The Experience of the Holy Name

There are three progressive stages in the development of chanting: the offensive stage (nama-aparadha), the stage of lessening offenses (namabhasa) and the offenseless, pure stage (suddha-nama).

In the offensive stage, though one has taken up the chanting, the mentality and practice remain defective. To progress in the chanting of the holy names, one must prioritise the activity, crafting the suitable environment and practicalities that allow one to be fully present. The names should be pronounced clearly and loud enough so that the mantra can be distinctly heard. Srila Prabhupada also reminded his disciples to “sit properly” whilst chanting, encouraging them to have good posture and be fully attentive and undistracted.

In addition to the method of chanting, one must also cultivate the devotional mood. Srila Prabhupada explained how the chanting is the cry of the soul for God, just as a child cries for the mother. In order to imbibe such intensity, one must develop the character outlined by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who famously instructed: “One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.” Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura told his disciples that their advancement in spiritual life would be proportionate to how closely they followed this verse in their lives.

As one progresses towards the stage of offenseless chanting, one comes into closer and closer contact with the Lord. The attentive recitation of the holy name (nama) successively reveals the Supreme Lord’s qualities (guna), transcendental form (rupa) and beautiful pastimes (lila) within the consciousness of the devotee. In the mature stage, when divine love of God awakens, the devotee experiences intense spiritual ecstasies. Thus, through pure, devotional chanting of the holy name, the devotee directly realises the presence of the Lord and enters the deepest mysteries of Krishna consciousness.