The vision of the heart also helps one see God during inevitable tragedies and death. 34 year old Stoka Krishna das, a member of our congregation and a disciple of Radhanath Swami, was dying of cancer, yet with profuse gratitude accepted the fatal disease as a blessing of the Lord. It was evident to all who knew him that he came closer to Krishna during this tragedy, and was able to see and appreciate Lord better than most of us. .

We often seek shelter in fallible things of this world. A child holds on to a teddy bear or a blanket; when it’s taken away, she will cry and won’t accept anything else in exchange. Even as grown-ups we have an innate tendency to hold on to things or people that give us any form of shelter. Sometimes we could be so blinded in our situations that we may accept even ethically wrong forms of shelter. .

The scriptures reveal that Holy Names are the sweetest sound vibrations, and if we chant with faith, we can experience unlimited taste and sweetness. If however we aren’t experiencing this taste at the present moment, then it's time for us to examine our motives and desire strongly to want to experience the sweetness. .

Attaining success in chanting is not an overnight affair. Patience and perseverance is the key for good chanting. We may chant attentively and excitedly one day but the next day we may feel lethargic and disinterested. The secret of successful chanting of Hare Krishna lies in disregarding our mood and maintaining consistency. Even if we feel bored and uninspired, if we keep chanting daily, we’ll eventually achieve victory over the mind. Regularity in chanting assures success in the long run. .