Secrets of all secrets in Kali-yuga..

A Lecture by His Holiness Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada:

"Transcription service by Jagannatha Gauranga dasa

A very important point from this pastime which is described very

confidentially in the Navadvipa dhama Mahatmya chapter 1 is the
transcendental difference between Nityananda and Gauranga Names and
Pastimes and Radha-Krishna Names and Pastimes though They are non-
different? Seventh Goswami Shrila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura
states in Chapter 1:

Text 1
gauranga nitai jei bale eka baraananta karama dosha anta haya tara

Anyone who chants Gauranga Nityananda Nityananda even once destroys

ananta karama dosha unlimited sinful reactions of unlimited lives are
destroyed instantly by chanting eka bara only once, Nityananda and
Gauranga.

Commentary by His Holiness Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada:

If the people of the world knew that just uttering once Nityananda and
Gauranga all of their sinful reactions would be finished for millions of lives, I
think the whole world would do it, right? But they do not know this, it is our
duty to inform them at least let them know, it is up to them whether to chant
or not.(Question from audience) But what if they chant and don't have
faith?(Reply) No, there is no question of faith for Nityananda and
Gauranga' s name, faith we require for Krishna' s name, but Nityananda
and Gauranga don't even worry about faith. Onedevotee was telling me
that he went to give to someone one of our books, Who is Gauranga, you
know, Gauranga in the Vedas, so at the timethe person was not all
interested in, he was very absorbed in this material world, Who is
Gauranga? he said. So the devotee started dancing inhappiness, You
chanted the name of Gauranga. Even though you don't have time to listen
to me who is Gauranga, Gauranga is Krshna himself in Kali-yuga, but at
least you chanted Gauranga.That itself is enough, if you don't know, even
unknowingly if people chant all their sins will be destroyed. So what we are
giving to the world, we are just passing on the message of the acaryas,
their treasure, that treasure is totally free, and it is so easy to acquire it, it is
so easy to become saved from the horrible depths of the cycle of birth and
death by chanting once Nityaaaaaaaaananda Gauuuuuuuuuuranga. So
Bhaktivinoda Thakura continues:

Text 2
ara eka gudha katha suna sarva-janakali-jive yogya-vastu gaura-lila-dhana

My dear souls of Kali yuga I will tell you one very confidential secret, please
hear very carefully because this secret you will not find in any holy books,
you will not find in any scriptures, even Shrimad Bhagavatam does not
describe this secret, what to speak of the Bhagavad Gita, it is a very very
confidential secret, suna sarva jana, not one or two persons .No everyone.
The most suitable thing for Kali-yuga souls is Gauranga nama and
Gauranga lila, the treasure of Gauranga nama and Gauranga lila.

Text 3
krishna-nama krishna-dhama-mahatmya aparashastrera dvaraya jane
sakala samsara

This Krishna nama and Krishna bhava, their glories are unlimited, the
glories of Krishna nama, the name of Krishna, and the abodes of Krishna
like Vrndavana, their glories are unlimited, and because of the Shrimad
Bhagavatam, sastra, and various scriptures about Krishna' s pastimes,
Lord Krishna' s pastimes, the whole world knows about them.Lord Krishna
is the most known Hindu God. I mean people say in all the world people
know him, so everyone knows about Krishna, everyone has heard about
Vrndavana and his pastimes. But the multi billion dollar question, there is
one question, the secret of all secrets in Kali-yuga, what is that question?

Text 4
tabu krishna-prema sadharane nahi payaihara karana kiba chintaha hiyaya
Bhaktivinoda Thakura says the most secret, even the devotees of Lord
Krishna are not asking this question, because it is so confidential, what is
this question? Even though Radha-Krishna' s lila, name, dhama, everything
is known all over, why the common people are not getting Krishna prema?
Why even those who are practicising are not getting Krishna prema?

Commentary by His Holiness Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada:

What to speak of the common people, even they know they have seen in
television Krishna lila, they have heard sometimes in katha Shrimad
Bhagavatam, why are there hundreds and thousands and millions of
people they are there, why are they not getting Krishna prema? Has any
devotee asked this question? Bhaktivinoda Thakura is asking this
questions to all of the devotees, all the souls in this world. Why, please
think about this, this in not my statement, I am reading the original verses,
the beautiful verses which have come out from the mouth of our ishtaguru,
Shrila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura Seventh Goswami. So he
posed the question, and actually nobody except for him can answer the
question, because this question is so confidential, so deep, these are the
verses that actually opened my eyes from ignorance, I came into
light.When I found Navadvipa dhama Mahatyma in Navadvipa dhama and
so I considered Bhaktivinoda Thakura my most prominent siksa guru in my
life. Without his mercy without his writings I would be in the darkest depths
of ignorance. From the beginning of my devotion many many years ago
whenever I used to see a photograph of Bhaktivinoda Thakura in the
Bhagavad Gita I used to feel jubilation in my heart, some divine jubilation
and happiness, but I was to realize afterwards, later that actually the
reason for that was because he gave the answer to this most confidential
question in Kali-yuga. He reveals this question itself is the greatest
benediction for Kali-yuga. People do not understand now, but as the golden
age progresses maybe after two or three hundred years, Bhaktivinoda
Thakura will become known all over the world, as more and more people
try to understand his mercy.I have a desire that along with Nityananda
Gauranga to make a nice place for worship of Bhaktivinoda, his teachings
are the center, because his teachings contain the deepest secret of all
secrets, his books are the books. There are many many paramparas
coming down from Gauranga, Chaitanya parampara, Gadadhara paribare,
Nityananda paribare, and Babajis, and we respect all their practices, but
why are we proud of our line? Because of Bhaktivinoda; If Bhaktivinoda
would not be there, the richness of our line would not have been there. The
Jaiva dharma, the Bhagavatarka-marici-mala, the Vaishnava Siddhanta
mala, the Harinama cintamani, the Navadvipa Dhama Mahatyma, the
Navadvipa Bhava Taranga, The Saranagati, The Gitavali, The Gita-mala,
The Kalyan Kalpa-Tura, The Krishna Samhita, the Amnaya Sutra, the
Bhajana Rahasya, the Siksastaka, the Chaitanya Bhagavata. The
Mayapura dhama would not have been revealed, the Gauranga mantra
would not have been revealed, what is the Gauranga gopala mantra?
Nobody knew. In Chaitanya Charitamrita it is mentioned, Gaura-Gopala
mantra, but nobody knew. So it is our Thakura Bhaktivinoda who is our
most merciful acarya, who is revealing this secret to us. (Break in
lecture)We were discussing from Shri Navadvipa dhama Mahatmya by the
Seventh Goswami and my ishta guru Shrila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda
Thakura. Krishna' s name and Krishna' s abode are widespread in
popularity and many many people know about it through the scriptures and
through many other means, but none of them have been able to achieve
pure love for Krishna; so what is the reason, what is the cause?One of the
factors that is actually stopping the people from achieving pure love of Lord
Gauranga Krishna this cause and this reason and this obstacle and this
solution is actually the most confidential secret of all secrets in Kali-yuga,
and not only in Kali-yuga, it is the secret or all secrets in the creation for all
time to come past, present and future. In fact it is such a confidential secret
that in Satya-yuga, Treta, and Dvapara, they do not think about, they don't
even know about it.Fortunately we have taken birth in Kali-yuga, in the
same Kali-yuga as Gauranga Mahaprabhu, that is why we have taken birth
just 200 years, 100 years, 150 years, after Bhaktivinoda Thakura, the great
acarya was on this planet, so we have got this secret available in this Kali-
yuga, it very rarely attained by people in other yugas, and in the heavenly
planets, what is that secret? Bhaktivinoda Thakura is explaining.

