Further Consideration of Devotional Principles
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auspicious activities simply to gain a place in the association of devotees and to chant the glories of the Lord.” It is indicated here that chanting and glorifying the Lord is the ultimate activity of the living entity.
Japa
When a  mantra  or hymn is chanted softly and slowly, that is called  japa . The same  mantra , when chanted loudly, is called  kīrtana . For example, the  mahā-mantra  ( Hare Kṛṣṇa ,  Hare Kṛṣṇa ,  Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa ,  Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma ,  Hare Rāma ,  Rāma Rāma ,  Hare Hare ) when uttered very softly only for one’s own hearing is called  japa . The same  mantra , when chanted loudly for being heard by all others, is called  kīrtana . The  mahā-mantra  can be used for  japa  and  kīrtana  also. When  japa  is practiced it is for the personal benefit of the chanter, but when  kīrtana  is performed it is for the benefit of all others who may hear.
In the  Padma Purāṇa  there is a statement: “For any person who is chanting the holy name either softly or loudly, the paths to liberation and even heavenly happiness are at once open.”
Submission
In the  Skanda Purāṇa  there is a statement about submission unto the lotus feet of the Lord. It is said there that those who are sober devotees can offer their submission to  Kṛṣṇa  in the following three ways: 1)  samprāthanātmikā , very feelingly offering prayers; 2)  dainyavodhikā , humbly submitting oneself; 3)  lālasāmayī , desiring some perfectional stage. This desiring some perfectional stage in spiritual life is not sense gratification. When one realizes something of his constitutional relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he understands his original position and wants to be reinstated in this position, either as friend, servant, parent or conjugal lover of  Kṛṣṇa . That is called  lālasāmayī , or very eagerly desiring to