The key to successful chanting, therefore, is to carefully avoid sin altogether. By chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, a person is freed from all reactions to his previous sins, and if he avoids sinning again, he very quickly becomes an advanced devotee. His mind becomes fixed upon the lotus feet of Krsna. If we regularly chant Hare Krsna without offense, we shall remain free from all sinful reaction, and our attachment for the Supreme Lord in devotional service will increase.

Once there was an argument between Thakura Haridasa and an ignorant so-called brahmana concerning the power of the holy name of Krsna. In an assembly of Vaisnavas, Haridasa Thakura said, Not only does a person become situated on the spiritual platform (brahma-bhutah) by offenselessly chanting the holy names of the Lord, but his dormant love of Godhead manifests and he becomes liberated automatically.

The brahmana protested, Dont exaggerate the effects of chanting in this way. One becomes liberated only after performing many austerities and penances. But you say that simply by chanting Hare Krsna one becomes liberated. If that is not the case, I shall certainly cut off your nose.

Haridasa Thakura replied, If chanting Hare Krsna does not produce liberation as a by-product, then I shall cut off my nose.

The members of the assembly witnessing this argument became extremely agitated upon seeing the great offense the brahmana had committed against Haridasa Thakura, and they immediately expelled the offender. Shortly thereafter, the brahmana contracted leprosy, and his beautiful nose melted away. This incident is narrated in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta.

There are three stages of chanting the holy name: chanting with offense, chanting as a liberated person, and chanting with full love of God. These progressive stages of chanting are like the ripening of a mango. An unripe mango tastes sour, but when the fruit is fully ripened, it tastes very sweet. Initially we may be reluctant to chant, but when we become liberated the chanting is so sweet that we cannot give it up. In this regard, Srila Rupa Gosvami has composed a beautiful verse describing the sweetness of the holy name of Krsna:

These are the symptoms of one who is on the liberated platform of chanting. At that stage, called prema, one has a great relish for chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. But this stage is attainable only if one follows the regulative principles. We have to be cautious. After being cured of a diseased condition, we first enter the convalescent stage. If we do something wrong, the disease may return. It is not that we become liberated and can do anything and everything. At all times we have to stick by the regulative principles of devotional life.