Text 5
ihate ache ta eka gudha-tattva saramaya-mugdha jiva taha na kare
vichara .

Ihate ache ta eka gudha-tattva sarais the most confidential philosophical

secret, essence of everything and the maya-mugdha jivas, the souls who
are bewildered by the illusory energy who are trapped day and night in
trying to enjoy their senses but they don't know anything higher than that,
how can they ever, they never deliberate on this secret, they never even try
to find out this secret, what to speak of the solution, they do not even know
that the secret exists, so na kare vichara, why does the bewildered soul
never think about this secret?Like I said even the devotees of Lord Krishna,
who are the highest among all the devotees of Vishnu and the demigods,
even those many of them are not aware of this secret, so it is only available
to the followers of Thakura Bhaktivinoda who have staunch faith in him very
rare.

Text 6
bahu janma krishna bhaji prema nahi hayaaparadha-punja tara achaya
nischaya

One may be worshipping Lord Krishna for millions and millions of past lives
but if one does not attain love for Krishna, pure love for Krishna, then it is to
be understood that ;aparadha-punja, mountains of offenses are there in our
heart.

Commentary by His Holiness Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada:

Punja, punja means a whole valley, a whole storehouse of offenses.

Certainly those offenses are there in the heart for the worshipper of
Krishna, Krishna bhakti is not so easy, but even after doing bhakti for
millions of lives one may not achieve the goal of devotion which is pure
love if there are stringent offenses, if the offenses are in our heart.So one
may hear these words and one may lose all hope, one may think it is
hopeless. So what is the hope then if I chant Krishna' s name for millions of
lives, bahu janma,even then I wont get love, hopeless, better I don't chant,
better I don't do bhakti.Yes my dear sir it was hopeless before Gauranga
came, it was hopeless as per this verse. Of course by chanting Krishna' s
name there is no loss, we make step-by-step progress but still it is a very
very prolonged process the offenses have to be destroyed.The point is
when we do Krishna bhakti then we do more offenses and we become
more of offenders and we become even more severe offenders of those
who don't do Krishna bhakti. So it is a very very vicious cycle, offense Is a
very vicious cycle. Bhakti is sublime, Krishna bhakti is sublime, but
because of our offensive mentality puts us in a very vicious cycle because
before we come to Krishna if we were doing offenses they are considered
normal sins of this world, but after we come to Krishna bhakti the offenses
we do they are considered heinous sins, they have no atonement. So it is
surely a very very difficult situation.

Why, Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, why do those don't get love?

Text 7
aparadha-shunya haye laya krishna-namatabe jiva krishna-prema labhe
avirama Aparadha-shunya haye laya Krishna-nama. Because only if, if and
only if we chant the name of Krishna without any single offense, aparadha-
shunya, shunya means totally zero. Aparadha-shunya is the qualification to
get love by chanting Krishna nama. Aparadha-shunya zero, unless the
offenses become totally zero by chanting Krishna' s name then we tabe jiva
krishna-prema,at that time only will our soul get avirama, avirama means
continuous non stop Krishna-prema pure love, without any obstacles or
breakage or falldowns.

Commentary by His Holiness Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada:

Only when one becomes totally zero, which is a very very advanced stage,
because in Madhurya Kadambini describes that offenses are only almost
completely destroyed only in the asakti of the bhava stage, which is a very
high stage for the new devotees. So it is like a cycle, we get love only when
we become free of offenses, and only when we become free of offenses do
we get love. So this a very strong cycle of Krishna prema, it is very difficult
to achieve for the normal souls, spiritual aspirants, so what is the hope
when we have to struggle for so many millions of lives trying to struggle
with our offenses? Yes we will have to if we don't accept the next verse.

Text 8
shri chaitanya avatare bada vilakshanaaparadha-sattve jiva labhe prema-
dhana

This verse should go in the history books, in the annals of history, because
this verse should be known by all the devotees. This verse is the only verse
that gives us all hope, gives us hope against hope, and that verse is
composed by our great gurudeva Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.He writes
that, shri chaitanya avatare bada vilakshana. This incarnation, this advent
of Lord Gauranga, before the advent of Gauranga Krishna nama it was
zero offenses, but this incarnation, this advent of Lord Gauranga is
vilakshana, is unimaginably powerful, is supremely opulent, capable, this
incarnation, vilakshana, this word vilakshana is very difficult to express in
english. Vilakshana means gigantic, this incarnation of Gauranga is
gigantically inconceivable, unfathomably powerful, infinitely potent, potent
is the right word, vilakshana,infinitely potent.Shri chaitanya avatare bada
vilakshana aparadha-sattve jiva labhe prema-dhana.The second line is the
line which all devotees are seeking for but nobody knows that this lies there
in the scriptures. So Bhaktivinoda Thakura in Shri Navadvipa dhama
Mahatmya, he says that:

Text 9
bahu janma krishna bhaji prema nahi hayaaparadha-punja tara achaya
nischaya

After worshipping Krishna and chanting his name for millions of lives, still
we don't get that love that means that there is a mountain of offenses in our
heart.

