In truth, spiritual vision is acquired by taking refuge in Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by surrendering oneself to Him completely, serving Him with love and devotion, obeying Him, doing His will with joy and eagerness, and strictly applying the regulative principles:

No illicit sexual relations outside of marriage (ideally, no sexual relations at all, as this act causes reincarnation), no eating of meat, fish, or eggs, no consuming of drugs or stimulants such as tea, coffee, cigarettes, or alcohol, and no gambling.

It is therefore essential to lead a regulated spiritual life, that is, one focused on austerity, meditation on Krishna, and constant Krishna consciousness. For this purpose, the Supreme Lord gives us a sublime remedy that enables us to resist the onslaughts of material life, of materialism, and the influence of the energy of illusion that plunges human beings into permanent error. This sublime remedy is the chanting of His Holy Names, whose sound is spiritual, for this chanting has spiritual origins.

Truly, the Holy Names of God that compose the Hare Krishna chant are specially intended to counteract the terrible consequences of the present age, the dark age, the age of discord, hypocrisy, quarrels, indifference, decadence, and sin. There is no method of spiritual realization for the present age as sublime as this Sanskrit chant:

Hare Krishna, hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, hare hare

Hare Rama, hare Rama, Rama Rama, hare hare

This Sanskrit chant of the Holy Names of God means:

O Lord, O source of all happiness, please make me your beloved servant.

Krishna and Rama are the first two Names of God, and hare is none other than his internal energy, his energy of bliss. This sublime chant allows, among other things: