57 --Offenses Against the Chanting of the Holy Names
1.How grave is namaparadha?
As the holy name of the Lord is the highest object, so namaparadha is more serious than all other kinds of sinful activities or offenses. All sinful activities and offenses are destroyed when one takes shelter of the holy names, but namaparadha does not go away so easily. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 24)
2. Can namaparadha be compared to any sinful activity?
If the five kinds of sinful activities are multiplied ten million times, still they cannot compare to namaparadha. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 25)
3. Can one gain anything by making a show of chanting the holy names without giving up the offenses?
Without realizing the difference between ndma and namabhasa, many people think that the holy names consist of only alphabets and therefore assume that by chanting without faith, they can attain perfection. To substantiate their claim, they present the history of Ajamila and various scriptural injunctions. It has been described before that the holy name is fully transcendental. Therefore it cannot be understood by the blunt material senses. Thus unless one takes shelter of chanting the holy names offenselessly, there is no possibility of achieving any fruit from one's chanting. The result a faithless person attains when he utters the holy names without faith is that later he will be able to chant faithfully. Therefore those who misinterpret the holy name's glories and advertise the holy names as a limb of fruitive activity, considering the holy name a mundane sound vibration, are extremely materialistic and are offenders at the feet of the holy name. (Harinama-cintamani) 7. What are the ten kinds of namaparadha?
The ten kinds of ndmdparddha are as follows: 1. To blaspheme the devotees who have taken shelter of the holy names. It is also an offense to neglect them by thinking that they know only the science of the holy names and know nothing about jhdna-yoga, etc.
2. To consider the demigods independent of Krsna. Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the Lord of lords. All the demigods and demigoddesses are His servants and maidservants. Simply by worshiping Krsna, the demigods are automatically worshiped. Without such faith, if one considers Krsna as one God and Siva as another and thus imagines many independent gods, that is an offense.
3. To disobey the spiritual master. If one thinks that the spiritual master is expert only in the science of the holy names but knows nothing about other types of sadhana, that is an offense. Actually, for one who has attained knowledge of the science of the holy names, which is the ultimate goal of all pious activities, there is nothing left for him to be attained or known.
4. To blaspheme the Vedic literature. The Vedic literature has glorified the holy names in various ways. It is an offense to maintain a hostile attitude or lack of faith toward the Vedic statements glorifying the holy name.
5. To give some interpretation on the holy names. It is an offense to think that holy names like Rama, Krsna, and Hari are imaginary, and as such the Lord has no names, forms, qualities, or activities.
6. To commit sinful activities on the strength of chanting the holy names. It is a grave offense to think that by chanting, all one's sinful reactions will be destroyed or that chanting will gradually purify one's heart so that one will no longer have a taste for sinful activities, while planning in the meantime to continue committing those sinful activities. Such a mentality is an offense.
7.To consider chanting the holy names equal to pious activity. It is an offense to not take shelter of the holy name by thinking that chanting is a pious activity, similar to following religious principles, observing vows, or undergoing austerities. Such a mentality leads one to think that by taking shelter of any pious activity, one's heart can be purified. Thus one minimizes the holy name.
8. To remain inattentive while chanting the holy names is an offense. It is an offense to not pay attention while chanting—to become indifferent or lazy toward chanting. To become indifferent means to think of various forms of material enjoyment while chanting, to not have a taste for chanting, and to repeatedly look for the head bead to see when one will have completed his round. It is also an offense to chant the holy name under the influence of the cheating propensity or for name and fame.
9. To instruct a faithless person about the glories of the holy names. One should first preach the glories of the holy names to foolish, faithless persons. Then, when they develop sufficient faith in the holy names, he should be awarded the holy name through intitiation. It is a grave offense to initiate an unqualified person in order to collect money.