Text 10
aparadha-shunya haye laya krishna-namatabe jiva krishna-prema labhe
avirama

And unless one becomes devoid, totally zero of all offenses, then only will
he get this love, Krishna prema, by chanting the Hare Krishna maha
mantra.

Commentary by His Holiness Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada:

So what is the hope with this cycle if we get love only if we become free of
offenses, and only when we become free of offenses do we get love, so we
are trapped. So what is the hope? The hope is described in the next verse
by Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

Text 11
shri chaitanya avatare bada vilakshanaaparadha-sattve jiva labhe prema-
dhana.

That this incarnation, this form of Gauranga, his advent is so supremely

opulent, potent and powerful that aparadha-sattve jiva labhe prema-dhana.
This line is the only reassuring thing, only consolation for the soul in Kali-
yuga, it is the only verse which gives hope for the most degraded offensive
souls of Kali-yuga and that line is aparadha-sattve jiva labhe prema-
dhana.This incarnation, Gauranga bhakti, Gauranga' s mercy is different
from Krishna bhakti, though both are the same personalities but still
Gauranga has come specifically for Kali-yuga so he does not along with the
offenses one will get love of God.

Commentary by His Holiness Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada:

Even though the offenses are there in our heart we will get love of God
when one worships Gauranga and chants his holy name and hears his
pastimes and goes to his holy abodes and hears about his divine
associates. Anything to do with Gauranga gives one love even though we
have offenses in our heart, but Krishna nama, Krishna dhama, Krishna lila
will give us love only when we become zero of all offenses.So this is the
difference, aparadha-sattve, all devotees should remember this verse
aparadha-sattve jiva labhe prema-dhana. Because along with the offenses,
even though we have offenses in our heart, the Lord gives us pure love.
Like in this pastime we have seen Jagai and Madhai were full of offenses
but they got love. Gauranga did not say that you become offenseless then I
will give you love, Krishna says you become offenseless and then I will give
you love. Gauranga says don't worry about your offenses I will give you
love first .aparadha-sattve jiva.

Even the offensive soul gets pure love for Lord Gauranga Krishna. It is
further described in the next verse of Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

Text 12
nitai chaitanya bali jei jiva dakesuvimala krishna-prema anveshaya take

How do the souls get love, even in the offensive stage? This is a very very
important secret of all secrets, because we are all offensive souls in Kali-
yuga and that is why we don' t get love, so it is very very important for us
conditioned souls because Gauranga' s incarnation will give us love even
with offenses. How will he give? He will give when we chant these two
names, nitai chaitanya bali jei jiva dake suvimala krishna-prema anveshaya
take.When we dake dake means when we call out, when we feelingly call
out these two names of Nityaaaaananda Gauuuuuuranga Nityaaaaananda
Gauuuuuuranga; immediately we feel pure love.

Commentary by His Holiness Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada:

Dake, when the soul who calls out these two names then the purest love of
Krishna, Madhurya prema Suvimala, suvimala krishna-prema, it is not
ordinary prema. There is prema of Vaikuntha, there is prema of Dvaraka,
Mathura, Vraja there are different levels of prema, there are seven levels of
prema: pranaya, sneha, mana, raga, anuraga, bhava, mahabhava. So
there are seven different stages of prema and only the Gopies, the
assistants of Radhika, they have up to mahabhava, all the seven stages of
prema. So that prema, the highest prema, suvimala prema, that prema, that
love starts searching after a soul who is chanting these two names of
Nityaaaaaananda Gauuuuuuranga.Suvimala krishna-prema anveshaya
take. Anveshaya is a very very beautiful verse by Bhaktivinoda Thakura,
that is why this is the secret of all secrets. Anveshaya means to find out, to
search after, to actually find discover. So even though a soul who is
chanting Nityananda and Gauranga' s name may not have any love, they
may be full of offenses, but Nityananda and Gauranga' s name they take it
upon themselves to search after such a soul and give that soul love.I will
give you an example; there is a big mountain, huge mountain, and that
mountain represents our offenses. It is very tall, gigantic, millions and
millions of lives of sins we have committed, they accumulate, a mountain of
offenses, and the soul is standing on one side and Krishna prema is there
on the other side of the mountain. So when we do not take shelter of
Nityananda and Gauranga' s names, their pastimes, their abodes, then
only when we chant Krishna' s name, Krishna bhakti, then we are trying to
climb the mountain of our offenses, trying to destroy it, gradually climb and
go on the other side to achieve Krishna prema. If we have to confront that
mountain of our offenses by chanting only Krishna nama it will become very
difficult.Bhaktivinoda says in Navadvipa dhama Mahatyma that it will take a
long time, a very very long time for those who don't chant Gauranga' s
name. So we are trying to cross that mountain by chanting the Hare
Krishna mantra only without taking ashraya, shelter of Nityananda
Gauranga' s name. We are trying to go towards Krishna prema, but it is an
uphill task, because the mountain is very very high, and even when we
climb we are actually increasing the height of the mountain because by
committing more offenses.So what is a better way to get that prema? We
are on one side and the prema is on the other side, what is the better way
to get that prema? If that prema comes to us if that prema comes to us then
it is so easy, we don't have to climb the mountain, we don't have to wait for
our offenses becoming zero, which is actually actually is practical, it is the
only thing possible for the Kali-yuga souls because it is very very difficult to
destroy one's offenses unless one chants minimum of 64 rounds of the
Hare Krishna maha mantra a daily, that also with great concentration, not
mechanically, then also it is difficult because Vaishnava aparadha is so
prevalent. Our tongue always want to criticize others so it is very very
difficult to destroy our offenses.So the best way is for Krishna prema to
come searching after us and that will come when we chant these 2 names;
Nityaaaaaaananda Gauuuuuuuuranga. Bhaktivinoda Thakura is saying this
it is not my statement, he says that, these two names if somebody calls out
with feeling, then that pure love, the highest, suvimala, vima means pure
and suvimala means supremely pure, the highest love of Radha and
Krishna. In Vrndavan that love will come searching after us. Wherever we
are, either we are in the ditch of offenses, or we are in the forest of our
offenses, or we are in the garbage can, or we are in a deep deep dark
cave. Better where we are that Krisha prema, our offenses will not be
considered and Krishna prema will come and catch us, because Krishna
prema is much more powerful than us. If we try to search for Krishna prema
we may get it or we may not get it, it is doubtful, but if the pure love of
Krishna is searching after us surely it will find us. Krishna prema will find
us, how much fallen we are, how much sinful we are.So that is the
greatness, this is the secret of all secrets of Kali-yuga. These two names of
Nityananda and Gauranga one has to just chant with feeling and the pure
love actually comes to us, even though we may be full of offenses.Then the
next question can be raised will offenses not create an obstacle in getting
that love, hoping that love is coming to us, searching after us? Bhaktivinoda
Thakura says when we chant Nityananda Gauranga' s name but the
offenses are still there so won't they create a block? Even after the loves
reaches us it won't be able to enter our hearts because of the offenses,
won't it do that? Bhaktivinoda answers in the next verse:

Text 13
aparadha badha tara kichu nahi kareniramala krishna-preme tara ankhi
jhare
Beautiful. Bhaktivinoda says No; don't worry Kali-yuga souls. Your offenses
will not be able to create obstacles to stop that Krishna prema. Krishna
prema will come and enter your heart even though your heart is filled with
offenses, Krishna prema will make your heart into two compartments; in
one compartment the offenses will get stuffed, whatever offenses are there,
the offenses will get temporarily stuffed into that compartment, and in the
other compartment pure love of Krishna will enter into the heart and niramal
Krishna-preme, pure Krishna' s love, your eyes will start tears of pure love
of ecstasy will start flowing from your eyes, even though there are offenses.
Nothing can create an obstacle because your heart will become filled with
Krishna prema.

Commentary by His Holiness Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada:

You see this is the difference between the Radha-Krishna, Hare Krishna
nama and Nityananda-Gauranga nama. That Hare Krishna nama, the pure
Hare Krishna nama, will enter into our heart only when our heart is fully
pure of no offenses, but Nityananda-Gauranga nama will force the Krishna
prema to enter into our heart even though the offenses are present
because Nityananda and Gauranga don't mind staying in a contaminated
place, whereas Radha-Krishna have a very high, Radha-Krishna do not
tolerate any offenses.But Nityananda-Gauranga' s names, through their
names they enter in the heart, offensive heart, they don't mind. Like Jagai-
Madhai, they went to the drunkards, they didn't mind going to a
contaminated place. Nityananda and Gauranga do not mind going
anywhere. So even if the heart is contaminated fully, still Nityananda-
Gauranga nama are not concerned if that soul cries out Nityaaananda
Gauuuranga. Immediately the pure love of Krishna enters into the heart.
Niramala krishna-preme tara ankhi jhare, and tears of real love, not fake
love. There are so many different crying in this world, but this crying is real
genuine pure niramala, pure Krishna' s love. That soul will start crying with
bliss, and then; Ok then the next question somebody may ask, What
happens to the offenses but the offenses are still there in the heart, what
happens to them? Will we have to live with offenses forever? No.
Bhaktivinoda answers that in the next verse.

Text 14
svalpa kale aparadha apani palayahridaya shodhita haya prema badhe
taya
Bhaktivinoda Thakura answers that after the Krishna prema enters into the
heart by chanting the name of Nityananda and Gauranga, then the
offenses which are temporarily stuffed in one side they start shaking and
shivering, they cannot exist in the same place where Krishna prema is
there, the offenses cannot exist. So In a very very short time the offenses
start running away from the heart, where the devotee has got that love in
the heart by chanting Nityananda Gauranga and in a very very short time
the heart becomes fully pure.

Commentary by His Holiness Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada:

Hridaya shodhita haya prema badhe taya. Actually that stage, which is the
preliminary qualification for Radha and Krishna name and prema, that is a
result of Nityananda Gauranga' s nama. Actually that is why Nityananda
Gauranga nama they grant us the qualification to chant Hare Krishna nama
because that heart, the fully pure stage of the heart cannot be achieved
without Nityananda Gauranga' s nama, and lila, and dhama, and partial
vasistha cannot be achieved without these. Because without Nityananda
and Gauranga nama if we try to make our heart fully pure of all offenses, it
will take millions of lives.Krishna das Kaviraja is also saying there is no
guarantee, bahu janme kari yadi shravana. It is not just Bhaktivinoda
Thakura, Krishna das Kaviraja also makes the same point, that Krishna
bhajana may take millions of lives. The preliminary qualification of the heart
is to become fully pure, whereas here we see that Nityananda Gauranga
nama bring that love into our heart and the offenses flee away and the
heart becomes as pure as the water in the sharat season, the pond, one
can see the depths of the lake, you know crystal clear the heart becomes
fully pure we can see the pastimes of the Lord. So this is Bhaktivinoda
Thakura' s statement, so the next question raised by a person, Ok,
Bhaktivinoda Thakura you have described the secret of all secrets of Kali-
yuga, but how do you practically implement it in Kali-yuga? How do you
practice it? I want this love.Anybody after reading this description will
become greedy for love; even this love is coming so quickly, I want this
love because this love is the greatest treasure in creation. It cannot be had
by having billions of dollars so I want this love. So how can we have it?
Bhaktivinoda Thakura gives the answer, this is the verse that actually is my
mission, and it is the mission of Lord Nityananda, and it is the mission of all
Gaura bhaktas .I request all the devotees to support this mission, and this
mission is:
Text 15
kali-jivera aparadha asankhya durvaragauranga-nama vina tara nahika
uddhara .Kali-jivera aparadha asankhya durvara, gauranga-nama vina
nahika uddhara. So Bhaktivinoda Thakura wants to tell the souls that what I
have described is the secret of all secrets, it is not only a theory, you don't
just theoretically understand it but this is something you have to do
practically to actually penetrate the secret of all secrets, to realize it
personally. That is whykali-jivera apardha,the offenses of all Kali souls are
unlimited and insurmountable.

