Knowledge by Way of the Mahātmās
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superior energy and superior activities. To become Brahman means to be completely engaged in rendering devotional service to the Lord. Thus the  mahātmā  understands that if service is to be rendered, it is to be to Kṛṣṇa and no one else. We have so long served our senses; now we should serve Kṛṣṇa.
There is no question of stopping service, for we are meant for service. Is there anyone who does not serve? If we ask the President, “Who are you serving?” he will tell us that he is serving the country. No one is devoid of service. Service we cannot stop, but we do have to redirect our service from the illusion to the reality. When this is done, we become  mahātmā .
This process of  kīrtana  ( kīrtayantaḥ ), always chanting the glories of the Lord, is the beginning of  mahātmā . That process is simplified by Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu who imparted to mankind this chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. There are nine different processes of devotional service, of which  śravaṇam   kīrtanam , hearing and chanting, are the most important.  Kīrtanam  actually means “describing.” We can describe with music, words, pictures, etc.  Śravaṇam  goes hand in hand with  kīrtanam , for unless we hear, we cannot describe. We don’t need any material qualifications in order to attain the Supreme. All we have to do is hear from authoritative sources and repeat accurately what we hear.
Formerly, the  Vedas  were heard by the student from the spiritual master, and thus the  Vedas  became known as  śruti , meaning “that which is heard.”