o Hare Krishna Maha-mantra "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama HARE KRISHNA, HARE KRISHNA, KRISHNA KRISHNA, HARE HARE Rama, Hare Hare — these 16 names composed HARE RAMA, HARE RAMA, RAMA RAMA, HARE HARE of 32 syllables are the only means to counteract the evil effects of Kali-yuga. In all the Vedas it is seen that to cross the ocean of nescience there is Vedic civilization once worldwide and karma are the cause of suffering, he preached no alternative to the chanting of the holy ahimsa, nonviolence to all living entities. Buddha These words (left) from the Upanishads and Puranas, name." (Kali-santarana Upanishad) was the son of a Vedic king who ruled according to ancient Sanskrit texts were written more than 5,000 the Vedic system, but he ended up rejecting the "Living beings who are entangled in the years ago, when the Vedic civilization extended complicated meshes of birth and death can be authority of the Vedas when some persons argued throughout the world, including China. By the time freed immediately by even unconsciously that the Vedas permit animal killing and flesh eating Buddha's teachings crossed over into China, chanting the holy name of Krishna, which is — "If you say that the Vedas endorse killing and feared by fear personified." (Srimad-Bhagavatam roughly 1,300 years ago, there still remained some eating animals, then I reject the Vedas." His special 1.1.14) traces from a much earlier civilization that had the mission, as an incarnation of Vishnu, the Supreme markings and elements of a Vedic kingdom, but it "If one always chants the holy name of the Lord Lord, was to round up the atheists, all those who lived with great devotion in the evening and in the had long since deteriorated. morning, one can become free from all material outside the Vedic tradition, and by making them miseries." (purport by Sridhara Swami, Srimad- On special assignment to cheat faithful to him, bring them to the threshold of Dharma. Bhagavatam 6.3.24) the atheists Even as China embraced Buddhism, it was "As a fire burns dry grass to ashes, so the holy Buddha was born 2,600 years ago, practically ended in India by the strong preaching of name of the Lord, whether chanted knowingly or but his appearance was predicted the great Shankaracharya, who came 1,200 years unknowingly, burns to ashes without fail all the long before that. The Bhagavat ago. Shankaracharya restored India's faith in the reactions of one's sinful activities." (Srimad- Bhagavatam 6.2.18) Purana stated his name and the name authority of the Vedas. However, strongholds of of his father and gave a description Buddhism remained in Tibet and Nepal, and from "Simply by chanting one holy name of Hari, a of his mission. According to the here the teachings made their way into China, and sinful man can counteract the reactions to more Bhagavat Purana, the Buddha was a thus China accepted the Mahayana teachings. sins than he is able to commit." (Brihad-vishnu partial incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Purana, cited in purport to Srimad-Bhagavatam Buddha's teachings were not written down by his 6.2.7) the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By the time of Buddha's appearance, disciples. They were preserved by oral tradition, "If one chants the holy name of the Lord, even in and 300 years after his passing, they had become a helpless condition or without desiring to do so, the brahminical culture that was the Siddhartha Gautama somewhat obscured. At that time there was all the reactions of his sinful life depart, just as foundation of the Vedic civilization, Buddha was born a Vedic disagreement between the followers, who then when a lion roars, all the small animals flee in was breaking down. The brahmanas prince, but later rejected fear." (Garuda Purana) had become so degraded that they the Vedas. compiled them into two books, the Hinayana and Mahayana. "O King, constant chanting of the holy name of were making business of performing the Lord after the ways of the great authorities is rites and rituals described in the Vedas, and even Maha-mantra — the most pure and the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, condoned meat eating on the pretext that the potent mantra including those who are free from all material Vedas allowed animal sacrifice. In this way they The Mahayana Buddhists chant the Amitabha desires, those who are desirous of all material were using the Vedas to earn their livelihood, and enjoyment and also those who are self-satisfied mantra, variously pronounced as namo amituofo or neglected or forgot the conclusion of the Vedas, by