Commentary by His Holiness Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada:

It is like trying to break the wall with our head. If somebody tries to bang his
head on the wall, what will get hurt, the head or the wall? Similarly the
offenses in Kali-yuga are so difficult that if we simply try to destroy the
offenses it is impossible we will destroy ourself. Asankya, unlimited offense,
unlimited means at every second we are creating offense, when we are
walking we are killing so many souls, when we are breathing we are killing
so many souls. In Kali-yuga we cannot speak the truth because if we speak
the truth we will perish. So many offenses are there, so much sin, every
second, the whole Kali-yuga atmosphere is atheist, nobody believes in
God. So whatever activity we do, in fact it is described in the Puranas that
when somebody does not have faith in the Lord, then whatever sins are
committed by all souls in creation past, present, and future will fall on the
head of that person who is not a devotee. So one can imagine how much
sins we are having on our head if we do not have full faith in the Lord. We
are partaking all the sins of all the souls in creation in the past, present, and
future; so how much offensive we are in Kali-yuga, very very offensive.We
dress ourselves very nicely, we have a nice mobile phone, nice material
opulence; this does not mean that we are not offensive. Even if we go one
second without remembering the Lord is actually an offense to the Lord
because the Lord is protecting us, giving us air to breathe every moment
and we are not able to express our gratefulness to him by chanting his
name, because we are offensive. So so much offenses, unlimited offenses
of the souls in Kali-yuga; when Narada showed his offenses to Brihari the
hunter, his sins, he fainted on the ground.If God would show us a sample,
even a tiny drop of our sins and offenses which we have suffered for, we
would totally commit suicide, we would faint. They are so insurmountable,
the offenses in Kali-yuga, and unlimited and so difficult to overcome that
Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that, My dear souls please implement, please
hear this one instruction. If you follow this one instruction, then there is no
need for you to elaborately follow any other instruction, all instructions are
servants of this main instruction, and that is: Gauranga-nama vina tara
nahika uddhara. Nobody, no souls in Kali-yuga will be' delivered without
Gaurangas name because of insurmountable offenses. No soul, nahika,
nahika means certainly, no way, no one will be delivered without Gauranga'
s name, Gauranga-nama vina tara nahika uddhara.Gauuuranga
Gauuuranga Gauuuranga. It is so easy to chant his name, just four
syllables, it isn't difficult and the last verse of this section, Bhaktivinoda
Thakura makes a conclusion to the Secret of all Secrets by making a plea;
by a fervent intense plea to the whole world. What is his plea?

Text 16
ataeva gaura vina kalite upayana dekhi kotha o ara shastra phukaraya
Ataeva gaura vina kalite upaya, na dekhi kotha o ara shastra phukaraya.

Phukaraya means loudly proclaims, he is shouting; phukaraya definite

sound. What is shouting? The scriptures, the scriptures are shouting loudly,
what are they shoutingThat my dear souls in Kali-yuga there is no other
way except Gauraganga' s name in Kali-yuga

Commentary by His Holiness Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada

Ataeva gaura vina kalite upaya,upaya means, means of deliverance, and

kalite means Kali-yuga and Gauranga's name, Gauranga 's form,
Gauranga' s qualities. There is no other way except Gauranga in Kali-yuga,
so my dear souls please understand this secret, don' t simply try to
understand theoretically, this is your chance, put it in practice. Please chant
the name of Gauranga daily along with the Hare Krishna maha
mantra.Prabhupada says that the name of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is more
essential than the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha mantra, considering
the fallen position of the people of this age. That is exactly confirmed by
Bhaktivinoda Thakura here. Prabhupada would never speak something
which is not spoken by the acaryas.So Bhaktivinoda Thakura is saying the
same thing, that Gauranga' s name, there is no other means of deliverance
for the souls in Kali-yuga. So nityananda' s order is to always chant
 Gauranga' s name, and Gauranga' s order is for everyone to chant the
Hare Krishna maha mantra, and the order of all the acaryas is to chant
Nityananda nama. So let us follow all the three orders: chant the name of
Nityananda, and chant this 4 syllable Gaura Gopala mantra. Gauranga' s
name which is Gauranga nama as well as it is the Gaura Gopala mantra.
Just like Hare Krishna maha mantra is Hare nama as well as it is maha
mantra. Similarly Gauranga mantra is Gauranga nama. There are other
mantras of Gauranga which are 6 syllable mantra which start with klim
these mantras are not Gaura nama; they cannot be chanted by everyone,
they have to be chanted only on the level of Brahminical qualification. But
Gauranga mantra is Gaura nama as well as Gaura mantra, it can be
chanted by everyone. Gauranga, 4 syllable, and Hare nama.So this is the
secret of Kali yuga, let us express our full gratitude to Bhaktivinoda
Thakura for revealing this secret for which we would never have
understood on our own. Maya mukta jiva jivera krpaya kali yuga purana,
maya mukta jiva nice Radha Krishna vyana. In the Chaitanya Charitamrita
states that the souls of Kali-yuga cannot understand this secret on their
own, that is why Bhaktivinoda Thakura has composed this Navadvipa
dhama Mahatyma, which is even higher than the Vedas, and the Puranas,
the Itihasas and the Upanisads because it directly gives us the secret of all
secrets which is very very easy to perform. Just 4 syllables to vibrate and it
is for everyone to get instantly pure love of God.I beg you with a straw in
my teeth; anyone who is hearing this video please, please, I fall down at
your feet, do not minimize Gauranga nama, take it very seriously. Take this
instruction of Bhaktivinoda Thakura very seriously in our life and always
sing, Bhaja Gauranga kaha Gauranga laha Gaurangera nama male.Always
chant the name of Gauranga, Narrotama das says, whether you are in the
jungle or whether you are a sannyasa or a grhastha, it does not matter.
Grihe va vanete thake, haa gauranga bole dake. Whether one stays in the
jungle or in the home, don't worry, but if that person chants Gauranga' s
name with feeling Gauranga Gauranga Gauranga Gauranga, then I want
his association, I will come to his home. If he is a grhastha I will become a
sweeper in his home, I don't care, I do not see whether he is a sannyasa or
a grhastha. I will come to his home and I willll become a servant in his
home if he is constantly chanting Gauranga' s name, so let us keep this
idea, this mission, this desire in your heart and start chanting the holy name
of Gauranga and Nityananda along with the Hare Krishna maha mantra,
and please Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Nityananda Prabhu thank you very
much. Haribol.
16. Nitai Gaur Nam

Introduction to Nitai Gaur Nam

Secret Of All Secrets In Kaliyuga

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ChantingChantHareKrishnaBeHappyPublished on January 27th, 2016 | by Madhudvisa dasa | Full

size image105

Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!

You have probably noticed Chant Hare Krishna and be happy! at the end of my letters. And some
may be skeptical that simply chanting: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare
Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare will produce happiness. However happiness is one of the
very first symptoms that becomes manifest in a person advancing in Krishna consciousness. And this
is my practical, personal experience. Ever since I started chanting the Hare Krishna mantra it has
given me a sense of great transcendental happiness.

