๐ŸŒท 1. Chant slowly and clearly with proper pronunciation of each of the 16 names in Harinam.

๐ŸŒท 2. Chant near tulasi, physically or mentally in the dham, or near a pure devotee.

๐ŸŒท 3. Chant in unison in exactly the same speed as the sound of a pure devotee’s chanting playing in the background. Different speed will distract.



๐ŸŒท 4. Try to remember the meanings of each holy name, which arise with each name spontaneously. Don't chant so fast that you have no time to remember the meaning of each name. Don't think that you have to remember the meaning of the full maha mantra together instead of each name of the maha mantra. This remembrance can be anything about Lord's form, qualities, pastimes, abode, and associates, preferably His form to start with. But very special caution should be taken that this remembrance should not be imagined separately or parallelly than the names. It should arise from and bounce of each name and become one with it, so that it does not take our mind away from focussing on the sound of each name but actually enhances it. Thus, each name of Harinam should be the source of the remembrance, not vice versa. (ล›rฤซ-nฤma smarile rลซpa ฤise saแน…ge saแน…ge, rลซpa nฤma bhinna naya nฤce nฤnฤ raแน…ge. HNC 2.21)

๐ŸŒท 5. Pause the chanting sometimes and recite verses glorifying the holy name.

๐ŸŒท 6. Do nam-lila kirtan or shravan by singing or hearing the holy names or pastimes before you begin japa.

๐ŸŒท 7. Follow Srila Narottam das’s instruction of resonating Nitainam before Harinam to destroy the offenses, anarthas and vishaya-vasanas, and thus become purified and qualified for shuddha Harinam. Nitai is the mula-bhandari and mula-mahajana of shuddha Harinam according to Godruma Kalpatavi.

๐ŸŒท 8. Mentally write Nitainam (เคจिเคคाเค‡) to purify your soul’s eyes and sense of touch, so that each name of Harinam can spontaneously manifest its divine meanings to you without your own effort.

๐ŸŒท 9. Take shelter of Nitai Gaura lila to feel ruchi for Harinam.


๐ŸŒบ The below quote removes a major misconception among devotees that we just have to hear the sound while chanting and do nothing else:

Srila Prabhupada's letter to Sivananda das, Los Angeles, 4 December, 1968:

“Regarding your first question, is it offensive to think of Krishna's pastimes while chanting, I think you should know that it is not offensive, but rather it is required. One must try for the point when he simply hears Krishna, and immediately all of Krishna, His pastimes, His form, His quality, are in his thoughts. So to always be immersed in thoughts of Krishna this is our process. When we are full in Krishna then where there can be any chance for maya in us? So this is our duty to remember Krishna's pastimes. One who cannot remember Krishna, let him always hear Hare Krishna, and then when he has perfected this art, then always he will remember Krishna, His activities, His qualities, and so on.”