Krishna's name and Krishna are non-different. Chanting Krishna's name is like having His personal darsana.
Learn to Meditate
On a set of chanting beads (japa mala) - on each bead, chant softly, but audibly, the full maha mantra:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
Pronounce the names clearly and simply concentrate on the sound vibration. In this way, try to chant one round on the beads. This will take you about ten minutes per round. This is meditation on the holy names of the Lord.
The glories of the holy name
Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra
Understanding the awkward position of people in the Kali-yuga, the Supreme Lord has guven us the chanting of the holy names as the yuga dharma, the religion of the age.
The Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra is the simplest form of meditation. There is no hard and fast rule for chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.
Meditation is to think of the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna
That same Lord Kṛṣṇa, the fountainhead of all incarnations, is known as the son of the King of Vraja. He has descended personally as Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chanting a mantra or hymn softly and slowly is called japa, and chanting the same mantra loudly is called kīrtana. For example, uttering the mahā-mantra (Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare) very softly, only for one’s own hearing, is called japa. Chanting the same mantra loudly for being heard by all others is called kīrtana. The mahā-mantra can be used for japa and kīrtana also. When japa is practiced it is for the personal benefit of the chanter, but when kīrtana is performed it is for the benefit of all others who may hear.
When a person loudly chants the glories of the Lord’s activities, qualities, form, etc., his chanting is called saṅkīrtana. Saṅkīrtana also refers to the congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord.
In the Viṣṇu-dharma there is a statement glorifying this process of congregational chanting: “My dear King, this word kṛṣṇa is so auspicious that anyone who chants this holy name immediately gets rid of the resultant actions of sinful activities from many, many births.” That is a fact. There is the following statement in Caitanya-caritāmṛta: “A person who chants the holy name of Kṛṣṇa once can counteract the resultant actions of more sinful activities than he is able to perform.” A sinful man can perform many, many sinful activities, but he is unable to perform so many that they cannot be wiped out by one single uttering of kṛṣṇa.
The time early in the morning, one and a half hours before sunrise, is called brahma-muhurta. During this brahma-muhurta, spiritual activities are recommended. Spiritual activities performed early in the morning have a greater effect than in any other part of the day (SB 3.20.46 purport)
Hear the Sound, not the Mind
Srila Prabhupada: So what is the controlling of mind? You have to chant and hear, that’s all. You have to chant with your tongue, and the sound you hear, that’s all. What is the question of mind?
Concentrate fully on the sound vibration of the Hare Krishna mahā–mantra, pronouncing each name distinctly and gradually your speed in chanting will increase naturally. Do not worry so much about chanting fast, most important is the hearing.
ŚB 12.13.23
nāma-saṅkīrtanaṁ yasya
sarva-pāpa praṇāśanam
praṇāmo duḥkha-śamanas
taṁ namāmi hariṁ param
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Hari, the congregational chanting of whose holy names destroys all sinful reactions, and the offering of obeisances unto whom relieves all material suffering