There Is No Alternative to Chanting

the Holy Names of Krishna in This Age

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

“Ö learned one, in this iron age of Kali, men have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed”.

(Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.10)

The people in this age are very short-lived in understanding spiritual life. Actually, human life is meant for understanding spiritual values, but because everyone in this age is a ‘sudra’, no one is interested. People have forgotten life’s real purpose. The word ‘manda’ means both slow and bad, and everyone in this age is either bad or slow or a combination of both. People are unfortunate and disturbed by so many things. According to Srimad Bhagavatam, there will eventually be no rain and consequently a scarcity of food. The governments will also levy very heavy taxes. The characteristics of this age predicted by Srimad Bhagavatam are already being experienced to some degree. Since Kali yuga is a very miserable age, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is Sri Krishna Himself, advises everyone simply to chant Hare Krishna.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Who Initiated Sankirtana Movement

harer nama harer nama

harer namaiva kevalam

 kalau nasty eva nasty eva

nasty eva gatir anyatha

          Sri chaitanya charitamrita, Adi lila, 17.21

Just always chant Hare Krishna. Nevery mind whether you are in a factory or in hell, in a shack or in a skyscraper – it does not matter. Just go on chanting Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare. There is no expense, there is no impediment, there is no caste, there is no creed, there is no color – anyone can do it. Just chant and hear.

(As told by Srila Prabhupada in ‘On the Way to Krishna’)

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