Tapasya, austerity, has been made easy by Lord Caitanya in the form of chanting Hare Krsna: Generally people are interested in things that give immediate pleasure. We want to taste something tasty to the tongue, regardless of whether it is edible or not. Hogs very readily eat stool, and they do so without discrimination. They have no idea of tapasya, penance. When one engages in spiritual realization, one has to undergo tapasya. However, this has been made very easy by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Ceto−darpana−marjanam bhava−maha−davagni− nirvapanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. All we have to do is spare a little time and chant Hare Krsna, but we are not even ready for this much tapasya. Krsna is more interested in leading us down the path of liberation than we are in going. He has given us a very simple method: harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam [Adi 17.21]. We need only chant Hare Krsna. To perfect this chanting of Hare Krsna, there is no hard−and−fast rule. Simply by chanting, we will attain perfection.
¯Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahuti
In this age, spiritual knowledge is attained not by penances and austerities, but by chanting Hare Krsna:
In former ages people underwent so many penances and austerities to acquire knowledge, but in this age this process is not possible because our lives are very short and we are always disturbed. The process for this age is the process of Krsna consciousness, the chanting of Hare Krsna, which was inaugurated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. If, by this process, we can kindle the fire of knowledge, all of the reactions of our activities will be reduced to ashes, and we will be purified.
na hi jnanena sadrsam
pavitram iha vidyate
tat svayam yoga−samsiddhah
kalenatmani vindati
"In this world, there is nothing so sublime and pure as transcendental knowledge. Such knowledge is the mature fruit of all mysticism. And one who has achieved this enjoys the Sri Namamrta: The Nectar of The Holy Name 62 self within himself in due course of time." (Bg. 4.38) Raja−vidya: The King of Knowledge In Kali−yuga, chanting the holy name rather than performing severe austerities is the easiest means for attaining Krsna consciousness:
[Maitreya to Vidura]:
Maharaja Prthu underwent all these severe austerities in order to control his words and his senses, to refrain from discharging his semen and to control the life air within his body. All this he did for the satisfaction of Krsna. He had no other purpose. In Kali−yuga the following is recommended:
harer nama harer nama
harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha
[Adi 17.21]
(Brhan−naradiya Purana) In order to be recognized by Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one should chant the holy name of the Lord continuously, twenty−four hours a day. Unfortunate persons who cannot accept this formula prefer to execute some type of pseudomeditation, without accepting the other processes of austerity. The fact is, however, that one must accept either the severe method of austerity described above to become purified or take to the process of devotional service recommended for pleasing the Supreme Lord, Krsna. The person who is
Krsna conscious is most intelligent because in Kali−yuga it is not at all possible to undergo such severe austerities. We need only follow great personalities like Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In His Siksastaka, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu wrote, param vijayate sri−krsna−sankirtanam: all glories to the holy names of Lord Krsna, which from the very beginning purify the heart and immediately liberate one. Bhava−mahadavagni−nirvapanam.
If the real purpose of all yoga is to please Lord Krsna, then this simple bhakti−yoga system recommended for this age is sufficient.
¯Srimad−Bhagavatam 4.23.7