Not being happy is a sign of not being Krishna conscious. Because Krishna consciousness is a self-
manifested joyful condition. Why is that? It is because by nature every living entity is joyful and is in
Krishna consciousness. The only reason we are not joyful here in the material world is because our
original Krishna consciousness is covered by maya. This chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra has the
power to uncover our original consciousness and when our original Krishna consciousness is
uncovered we will be in our eternal natural constitutional position of ever-increasing happiness, full
knowledge and we will realize that we are eternally youthful spiritual living entities whos only
purpose is to serve Krishna.

This process of cleansing the mirror of the heart [ceto darpana marjanam] is described by Lord Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu in one of the only eight verses that He wrote. These eight verses written by
Lord Caitanya very perfectly summarize Krishna consciousness and one of the verses is:
ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam

sreyah-kairava-candrika-vitaranam vidya-vadhu-jivanam

anandambudhi-vardhanam prati-padam purnamrtasvadanam

sarvatma-snapanam param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam

Glory to the Sri Krishna sankirtana which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and
extinguishes the fire of conditional life of repeated birth and death. This sankirtana movement is the
prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is
the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss and enables
us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious.

Lord Caitanya says if you chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra all the dirty things which have
accumulated in your heart due to material contamination will be cleared off. He gives the example
that the heart is just like a mirror. If on the mirror there is heaps of dust accumulated one can not
see his real face by the reflection of the mirror, therefore it should be cleansed. In our present
conditional life our hearts are so overloaded with so much dust due to our material association from
time immemorial, if we chant this Hare Krishna mantra then the dust will be removed. It will begin to
be removed immediately and as soon as the heart is cleansed of all dust we can see our face, what
we really are. Seeing our face means knowing our real identification.

By chanting Hare Krishna mantra we will understand we are not the body. This is our misconception.
The dust means this misconception, accepting this body or the mind as self. Actually, we are not this
body or the mind. We are spirit soul. So as soon as we can understand that we are not these bodies,
immediately the blazing fire of material conditions, or the blazing fire of material miseries, becomes
dissipated. No more misery. Aham brahmasmi.

As it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, brahma-bhutah? prasannatma. Immediately one understands his

real identification as spirit soul, he becomes joyful. In the material world we are not joyful. Due to
our material contact, we are always full of anxieties. By chanting Hare Krishna mantra, we shall
immediately come to the stage of joyful life. This is called liberation. When one becomes joyful, free
from all anxieties, that stage is actual liberation because every living creature, the spirit soul, is by
nature joyful. The whole struggle for existence is that he is searching after that joyful stage of life,
but he missing the point. Therefore, every time we try for a joyful life we are being defeated. This
constant defeat can be overcome immediately by chanting this Hare Krishna mantra. That is the
effect of this transcendental vibration.

The spiritual pleasure that we enjoy from chanting the Hare Krishna mantra is not like material so-
called pleasure. For example we may be hungry but as soon as we get food, with every mouthful we
take the pleasure we receive from eating that food decreases. Until after we have eaten a few
mouthfuls and our hunger is satisfied we do not like to take any more of that food. This means here
in the material world whatever pleasure we can experience, it will decrease. But spiritual pleasure is
different. Lord Caitanya says: anandambudhi-vardhanam, the spiritual pleasure is just like the ocean.
Here in the material world we have the experience that the ocean does not increase, the ocean
always remains within its limit. But the ocean of spiritual pleasure increases. Anandambudhi-
vardhanam. Sreyah-kairava-candrika-vitaranam. How does that spiritual pleasure increase? Lord
Caitanya gives the example of the moon. On the first night after the new moon the moon is a very
thin curved line in the sky only. But on the second day, third day, the moon increases, gradually it
increases. Similarly in spiritual life the spiritual pleasure increases day after day after day until it
reaches the full moon night. And then our lives become full of knowledge because spiritual life
means eternal life, full of bliss and full of knowledge

So we increase our pleasure because proportionately we increase the volume of our knowledge. It is
just like the ocean, but still it increases. It is so nice that once situated in this state of life, one thinks
that I am fully satisfied. Just like if one takes bath dipping into the water, he feels refreshed
immediately. Similarly, in spiritual life the increasing joy day after day makes one feel that he is fully
satisfied.

One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman. He never laments
nor desires to have anything; he is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state he attains
pure devotional service unto Me. (Bhagavad Gita 18.54)

A materialist who is working very hard for sense gratification is miserable but for a devotee, who
does not work for his own sense gratification but works for the gratification of Krishnas senses,
there is no misery. The devotee has nothing to lament or desire, because he has no desire except the
desire to serve his spiritual master and Krishna. Because the devotee is serving God and God is full
and completely satisfied in every way the devotee engaged in the service of Krishna also becomes
full and completely satisfied in every way. He becomes just like a river cleansed of all the dirty
water.

Because the pure devotee has no thought other than Krishna he is naturally always joyful. He is not
at all disturbed by material loss or gain because he is fully engaged in the service of the Lord. The
pure devotee has no desire for any type of material enjoyment because he knows that every living
entity is part and parcel of the Supreme Lord and therefore eternally a servant. The devotees peace
and happiness comes from this realization that he is eternally a servant of Krishna and the only
purpose of his life is to serve Krishna. He is attached to nothing except being engaged in the service
of his spiritual master and Krishna. This is the real, natural and eternal constitutional position of
every living entity: nitya krsna dasa, every living entity is eternally a servant of Krishna. As soon as
we realize we are servants of Krishna and give up all personal desires and aspirations and simply
work for the pleasure of Krishna under the direction of Krishnas pure devotee, the bona fide
spiritual master, we will at once be relieved of all the sources of anxiety and distress in the material
world and at once we will relish transcendental happiness on the spiritual platform.
The world is miserable for the materially infected person, but for a devotee the entire world is as
good as Vaikuntha, or the spiritual sky. The highest personality in this material universe is no more
significant than an ant for a devotee. Such a stage can be achieved by the mercy of Lord Caitanya,
who preached pure devotional service in this age.

The stage of perfection is called trance, or samadhi, when ones mind is completely restrained from
material mental activities by practice of yoga. This is characterized by ones ability to see the self by
the pure mind and to relish and rejoice in the self. In that joyous state, one is situated in boundless
transcendental happiness and enjoys himself through transcendental senses. Established thus, one
never departs from the truth and upon gaining this he thinks there is no greater gain. Being situated
in such a position, one is never shaken, even in the midst of greatest difficulty. This indeed is actual
freedom from all miseries arising from material contact. (Bhagavad Gita 6.20-23)

This is from the Sixth Chapter of Bhagavad Gita which we have been discussing for some weeks now.
By practice of yoga one becomes gradually detached from material concepts. This is the primary
characteristic of the yoga principle. And after this, one becomes situated in trance, or samadhi,
which means that the yogi realizes the Supersoul through transcendental mind and intelligence,
without any of the misgivings of identifying the self with the Superself. In this verse transcendental
pleasurerealized through transcendental sensesis accepted.