dint of transcendental knowledge." (Srimad- namo onituofo. The word ami, or oni, is derived from that Dharma is the occupation of loving service to Bhagavatam 2.1.11) the Sanskrit syllable om, and the word tabha, or God. When the Buddha observed birth, disease, tuofo, refers to Buddha. Another Tibetan chant is om old age and death and understood that attachment ma-ni peh-meh hoong, known to the Chinese as om mani padme hum, which is said to be the mantra of Prabhupada has presented the teachings of Krishna universal protection. So here again we see the Sanskrit and Chaitanya, illuminated with his brilliant purports. om. According to the Bhagavad-gita, the syllable om is The ultimate conclusion of all these teachings is that The Holy the sound representation of the Personality of Godhead. Although the Mahayana prescribes various the Supreme Absolute Truth, God, is identical to His mantras, there is no record of Buddha teaching holy names, and by chanting His names, we become anything about the holy name. aware of His presence. That is the science of Krishna Names consciousness. There are innumerable names of God, The Vedic literature says that in this and any one of them is as good as the other, but this age known as Kali-yuga — which Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is especially recommended began approximately 5,000 years ago for this day and age. — the only spiritual practice necessary and easy to perform is chanting the Everyone can chant this Hare Krishna Maha-mantra holy names of God. But the practice at any time, any place. Even a child can chant it, and was not widespread, until 500 years sing and dance to the holy names. There are no ago Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared restrictions. This chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha- in India, just for the purpose of mantra is joyfully performed, and cleanses the mind popularizing the chanting of the holy and heart. Lord Chaitanya said, names of God, especially the Hare "In this age of Kali there is no other religious Krishna Maha-mantra. principle than the chanting of the holy name, 500 years ago, Chaitanya which is the essence of all Vedic hymns. This is Unlike what happened to the teachings Mahaprabhu 500 years ago, the purport of all scriptures." (Chaitanya- Chaitanya Mahaprabhu charitamrita, Adi-lila 7.74) of Buddha, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's popularized chanting of the teachings were recorded by his holy names among all people, without discriminating against "In the Padma Purana Krishna says, mad-bhakta disciples, and carefully handed down in any class or group. yatra gayanti tatra tisthami narada: 'O Narada, I disciplic succession, just like a ripe mango am present wherever My devotees are is handed down chanting.' When the devotees chant the holy HARE KRISHNA from the tree to the person name of Krishna — Hare Krishna, Hare MAHA MANTRA waiting below, so that it is Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare — not broken. Most recently, Lord Krishna is immediately present." (purport, ARE RISHNA ARE RISHNA this science of Krishna Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila 17.132) H K , H K consciousness has been KRISHNA KRISHNA, HARE HARE "As the rising sun immediately dissipates all the introduced to the whole HARE RAMA, HARE RAMA world by His Divine Grace world's darkness, which is deep like an ocean, so the holy name of the Lord, if chanted once RAMA RAMA, HARE HARE A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami without offenses, can dissipate all the reactions of Prabhupada. He published a living being's sinful life. All glories to that holy more than 60 books, name of the Lord, which is auspicious for the His Divine Grace A.C. KRSNA WORLD Bhaktivedanta Swami including the famous entire world." (Padyavali 16, cited in Chaitanya- Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad- charitamrita, Antya-lila 3.181) West Malaysia Bhima das — Tel: 06-9787878, Hp: 019-3367878 Bhagavatam and the Chaitanya-charitamrita, and he Please chant the Hare Krishna mantra: Hare Krishna, email: [email protected] founded the Hare Krishna movement, based on the Nrsingha Chaitanya das (Nathan) — Hp: 019-6652231 chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. Like a Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. East Malaysia postman who delivers the mail without tampering Bhakta Lee — Hp: 012-8878899 with it, or like a messenger on the battlefield who visit our websites: faithfully relays his commander's message, Srila harekrishnamalaysia.com krsnaworld.com — bhaktivedantas.com.