When we practice the path of Krishna consciousness as sādhakas, it is natural that we have impurities to various degrees. A sincere question may arise: How can impurity give rise to purity?

We hear that to the degree a person is pure, that purity can influence others. If purity is the force, and we ourselves are impure, then how can there be force in our chanting? How can our chanting lead to something divine? How can chanting completely purify our hearts?

Sometimes we see devotees play recordings of Śrīla Prabhupāda chanting while they softly move their beads, reasoning: “Because Prabhupāda is pure, if I hear his chanting while I chant, I will be purified more than by my own chanting.”

Is this actually true?

Chanting Is Not Dependent on Our Purity

First, chanting is not dependent on our purity.

The holy name is compared to a touchstone. A touchstone does not require the object it touches to be pure. It can transform iron into gold. Similarly, the holy name of Krishna is so powerful that it can transform an impure heart into a pure one.

If chanting required prior purity, none of us could begin.

The holy name does not depend on our purity. It is fully potent in itself.

We must have faith in the intrinsic power of Krishna’s name. The name is non-different from Krishna Himself. Its potency does not fluctuate according to our condition.

But our experience of that potency may vary.

Chanting is Dependent on Our Sincerity

The holy name is like the sun. Our anarthas like lust, anger, greed, pride etc. are like clouds.

The sun is always shining. But clouds may block our sight of the sun.

Suppose we are chanting while lusty or distracted thoughts pass through the mind. The name is still pure. But the effect may seem covered. However, if we cry out to Krishna in a helpless mood — acknowledging our impurities — that sincerity attracts His mercy. (SB 1.1.14) When we approach with humility, Krishna agrees to purify our heart. As the Bhāgavatam explains, the Lord seated in the heart cleanses impurities when one hears and chants about Him regularly. (SB 1.2.17)

There is a difference between:

Chanting while helplessly seeking shelter
Chanting while comfortably harboring anarthas

Both have potency. But helpless chanting has deeper impact. Purification will be slower when we chant while harboring our own anarthas.

Śrīla Prabhupāda, in his purport to SB 1.8.26, mentions, “Actually the Lord’s holy name has such powerful potency. But there is a quality to such utterances also. It depends on the quality of feeling. A helpless man can feelingly utter the holy name of the Lord, whereas a man who utters the same holy name in great material satisfaction cannot be so sincere.”

Yet Krishna is so kind that even chanting done casually, jokingly, indirectly, or even inattentively carries purifying power. The name is that merciful.

Still, why settle for less when we can call out with feeling?

We do not have to be pure to chant. But we do need to be sincere. If we make our qualitative effort, Krishna takes care of the purification.