In Bhagavad Gītā 8.8, the Supreme Lord Sri Kṛṣṇa says to Arjuna: “He who meditates on Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his mind constantly engaged in remembering Me, undeviated from the path, he, O Pārtha, is sure to reach Me.”
To constantly engage one’s mind in the remembrance of the Lord, one has to engage his senses in His meditation – through chanting and hearing the Hare Kṛṣṇa Maha Mantra. Only then, will one constantly remember the Lord and at the end, reaches His abode. This Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra: Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare is the simplest form of meditation. There is no hard and fast rule for chanting.
Meditation is often nowadays confused with ‘breathing in and breathing out with closed eyes’. One should note that the standard yoga practice formula has been given by Lord Sri Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad Gītā and for such practice, one should go to a secluded and sacred place, lay kusa grass on the ground with deerskin and a soft cloth. However, in this age of Kali, it is very difficult to practise this yoga system, while the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra can be chanted by anyone anywhere without any consideration of time or place.
Krishna Consciousness or bhakti yoga is the highest yoga which one can perform and it begins with hearing and chanting. This chanting of the Holy Name of the Lord is the only means of deliverance in this cruel age of quarrel and hypocrisy and the Lord Himself is non different from His name. Therefore, when chanting His name, whether alone or in Kirtan, we are actually associating with the Supreme Lord.
harer nāma harer nāma
harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva
nāsty eva gatir anyathā
‘In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.’