How easy is it to chant the holy names?
Do we take it forgranted?
The importance of the recitation of the holy names emphasized by this most quoted verse:

harer nama harer nama
harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha
[Adi 17.21]
“In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other
way.”

But I am reminded over the past few weeks how hard this can be almost relying at times to listening rather than chanting, why?
I have had a succession of coughing fits to the point were breathing and speaking are difficult, OK a short term problem a symptom of the material body; at one stage however these got so bad that panic set in Why?
An example was during Arti the coughing fit got so bad that although I could sort of continue to play the words just could not be voiced, this was of some distress especially as if I had been with other devotees then I could still hear the wonderful names of Krishna. But worse still it was not self rectifying neither could I catch my breath but even the playing soon stopped; Panic?
With tears running down my face I resorted to the only option pray “Please Krishna, HELP! let me hear your name once more”. Trying to re-concentrate the mind on the words whilst trying to sound them out, my prays were answered as a small but weak voice could be heard, relief as my breath returned.
It served to remind me never to take the chanting of the holy names forgranted and how difficult it is when things especially health are compromised to remain focused and continue to chant, it was only by Krishna’s mercy was I able to focus, and the reminded always by senior devotees on the importance of chanting.