Guru maharaj: There are nine practices of devotional service in bhakti yoga. First is hearing and second is chanting. So why are separating chanting from service? That is the first service we do. If we do that service, we purify the mind. Lord Caitanya said that by doing the chanting, ceto darpana maarjanam, our consciousness is cleansed by chanting. By chanting we can do the other services properly. But if we don’t chant and hear, then we will see all the services are mundane! So we have to chant everyday and only two hours a day. Then the other 22 hours we can engage in Krsna’s service. Haribol!
His Holiness Srila Jayapataka Swami Gurumaharaja