10. To maintain the mentality of "I and mine." It is an offense to engage in chanting the holy names while maintaining excessive attachments for material enjoyment even after understanding the holy name's glories. If one gives up these ten forms of namaparadha and engages in hearing and chanting Krsna's holy names, he will certainly achieve love of God, which is the goal of the chanting. (Sajjana Tosani 11/7) 20. What is the main impediment blocking one from developing attachment for chanting?
If one gives up all the offenses in chanting, but remains inattentive, he can never develop attachment for chanting. {Sajjana Tosani 11/1)
21. What are the various definitions of inattention while chanting?
O Lord! All anarthas are produced when we do not pay attention to our chanting. The exalted devotees have defined inattention as indifference, laziness, and restlessness. {Harinama-cintamani)
22. What is the symptom of a restless chanter?
Those who are afflicted with restlessness try to finish their prescribed rounds as soon as possible. One should be extremely careful not to commit such an offense while chanting. (Harindma-cintdmani)
23. Why is inattention in chanting the source of all offenses?
O reservoir of all transcendental qualities! If one chants the holy names of the Lord but his attention is elsewhere, how can he benefit? If even such a person chants one hundred thousand holy names of the Lord, still a drop of the mellow of ecstatic love will not be attained. O Lord! This is the definition of inattention while chanting the holy names. This offense is deeply rooted in the hearts of materialists. (Harinama-cintdmani)
24. How can laziness be destroyed?
The characteristic of a saintly person is that he does not waste time. By seeing such character in another, one will certainly hanker after it. One will think, "Alas! When will I become fortunate enough to chant, sing, and remember the holy names of the Lord like this saintly person?" Such enthusiasm in a lazy person's mind will destroy his laziness because he will remember Krsna. (Harindma-cintdmani)
25. Why does one become indifferent to chanting the holy names?
If the desire to accumulate wealth, enjoy the association of women, name and fame, to cheat others, and to seek victory over defeat fills one's heart, that will naturally make one indifferent to chanting the Lord's holy names. (Harindma-cintdmani) 28. Why does an initiated devotee fall from the path of devotional service?
Even after being initiated, the majority of materialists fall down from devotional service because of their mentality of "I" and "mine." (Harindma-cintdmani)
29. How can we remove the mentality of "I" and "mine"?
We should seek devotees who have renounced material enjoyment and possessiveness and who worship the lotus feet of Krsna by chanting His holy names. We should then associate with them. By serving such devotees, we will gradually give up the waves of material enjoyment and develop faith in the holy name. In this way, our "I" and "mine" mentality will be destroyed and we will cross the ocean of material existence. (Harinama-cintamani)
30. What is the goal of the offenders at the feet of the holy name?
The holy name will certainly award whatever fruits an offender of the holy name desires from his chanting. However, the holy name will never award him love of God. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 25)
31. How can we counteract namaparadha?
If we commit offenses in Deity worship, the holy name can counteract them. Offenses to the holy name are only counteracted by chanting the holy names themselves. Constant chanting of the holy names awards all perfection. (Bhajana-rahasya Chapter 2)
Sudipta Roy > Deepak PantAugust 16, 2013 at 7:11pm
Hare Krishna Prabhuji, Dandavat Pranam. All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Morning Walk June 13, 1976, Detroit
Devotee (2): If somebody is following the instructions, but if there's attraction for māyā...
Prabhupāda: That cannot be. Maybe in the beginning due to past habits, but that must be nil very soon. Otherwise he's not following. Just like fan switched off may move for a little, but not that it will go on moving. Must stop. Switch is off. And if it is going on, then the switch is not yet off. [break]
"If someone gives up his occupational duties and works in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and then falls down on account of not completing his work, what loss is there on his part? And what can one gain if one performs his material activities perfectly?" Or, as the Christians say, "What profiteth a man if he gain the whole world yet suffers the loss of his eternal soul?"
BG 9.30 :
Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated in his determination.
