Surrendering to Krishna: Surrendering to the Holy Name

Q. You said that the holy name is very personal. What does that really mean? Everybody is chanting the same Hari nam. Then how can it be personal?

The Holy Name is non-different from Krishna Himself. Padma Purana confirms "abhinnatvan nama-naminoh" (cf Cc Madhya 17.133).

And Krishna is a person. Nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam. (Katha Upanisad 2.2.13) In Sri Brahma Samhita, the invocation mantra states "isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah/ anadir adir govindah sarva-karana-karanam."

Put these two understandings together and what do you get?

Q. How can I surrender to the Holy Name?

The Holy Name is non-different from the Person, Krishna; realization of this fact is very important in order to improve our chanting. Thus, surrendering to Krishna is surrendering to the Holy Name, and visa versa. We can progressively surrender to the Holy Name by placing complete faith in the Holy Name as our only shelter and cultivating the habit of chanting diligently, attentively and in a mood of dependence upon the Lord. Mahaprabhu teaches that one should cultivate humility like that of a blade of grass, become more tolerant than a tree, always offer all respects to others, without expecting any honor in return. (Cf. Sikshashtaka 3)