The Power of the Maha-Mantra: What is so Special About Chanting Hare Krishna by Stephen Knapp

Author:Stephen Knapp [Knapp, Stephen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The World Relief Network
Published: 2018-01-25T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

Attaining Liberation Through Chanting

It is described that there are certain channels through which the Infinite descends. Similarly, there are certain channels that the living beings can use to escape material existence and attain the spiritual realm. Of course, the final goal of any religious process or yoga system is to get free from material entanglement and enter directly into spiritual existence. This happens easily for one who learns how to purely chant the holy names. This is verified in the Caitanya-caritamrta which states that the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra vanquishes all sins and makes way for the performance of devotional service to begin. The chanting of this maha-mantra gives so much spiritual advancement that one easily ends his material existence and attains love of God. (Cc. Adi-lila, 8.26, 28) This is the basis of all loving spiritual activities in the transcendental realm.

From everything that has been described so far about the glories of the holy name, such as its potency to purify the mind, to relieve us of material activities and the reactions to sinful acts, as well as to put us in direct contact with the Supreme and reawaken our attraction for Him, it is obvious, especially for this age of Kali-yuga, that the most worshipable object is the Lord's holy names, especially as found in the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. The Bhagavatam also confirms this by stating that the topmost religious principle for the entire human race is to engage in devotional service beginning with the chanting of the Lord's holy names. Therefore, those who chant the holy names have reached the ultimate position in civilized life and, if they continue on the path, will attain further realizations in spiritual life up to reaching the platform of pure, unadulterated devotional service. (Bhag, 6.3.22)

All such transcendental opulences, as stated in the above verses, are attained simply by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra without offenses. In this way, one attains the supreme spiritual bliss. The Caitanya-caritamrita (Antya-lila, 20.14) explains that by chanting the spiritual names of Krishna one tastes spiritual ecstasy when his love for Krishna awakens. Then one attains Krishna's direct association and feels like he is in an ocean of love.

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-caritamrita verifies that simply by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra a person is freed from material life and will be able to see the Lord. (Cc. Adi-lila, 7.73)

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.

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