Spiritual life begins with hearing and chanting. Together they form the essence of the means of advancement.

By hearing and chanting: one's heart and mind are purified and elevated, one gains spiritual strength, one pleases Krishna. In the beginning it may be difficult, but with constant practice one gradually develops a taste.

Action

Most people hear and speak about mundane topics.

Result

Their minds become absorbed in mundane thoughts.

Action

Keep the natural tendency to hear and speak, but change the subject to Krishna.

Result

This way, one's mind will become spiritually enlightened.

Hearing

• The Vedanta-Sutra 4.4.22 says anavrtti sabdat, "one is liberated by sound."
• Sound is the subtlest element that we can perceive. Therefore transcendental sound can most effectively enter the mind and heart to produce change.
• When a man is sleeping, he can be awakened by sound. Similarly, the conditioned souls sleeping in illusion can be awakened to knowledge of God by hearing transcendental sound. (1)

  Sri Krishna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Supersoul in everyone's heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.17)

Chanting

People always want to see God, but we cannot see God with our blunt material senses. However, if we please Krishna with our devotional service, He reveals Himself. The sastra states that such devotional service begins with the tongue: through chanting and taking prasadam. Thus seeing God begins with the tongue - a rather unusual principle! (2)

The yuga-dharma (process of religion for this age) consists of chanting the holy name congregationally (3) (nama-sankirtana) and chanting the glories of the Lord and His holy name (nama-pracara). (4)

Two main categories of hearing and chanting

1. Knowledge and glorification

• Explanations of Krishna consciousness.
• Glorification of the Lord.
• Preaching.
• Reading or Writing about Krishna.

2. The holy names

• Private meditation (japa)
• Singing out loud while dancing (kirtana)
• Sitting & singing with instruments (bhajanas)
• Singing the holy names in public (harinama)
  

When transcendental knowledge is:

1. Received (heard)

• One learns to see things differently.
• One's doubts and illusions are destroyed.

2. Given (chanted)

• One gains deeper understanding and assimilates the knowledge he has received.
• One gains the special mercy of Krishna.

Two conditions for the proper transmission of spiritual knowledge:

1. Must be heard with the right attitude

• with humility and respect,
• open-minded, not challenging,
• with desire to learn and understand.

2. Must come from the right source

• from a genuine devotee,
• not mayavadi or professional speaker,
• from one who has controlled senses and sufficient knowledge.

Both the hearer and the speaker must be qualified.

Further reading

Bhagavad-gita 7.1 purport, (last two paras), Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.6 purport; 1.2.14 and purport; 1.2.17–18 and purport; 2.1.11; 1.1.14

Chanting the holy names of the Lord

Chanting the holy names of the Lord is the central practice of Lord Caitanya's followers. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya once asked Lord Caitanya, "Which item is most important in the execution of devotional service?" The Lord replied that the most important item was the chanting of the holy name of the Lord.

harer nama harer nama
harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha

In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.
(Brhan-naradiya Purana 38.126)

Footnotes:

(1) A pure devotee always engages in the service of the Lord, taking shelter of His lotus feet, and therefore he has a direct connection with the saffron mercy-particles that are strewn over the lotus feet of the Lord. Although when a pure devotee speaks the articulation of his voice may resemble the sound of this material sky, the voice is spiritually very powerful because it touches the particles of saffron dust on the lotus feet of the Lord. As soon as a sleeping living entity hears the powerful voice emanating from the mouth of a pure devotee, he immediately remembers his eternal relationship with the Lord, although up until that moment he had forgotten everything.(Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.20.25 purport)

(2) That devotional service begins from jihva, tongue. This tongue means can be utilised in devotional service in two ways, namely by chanting the holy name of God and by tasting prasadam. If one engages his jihva, tongue, in devotional service by chanting the holy name, Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and tasting only Krishna-prasadam, not anything else, then Krishna, being pleased by his devotional service, He will manifest Himself, reveas Himself. (Srimad-Bhagavatam lecture, Los Angeles, 20 January 1969)

(3) I shall personally inaugurate the religion of the age — nama-sankirtana, the congregational chanting of the holy name. I shall make the world dance in ecstasy, realising the four mellows of loving devotional service. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi 3.20)

(4) The religious practice for the Age of Kali is to broadcast the glories of the holy name. Only for this purpose has the Lord, in a yellow color, descended as Lord Caitanya. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 3.40)

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