterest enemy, and tongue can be your most intimate friend. This tongue. Therefore the śāstra says that sevonmukhe hi jihvādau: just engage your tongue in the service of the Lord, and He will b...

e revealed. Very nice. Now what…, what we do with the tongue? We talk: talk of Kṛṣṇa. We sing: chant of Kṛṣṇa. We eat: taste, eat Kṛṣṇa prasāda. You will understand Kṛṣṇa. Any foolish person, any uneducated or any position of life, you can use your tongue for Kṛṣṇa’s service. Don’t eat anything which is not eaten by Kṛṣṇa—your tongue becomes your most intimate friend. And don’t talk anything except Kṛṣṇa. If you follow these two principles, Kṛṣṇa will be within your grip.”

[Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.14.44 - New York, April 8, 1973]