When the yogi is once situated in the transcendental position, he is never shaken from it. Unless the
yogi is able to reach this position, he is unsuccessful. Todays so-called yoga practice, which involves
various sense pleasures, is contradictory. A yogi indulging in sex and intoxication is a mockery. Even
those yogis who are attracted by the siddhis (perfections) in the process of yoga are not perfectly
situated. If the yogis are attracted by the by-products of yoga, then they cannot attain the stage of
perfection, as is stated in this verse. Persons, therefore, indulging in the make-show practice of
gymnastic feats or siddhis should know that the aim of yoga is lost in that way.

The best practice of yoga in this age is Krishna consciousness, which is not baffling. A Krishna
conscious person is so happy in his occupation that he does not aspire after any other happiness.
There are many impediments, especially in this age of hypocrisy, to practicing hatha-yoga, dhyana-
yoga and jnana-yoga, but there is no such problem in executing karma-yoga or bhakti-yoga.

As long as the material body exists, one has to meet the demands of the body, namely eating,
sleeping, defending and mating. But a person who is in pure bhakti-yoga or in Krishna consciousness
does not arouse the senses while meeting the demands of the body. Rather, he accepts the bare
necessities of life, making the best use of a bad bargain, and enjoys transcendental happiness in
Krishna consciousness. He is callous toward incidental occurrencessuch as accidents, disease,
scarcity and even the death of a most dear relativebut he is always alert to execute his duties in
Krishna consciousness or bhakti-yoga. Accidents never deviate him from his duty. As stated in the
Bhagavad-gita, agamapayino nityas tams titiksasva bharata. He endures all such incidental
occurrences because he knows that they come and go and do not affect his duties. In this way he
achieves the highest perfection in yoga practice.

Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!

Madhudvisa dasa

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105 Responses to Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!

Bob says:

January 23, 2017 at 7:52 pm

hello; i enjoyed your writings. i have had some interest in chanting the mahamantra for many years;
in that time i have chanted off and on by myself. many years ago i used to visit new vrindhavan
occasionally. several years ago i read an article by a man who has a number of devotee followers but
i cannot remember his name; he said that if one eats meat (which i do) he should not chant hare
krishna because too much karma will be released and one will suffer too much. he said i should
instead chant on namo bhagavate vasudevaya is that correct?

Reply

Madhudvisa dasa says:

February 1, 2017 at 11:18 pm

Hare Krishna Bob

There are so many bogus rascal gurus and you have met one of them unfortunately.

You should chant Hare Krishna. That will give you the realization, intelligence and strength to give up
eating meat and follow the other regulative principles.

So chant Hare Krishna, read Srila Prabhupadas books and try to follow the instructions you find Srila
Prabhupada giving you as you read his books.

Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!

Madhudvisa dasa

Reply

Steve says:

November 10, 2016 at 6:22 am

Madhudvisa Prabhu, I find myself completely unable to chant due to poor physical health and
mental anguish. I have migraine syndrome as well as tremendous emotional distress due to my
current life situation. However, I listen to japa/kirtan very frequently and the Krishnacore music of
Shelter, and it is helping me. I understand I should commence chanting and not abandon the
sadhana, but I feel overwhelmed due to my poor health. Also, constantly hearing chant 16 rounds,
chant 16 rounds, chant 16 rounds doesnt help and puts a lot of pressure on me. Please advise me
as to how I can remedy the situation and begin chanting without feeling pressured or overwhelmed.

Reply

Madhudvisa dasa says:

November 20, 2016 at 3:04 pm

Hare Krishna Steve

The only way is chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra a day and listening to the
Shelter hardcore music will NOT HELP YOU in this regard.
In the material world there is pressure and everyone is serving maya, everyone is a materialist, so
naturally this is overwhelming for us who are trying to become devotees. That is the way it is in the
material world. You have to get used to it. If you want to become a devotee it will seem
overwhelming, impossible and everyone will be trying to convince you to chill out, take it easy,
relax. But as soon as we listen to them and relax we are immediately back in the clutches of maya.

So your first step should be to stop listening to Shelter. It will not help you. Get the Prabhupada
kirtans and bhajans:

https://krishnastore.com/prabhupada-kirtans-and-bhajans-the-complete-colletion-h-krishna-
1463.html

That is really, really, really wonderful

And listen to them.

That will help you.

And read Srila Prabhupadas books.

Basically there are two main instructions:

Kirtaniya sada hari: Chant Hare Krishna always, 24 hours a day

and

Nityam bhagavata sevaya: Read and hear the Srimad-Bhagavatam always 24 hours a day

So it is not possible of course to both read the Bhagavatam and chant Hare Krishna always 24 hours
a day. But we should always be either reading the Bhagatam, talking about the Bhagavatam or
chanting Hare Krishna 24 hours a day. Still we have to sleep for a few hours, eat, etc. But the idea
should be to minimize these things to the minimum.
So if you dont feel like chanting Hare Krishna then read Srila Prabhupadas books. That will inspire
you and after reading Prabhupadas books for a while you will feel like chanting Hare Krishna.

The process is the process. We have to chant at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every
day, we have to strictly follow the four regulative principles, we have to read Srila Prabhupadas
books at least 1-2 hours a day. Of course we may fail at times. I fail at times. But because we may fail
does not mean we adjust the process or drop our expectations. No. We may fail but the process is
the process and if we fail then we have to strive to rectify ourselves and bring us back to the proper
standard.

It may seem overwhelming and our health may seem poor. But we have to follow the process. At
least we have to strive to follow the process and if we strive sincerely then we will reach the goal.
And our health will improve as far as possible.

But realistically these material bodies are a bad bargain. They deteriorate rapidly as the years go on.
So as soon as the body is 20 years old then everything goes downhill and the older we get the more
sick our body becomes. It happens to everybody. There is no way around this.

So we have to get off the bodily conception of life. We have to realize we are not these material
bodies. We are the spirit soul trapped in the material body.

So the more Krishna conscious we become the more we will be able to ignore the sufferings of the
body.

