04 One must receive the holy name from proper spiritual authorities
The holy name must be received from spiritual sources: One has to learn about the beauty and transcendental position of the holy name of the Lord by hearing the revealed scriptures from the mouths of devotees. Nowhere else can we hear of the sweetness of the Lord’s holy name. It is said in the Padma Purana, atah sri−krsna−namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah “No one can...
03 Offenseless chanting of the holy name
General Instructions One should avoid offenses against the holy name: [Lord Caitanya to Sanatana Gosvami]: "One should avoid offenses against devotional service and the holy name." The eleventh item is to avoid offenses when rendering devotional service and chanting the holy names. – Sri Caitanya caritamrta Madhya lila 22.117 Mechanical chanting is not as powerful as offenseless chanting: Mechanical chanting is...
14 One must chant loudly enough to hear oneself
The first regulative principle is that one must chant a fixed number of rounds, chanting loudly enough to hear oneself: [Lord Caitanya to Haridasa thakura]: "Now that you have become old," the Lord said, "you may reduce the number of rounds, you chant daily. You are already liberated, and therefore you need not follow the regulative principles very strictly." Unless one has come to the platform of spontaneous...
09 Devotees must chant (at least) sixteen rounds daily
The first regulative principle is that one must chant a fixed number of rounds: [Lord Caitanya to Haridasa thakura]: "Now that you have become old," the Lord said, "you may reduce the number of rounds you chant daily. You are already liberated, and therefore you need not follow the regulative principles very strictly." Unless one has come to the platform of spontaneous love of God, he must follow the regulative...
08 One must chant the holy name constantly
The chief object of constant remembrance for all living entitles is the holy name (etc.) of the Lord: [Lord Caitanya to Ramananda Raya]: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, "What should all living entities constantly remember?" Ramananda Raya replied, "The chief object of remembrance is always the holy name of the Lord, His qualities and pastimes." – Sri Caitanya caritamrta Madhya lila 8.252 Following the...
10 One develops a taste for chanting by chanting
Chanting the holy name, which is nectarean and eternal, enthuses one to chant more and more: The sound of this material world and that of the spiritual world are completely different. The sound of the spiritual world is nectarean and eternal, whereas the sound of the material world is hackneyed and subject to end. The sound of the holy name Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare...