The connection, means and end.

Sri Chaitanya Charitamrta is the principle Sastra for Gaudiya Vaishnavas as it outlines the theological, emotional, and practical strategies towards the development the primary goal of life for human beings. This goal has been identified generally as "happiness" and many philosophers have described their opinions on what true happiness is and what means should be employed to attain it.
Some consider pleasure to be the ultimate form of happiness, therefore, the satisfaction and stimulation of the senses are the means to that end.
Other slightly more intelligent philosophers suppose that the acquisition of wealth, possessions, and progeny constitutes true happiness and economic development is the method towards that ideal.
A more refined set of philosophers tell us that right and harmonious action constitutes true happiness and the means of attaining that are piety, charity, religious observance, truth and austerity.
The Yogi and Jnani assert that true happiness constitutes the extrication of consciousness from material drama, material substance, material identity to situate the self in the self through the self, abiding eternally in the state of Nirvikalpa samadhi.
Another set of thinkers called Rasikas, also known as "Conneseurs of love"  identify love as the true and ultimate form of happiness. The Rasikas, unlike the sense enjoyer,  see that love based on the body is temporary, and as a result will eventually bear suffering as its fruit. They instead base their ideal of love on the relationship between their true self and the totality of all selfhood they realise as Bhagavan, Sri Krsna.
Bhagavan Sri Krsna is declared in the Srimad Bhagavata Purana as the Self of All Selves, the highest eternal person of all eternal persons, and highest conscious entity of all conscious entities. He is the non-dual substance that pervades all things past, present and future,  yet he remains within himself and completely independent. Although a seemingly individual person, he is the totality of all personhood. He is the juxtaposition of complete opposites.
Although consciousness is essentially one, its nature is fractal. Which means every particle of consciousness contains within it the entire blueprint and nature of the totality of consciousness. These individual particles of consciousness are considered the minute energetic particles of consciousness endowed with an independent "I" ness and will.
However, due to their minuteness, they have the tendency to be bewildered by their own potencies and forget their own Self-nature.
Having forgotten this nature before the beginning of material time, they are considered to be eternally bewildered.
Only the total principal of Consciousness has the ability and power to understand itself and never become bewildered by its own nature and potency.
By taking shelter of that supreme Self, Sri Krsna, we regain our the perception of our true nature as pure consciousness, part and parcel of the supreme whole.
Entering into playful surrender and service to that supreme whole is the ultimate goal of life for that supreme whole is constituted entirely of the supreme form of happiness, identified by Sri Chaitanya  as Prema.
That Supreme Happiness has divided itself into two personalities we know now as Sri Radha and Sri Krsna. Sri Radha is the supreme manifestation and reservoir of Prema and Sri Krsna is the supreme object of that Prema, yet they are one and the same.
That Supreme Transcendental couple has become one again in the form of Sri Chaitanya, the Golden Avatar, to distribute that highest form of Happiness Via the process of Harinama Sankirtana and Nama Bhajana.

The Name and the form are one according to Rasika Vaishnava theology and metaphysics. Therefore, by calling out the name Hare, we make contact with Premamayi Mahabhava Svarupa Srimati Radharani, and by calling out the names Rama and Krsna we make contact directly with Para-tattva Svayambhagavan Sri Krsna.
By drinking these names, we are directly making contact with the supreme goal of life, Happiness, in its most intense and direct form.
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu revealed that the highest offering was the offering of Srimati Radharani, who is the embodiment of that highest joy, also know as Mahabhava, to Sri Krsna.
Therefore, when we chant, we think that we are offering Hare Devi to Krsna Deva and Krsna Deva to Hare Devi! They are eternally dancing together, never separate.
This will ignite the manifestation of intense bliss in the core of the heart, the divine abode of love. It will allow the infinitesimal energy of consciousness to experience the bliss and love of the totality of consciousness without becoming bewildered ever again, as this seva is her very nature.
Become a Rasika by drinking this nectar of Nama Kirtan in the company of other Rasikas.
Become a connoisseur of love.