So do not say I am sick and unable to chant

Just chant Hare Krishna inspite of all material difficulties and the seemingly hopeless situation and
Krishna will help you. Not that the bodily difficulties will go away, they get worse as we get older,
but you will transcend the bodily concept of life and realize you are not the body but the spirit soul
and your eternal occupation is serving Krishna.

Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!

Madhudvisa dasa

Reply
Lenin says:

October 18, 2016 at 6:47 am

Hare Krishna guruji

I am doing both oral and writing meditation on maha mantra everyday. recently my grandma
expired and i stopped for few days. Should i continue my meditation? Does it have effect on me?
also i could not spend my time without chanting it. Pls advice

Hare Krishna

Lenin

Reply

Madhudvisa dasa says:

October 19, 2016 at 10:57 pm

Yes. Never stop chanting Hare Krishna. Keep chanting Hare Krishna

Reply

Glenn says:

September 24, 2016 at 9:36 am

Can one still receive benefits from chanting the maha-mantra less than the required 16 rounds a
day? For example, if one is only able to chant 8 rounds a day will he/she receive at least 50% of the
benefits?

In other words is the person still receiving benefits from chanting the maha-mantra, even if he/she
chants less than the required 16 rounds a day? Thank you.

Reply

Madhudvisa dasa says:

October 8, 2016 at 8:08 pm

Yes of course even chanting Hare Krishna once will give benefit. But there has to be numerical
strength. This is the teaching of Lord Caitanya. So the minimum for serious devotees is 16 rounds so
just chant 16 rounds. It takes 2-3 hours only so just do it. It is very little. Even if you say four hours,
four hours out of 24 is nothing. So just do it.

It is like saying the doctor has prescribed this medicine to cure the disease and asking if I take half
the amount the doctor prescribes will that half cure my disease? So it is a silly question. If he is a
competent doctor and has given the correct medicine then if you want to get well you have to take
the medicine in the dose prescribed by the doctor.

So Srila Prabhupada has prescribed a minimum of 16 rounds a day, so just do it. It is not difficult to
chant 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra. Just do it..

You can not expect to get well if you are not prepared to take the medicine.

CHANT AND BE HAPPY

THE POWER OF MANTRA MEDITATION

Preface

The Search for Happiness

Everyone wants to be happy. Some of us seek happiness through our

families, in natural and healthy living, in successful careers, active social
lives, fine gourmet foods, gambling, or through sports and exercise. Others
experience happiness in politics, the arts, academia, or in hobbies ranging
from mechanics and computer science to drama, philanthropy, welfare
work, and literally thousands of other activities that comprise man's
unending quest for pleasure. Millions of people find their happiness in
liquor, mood elevators, tranquilizers, or other drugs.

Each day doctors and scientists discover more about how the human mind
and body work. Yet with this abundance of scientific knowledge and space-
age technology, which vastly outstrips that of all previous generations, is
modern man really any happier than his predecessors?

The basic problem in our search for happiness is that our sources of
pleasure are all limited. What many people consider man's most basic and
fundamental pleasures- eating and sex-can only occupy a few moments of
each day. Our bodies constantly thwart our plans for enjoyment. After all,
you can only eat so much before becoming ill. Even sex has its limits.

Chant and Be Happy provides information about how we can expand our
pleasure beyond our present limitations. It deals with a pleasure principle
that operates beyond the bounds of time and space and emanates from the
very innermost part of our being. This book thoroughly explains how this
inner happiness can be experienced immediately by anyone, through the
mystical power of transcendental sound vibrations.

This technique for obtaining unlimited happiness does not depend on new
products touted by Madison Avenue whiz kids or Hollywood moguls, but
has been successfully practiced by countless people throughout the
ages. Chant and Be Happy explains how to use these transcendental
sound vibrations to attain the ultimate state of happiness. It's an easy
process and it's free.

To achieve this unlimited and imperishable happiness one need only chant
and hear what sages of ancient India have for millennia called the Great
Chant for Deliverance, the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. This simple sixteen-
word mantra is comprised of sound vibrations powerful enough to awaken
the natural happiness within everyone.

Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

In recent years, millions have learned how to chant the Hare

Krsna mantra and experience this true, spiritual happiness. It is the most
popular mantra in India, the homeland of meditation, and differs from other
systems in two ways. First, the complete mantra is chanted (not just a
fragment of a mantra) and, second, the mantra is chanted aloud (not
silently).

A brief introduction by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Prabhupada, the founder-acarya (spiritual master) of the International
Society for Krishna Consciousness, explains the exact nature and meaning
of the mantra. Chapter One, a recent exclusive interview with former Beatle
George Harrison, reveals how the Hare Krsna mantra has played a leading
role in his life over the last fifteen years. George explains that although he
had achieved riches and fame beyond what most people could ever hope
for, he found that there was "nothing higher" than the happiness he
experienced from chanting Hare Krsna. George discusses his confidence in
the mantra's powers over death, explains how much of his musical career
has been influenced by and intimately connected with the Hare
Krsna mantra, and describes the knowledge, bliss, and spiritual intelligence
that comes from chanting.

In Chapter Two, Srila Prabhupada speaks with John Lennon, Yoko Ono,
and George Harrison at John's estate in Tittenhurst Park, discussing the
potency of the Hare Krsna mantra as the path to peace and liberation.

Chapter Three is a fascinating account of how Srila Prabhupada brought

the chanting of Hare Krsna from India to the Western world in the midst of
the counter cultural turmoil of the sixties and convinced the disillusioned
hippies of New York's Greenwich Village and San Francisco's Haight-
Ashbury that this mantra, not psychedelics and antiwar protests, would
make them happy. The history of chanting and meditating for higher
consciousness is discussed in Chapter Four. The next chapter delineates
the life and teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the sixteenth-century
saint, mystic, and incarnation of Lord Krsna who popularized the timeless
practice of chanting the Hare Krsna mantra.

Chapter Six, a narration taken from one of India's most important historical
and philosophical literatures, the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, reveals how by
simply hearing the chanting of Hare Krsna from a genuine spiritual master
anyone's character can be freed from all unwanted qualities.

The next chapter forms a treatise on self-realization, mantras, religion, and

the power of the mind in meditation, compiled from the teachings presented
in Srila Prabhupada's books. Chapter Eight explains the wide-ranging
effects and personal benefits one can expect from chanting Hare Krsna.
The final chapter gives practical, step-by-step instructions for chanting,
which if followed will open the door to ultimate happiness.