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142 THE SCIENCE OF SELF-REALIZATION
: another matter. But if one actually wants to practice such meditation, it
takes an extremely long time to perfect. In the next age, Treta-yuga, the
process of realization was to perform the various ritualistic sacrifices
\ recommended in the Vedas. In the next age, Dvapara-yuga, the process
was temple worship. In this present age the same result can be achieved
by the process of hari-kirtana, glorification of Hari, Krsna, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead.

No other kirtana is recommended. This hari-kirtana was started five
hundred years ago in Bengal by Lord Caitanya. In Bengal there is com-
petition between the Vaisnavas and the saktas. The saktas have in-
troduced a certain type of kirtana called kdli-kirtana. But in the Vedic
scriptures there is no recommendation of kdli-kirtana. Kirtana means
hari-kirtana. One cannot say, ‘‘Oh, you are Vaisnava. You can perform
hari-kirtana. 1 shall perform Siva-kirtana or devi-kirtana or ganesa-
kirtana.’’ No. The Vedic scriptures do not authorize any kirtana other

. than hari-kirtana. Kirtana means hari-kirtana, the glorification of Krsna.

So this process of hari-kirtana is very simple: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna,
Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare
Hare. Actually there are only three words: Hare, Krsna, and Rama. But
they are very nicely arranged for chanting so that everyone can take the
mantra and chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare.
Since we have started this movement in the Western countries, Euro-
peans, Americans, Africans, Egyptians, and Japanese are all chanting.
There is no difficulty. They are chanting very gladly, and they are getting
the results. What is the difficulty? We are distributing this chanting free
of charge, and it is very simple. Simply by chanting, one can have self-
realization, God realization, and when there is God realization, then
nature realization is included also. For example, if one learns one, two,
three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, and zero, then he has studied
the entirety of mathematics because mathematics means simply chang-
ing the places of these ten figures. That’s all. Similarly, if one simply
studies Krsna, then all his knowledge is perfect. And Krsna is easily un-
derstood simply by chanting this mantra, Hare Krsna. So why not take
this opportunity?

Take this opportunity that is being offered to human society. It is very
ancient and scientific. It is not that it is a concoction that will last for only
three or four years. No. In the Bhagavad-gita Krsna Himself says, ‘‘This
philosophy is inexhaustible and indestructible. It is never lost or
destroyed.’’ It may be covered for the time being, but it is never
destroyed. Therefore it is called avyayam. Vyaya means ‘‘exhaustion.”’
