Chanting Hare Krsna

About attitude and thinking while chanting the maha-mantra. Here are a few points from Srila
Prabhupada to consider...

"Regarding your first question, is it offensive to think of
Krishna's Pastimes while chanting, I think you should know that it is
not offensive, but rather it is required. One must try for the point
when he simply hears Krishna and immediately all of Krishna, His
Pastimes, His Form, His Quality, are in his thoughts. So to always be
immersed in thoughts of Krishna this is our process. When we are full
in Krishna then where there can be any chance for maya in us? So this
is our duty to remember Krishna's Pastimes. One who cannot remember
Krishna, let him always hear Hare Krishna and then when he has
perfected this art, then always he will remember Krishna, His
Activities, His Qualities, etc." (Letter to Sivananda das)


Nectar of Devotion:         Chapter Twelve     
"And so, under the guidance of a spiritual master, the disciple is
trained to render service and at the same time chant the Hare
Krsna mantra. As soon as one develops his spontaneous service
attitude, he can immediately understand the transcendental nature
of the holy names of the maha-mantra."

Prabhupada's Lectures  Srimad-Bhagavatam 1972            
"... your chanting, the name, the form, the quality, the pastimes,
everything will be revealed. As we go on cleansing our dirty
heart by chanting Hare Krsna mantra, and as we chant faultless,
offenseless
harer nama, Krsna reveals. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva
sphuraty adhah. By service attitude, if you chant Hare Krsna
mantra without any offense, then Krsna will reveal Himself. You
cannot try to see Krsna by your speculation or yogic practice. If
you simply submissively, surrendering yourself, chant His holy
name, there is no difference between Krsna's name and Krsna.
Abhinnatvad nama naminoh..."

Prabhupada's Lectures   Srimad-Bhagavatam 1971            
"So harer nama, not other name, only harer nama. Yatha harer
nama-padair udahrtaih. Simply once chanting. Uttamasloka-
gunopalambhakam. The purification of chanting harer nama means as
soon as you chant the holy name of Krsna immediately you will see
the form of Krsna, you will realize the qualities of Krsna, you
will immediately remember the pastimes of Krsna. That is pure
chanting of Hare Krsna mantra. That is commented by Srila
Jiva Gosvami, that a pure devotee who chants Hare Krsna mantra,
immediately all these--nama, rupa, guna, lila, parikara,
vasistha... Simply by chanting name you will feel the form of
Krsna: 'Here is Krsna.' Nama, rupa, guna. 'Here are the
qualities. Oh,
Krsna is so qualified. He is so kind. He is so magnanimous.' So
many qualities you will remember. Nama, rupa, guna, lila. Then
His pastimes. 'Oh, Krsna instructed Arjuna. Krsna played with His
cowherd boys. Krsna had very nice talks with the gopis, with His
mother Yasoda.' These things will be remembered. That is factual
perfection of chanting,.."

Prabhupada's Lectures   Srimad-Bhagavatam 1971            
"He still remains a pure devotee. So here it is said that yad
uttamasloka-gunopalambhaka. We have to... Just like there are
some sahajiyas. They think that 'Krsna's rasa-lila is very nice,
but Krsna's fighting with the demons and killing of the demons,
that is not very nice.' But they do not know the Absolute Truth,
that Krsna is as good in any circumstances, either He is enjoying
the company of the gopis or
He is killing the demon. That is the Absolute Truth. So these
things should be understood. So any kind of lila, yad
uttamasloka- gunanu, lila, any kind of Krsna's activities, if you
remember by chanting Hare
Krsna mantra, then you are liberated. Immediately you are
liberated, from the authoritative description of
Srimad-Bhagavatam.