In Kali−yuga, the direct method of attaining perfection in spiritual life is chanting the holy name: Whether one practices yoga or speculates and does research to find God, one's efforts must be mixed with the process of devotion. Without devotion, nothing can be perfect. The target Sri Namamrta: of perfection and realization is the Supreme Personality of Godhead... One has to surrender unto the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead, Hari, or Krsna, in order to achieve real success. Devotional service, or engagement in Krsna consciousness, is the direct method, and all other methods, although recommended, are indirect. In this age of Kali the direct method is especially more feasible than the indirect because people are short−living, their intelligence is poor, and they are poverty−stricken and embarrassed by so many miserable disturbances. Lord Caitanya, therefore, has given the greatest boon: in this age one simply has to chant the holy name of God to attain perfection in spiritual life.
¯Srimad−Bhagavatam 3.21.7
The supreme destination can be approached most easily by chanting the holy name of Krsna, not by any other process of religion: Any intelligent man should always prefer the process of devotional service to all other paths. In the Narayaniya this is confirmed as follows:
ya vai sadhana−sampattih
purusartha −catustaye
taya vina tad apnoti
naro narayanasrayah
The purport of this verse is that one should not engage in the different processes of fruitive activity or cultivate knowledge by the mental speculative process. One who is devoted to the Supreme Personality can attain all the benefits derived from other yogic processes, speculation, rituals, sacrifices, charities, etc. That is the specific benediction of devotional service.
Simply by chanting the holy name of Krsna−Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare−a devotee of the Lord can approach the supreme destination easily and happily, but this destination cannot be approached by any other processes of religion.
¯Bhagavad−gita As It Is 12.6−7