In Kali-yuga, chanting Hare Krishna is the sole accessible path to self-realization and transcendental bliss for all people.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Lecture — December 1, 1969, London 691201LE-LONDON [31:15 Minutes] Lecture_691201LE-LONDON Prabhupāda: …dhyāna-yoga or bhakti-yoga. Bhakti-yoga is also a certain type, but in this age this chanting, this is also bhakti-yoga, śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ [SB 7.5.23]. [Prahlāda Mahārāja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Viṣṇu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words)—these nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service. One who has dedicated his life to the service of Kṛṣṇa through these nine methods should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete knowledge.] If you adopt this in any condition of life—it doesn’t matter what you are—simply try to vibrate this transcendental sound, Hare Kṛṣṇa. It is not difficult.
We are simply canvassing you on behalf of the Supreme Lord, because you are all part and parcel of the Supreme Lord. Spiritually we are all brothers. So if you have got any little knowledge, it is our duty to enlighten you so that you can also enjoy the spiritual life. So it is our humble request that you accept this simple thing, and in any condition of your life simply try to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. [My dear Lord, and the spiritual energy of the Lord, kindly engage me in Your service. I am now embarrassed with this material service. Please engage me in Your service.] But unfortunately, the influence of this fallen age is so strong that you are very slow, very slow to understand this simple truth. Mandāḥ sumanda-matayo [SB 1.1.10]. [O learned one, in this iron age of Kali men almost always have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed.] And if somebody becomes interested, “All right, I shall realize myself,” and somebody will say, “Oh, what you will realize by chanting? What is this?
Just try to press your nose, then you will be happy.” Sumanda-matayo. Some nonsense things shall be imitated which will never be perfect, which will never be accepted, nor it is recommended. Therefore sumanda-matayo manda-bhāgyā, unfortunate. Hy upadrutāḥ.
Manda-bhāgyā… In this age people are always fortunate. Even the ordinary means of life, namely eating, sleeping, mating and defending, nobody has provision. If you take statistics, especially in poverty-stricken countries, if you ask him, “What you shall eat tomorrow?” “Oh, there is no meals. If I work tomorrow then I shall get my food.” Even there is no fixed-up food in the evening. āhāra nidrā: there is no fixed-up place for sleeping. I have seen in America, New York, there are so many persons, although they are born of very rich nation, there is no fixed… The Bowery Street men, they pay one dollar or fifty cent and there is some line [indistinct] or something like that.
They sleep there. There is no fixed apartment. There is no fixed wife, no family. And what is the question of defense?
Everything is topsy-turvy. This is called unfortunate. Every man should have at least nice arrangement for eating, sleeping, mating and defense. But that is also not there in this age.
And we are very much puffed up, that “We are very much advanced, and we are advancing, and we are happy.” This is called illusion. They are not at all happy. Most unfortunate creatures, and they are thinking “Happy!” So this is the position of this age. Therefore nobody can perform any other process of self-realization like karma, jñāna, yoga.