Preface - The hare krsna maha-mantra is eternal, and in this world, the Hare Krsna movement is thousands upon thousands of years old. In the Western world, though, it is relatively new. It was introduced to America in 1965 by Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja, Srila Prabhupada. “The Hare Krsnas”, as they have come to be known are often seen singing the maha-mantra – hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare,
 
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare – throughout the world’s town and villages. Some people find they brighten and lift the heavy atmosphere of materialism that envelopes modern civilization. Others view them with reserve, not understanding their public chanting and dancing and not feeling comfortable to question it. We hope this booklet clarifies the authenticity of their practice.
 
India’s ancient Vedic texts unequivocally present the chanting of hare krsna as the formula for freeing oneself from all suffering and becoming established in one’s eternal spiritual position. Absorption in chanting the maha-mantra is not indicative of sentimental religiosity or mindless fanaticism. Man means “mind” and tra means “to free”.
 
Therefore, a mantra is not merely sound; it has a specific potency and acts to liberate one from the devitalizing nature of material consciousness. The maha-mantra, meaning the most exalted of all mantras, does this to the superlative degree. If it is chanted seriously, one becomes free from all mundane self-conception and firmly situated in one’s unique, blissful spiritual nature.