1. Namaparadha: Conditioned chanting with offences

(aparadha = offence)

This is the level that most people start on when they first take up regular chanting. The ten kinds of offences are covered in the next section. If one's chanting remains on this level, he will never understand Krsna properly, even after thousands of years of such chanting. He remains in the material world.

To attain the next stage one must continue to humbly chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra regularly and repent, "I have committed offences unnecessarily or unknowingly." Then one will attain the next stage called namabhasa (offenceless chanting).

2. Namabhasa: Liberated chanting without offences

(abhasa = morning twilight ; "the shadow of the holy name")
This stage of chanting immediately frees the chanter of all sinful reactions and gives liberation. It has two divisions: namabhasa and sraddha-namabhasa.

Namabhasa: If someone chants the holy name accidentally, or as a joke, in the course of ordinary discussion, or negligently

Sraddha-namabhasa: This is when a completely faithful devotee chants on the liberated platform and avoids all the offences. This is almost on the transcendental platform. Continued chanting on this level leads to the next.

3. Sudhanama: Pure chanting in love of God

(sudha = pure)
The perfectional stage: while the devotee fully relishes the nectar of the holy name (nama), he sees Krishna's form (rupa), realises His qualities (guna), and remembers His pastimes (lila).

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