[Spoken by Srila Gurudeva on January 17th, 1998, Australia, published as part of the Bhakta Bandhav Anthology, Volume 23]
You should know the mantras given at the time of diksa are not simply mantras. It is Himself Krsna, Guru, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and all these things. Also, there is some difference between the diksa mantras and the maha-mantra, Krsnas name. Krsna-nama is Himself the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. There is no difference between Krsna and krsna-nama. It is only due to the quality of our chanting that we do not realize this. Actually krsna-nama is Krsna, there is no difference at all. You should believe that you are chanting the name, not chanting, but you are serving Krsna and Krsna is there. Have a very strong belief in this. Then you can advance in your devotion. I think so many people cannot realize this, that, “When I am chanting, Krsna is coming, Krsna is there.” Ajamila also could not believe that when he chanted the name of Narayana, that all the sins went, all his sins had burned. He never believed this. But when at the time of death the Yamadutas came and the four Visnudutas came and there was a dialougue between them, the Visnudutas said that, “All his sins have gone away. Now he is pure, now he is qualified to go to Vaikuntha.” Then he thought, “Oh, I have overcome death and I am so qualified that I may go to Vaikuntha?” He never realized this before.
So you also cannot realize this, but if we are chanting the holy name, all of your sins will go. If you will chant and remember your diksa mantras and this maha-mantra very respectfully, with so much respect, then all kinds of sin will go away and a relation with Krsna will come, automatically. So, when chanting your mantra, always sit very carefully, not in an idle way. Taking bath, in a very sattvic, nirjana place, solitary place, facing east, doing acamana, think that, “I am in Vrndavana. The Yamuna is flowing very gently. There are plants of beli, cameli, juhi, and so many fragrant flowers. Bees are humming and cuckoos are singing. Also peacocks are dancing there and Radha and Krsna are there. I am so beautifully there.” Like this, chant and remember your mantras, having a one-pointed mind. Then it will give fruit. Otherwise if you are looking here and there, “Hare Krsna Hare Krsna, oh come come sit here.” “Klim krsnaya, oh, is my husband okay?” Then the mantra will not give fruit. You should know that krsna-nama is Krsna Himself and Radhika both, klim krsnaya svaha. What is the meaning of svaha? “I am offering myself at the lotus feet of that.” This relation is inside of you, so this mantra will give that relation. Like a father or mother has a relation with their darling daughter. In the same way, a relation with Krsna will come. A vivid relation, not only that, “I am Krsna dasa.” What kind of Krsna dasa you are, the mantra will reveal this and you will realize yourself if you are doing all these things with honor.