So the whole point is we are conditioned for many lifetimes but due to mercy of a devotee we somehow got the chance in this life to perform devotional service. So though we have started chanting if somehow we fall down and not able to follow 4 regulative principle we should not be demotivated and we should carry on with our chanting because the Hare Krishna mantra is so potent that eventually we will be free from all sinful activity. We should have patience and should have faith in the holy name of Krishna. It will take some time as when a child first try to start to stand on his feet he many times fall down but due to care of his parents and his own endeavor he gradually start walking on his feet and never fall down.
YES you can chant but it will be offensive due to seventh offense, inattention and may be disobedience of Guru. My Experience: I am suffering from masturbation which is illicit sex and it has made my mind very agitating.
One may have other duties to perform under the direction of the spiritual master, but he must first abide by the spiritual master's order to chant a certain number of rounds. In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, we have recommended that the neophyte chant at least sixteen rounds. This chanting of sixteen rounds is absolutely necessary if one wants to remember Kṛṣṇa and not forget Him. Of all the regulative principles, the spiritual master's order to chant at least sixteen rounds is most essential.
“"Kṛṣṇa is the origin of Lord Viṣṇu. He should always be remembered and never forgotten at any time. All the rules and prohibitions mentioned in the śāstras should be the servants of these two principles."
Can someone outside, who does not follow these practices (give up certain habits such as one should not smoke and things), can he achieve perfection?
Expressions researched: "Can someone outside, who does not follow these practices, can he achieve perfection" |"give up certain habits such as one should not smoke and things"
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): You have given the example that one has to give up certain habits such as one should not smoke and things, but is it true that that is not the ultimate goal of transcendence?
Prabhupāda: No, that is a process.
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): Can someone outside, who does not follow these practices, can he achieve perfection?
Prabhupāda: Maybe, but that is exceptional.
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): He said that Buddha achieved perfection outside of joining any particular religion, and that after reading so many things and hearing all different philosophies that it was actually the practice.
Prabhupāda: He changed himself religion.
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): He says that... It's some story that when Buddha was about to leave his body, he said that... Anyway, the conclusion of the story is that he also considered himself imperfect.
Prabhupāda: Yes, that is the greatness of Buddha. Because his followers were imperfect, he could not say more than what they could understand. Therefore he said that "I am imperfect." His mission was to stop animal killing. But people are very much accustomed to animal killing, so he did not say higher things that they could not understand. For them, if they could stop animal killing, that was perfection. For primary student, if he understands the mathematics, two plus two equal to four, that is his perfection. That does not mean there is no higher mathematics. Give them prasāda. Wait, wait. Bring it. Wait, wait little minute. (break) ...otherwise one cannot understand spiritual matter.
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): He says, "That's another one of my problems."
Prabhupāda: It is not problem; it is practice. If you come here daily, within a week you will learn.
Professor: Every night?
Prabhupāda: Yes. We can give you hundreds of preparations, vegetarian.
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): They asked if we're eating anything, so I said we eat before and after all of them.
Prabhupāda: We shall eat also. (break) So I request you to come every Sunday and take feast with us. (break)
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): He wants to know, for example, if I eat meat today, if I lose my chance for enlightenment.
Prabhupāda: No, you do not lose. You hear from the enlightened. Then you will be enlightened, and you will automatically give up meat-eating. Therefore our business is to hear from the enlightened. That is the first business. Other things not immediately needed. Even if you cannot give up meat-eating, still, you hear from the enlightened.
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): He asked me how much time I've been in the movement.
Prabhupāda: How much time?
Hṛdayānanda: He asked me how much time...
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes.
Hṛdayānanda: He wanted to know if we make the yogurt ourselves. He said we must be specialists. He said we should put it in bottles and make "Hare Kṛṣṇa yogurt."
Prabhupāda: That is also good. (laughter) Because they will chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, and that will have effect. Hare Kṛṣṇa is transcendental vibration, so anyone who will vibrate the sound, he will get the benefit.
Hṛdayānanda: He wants to know who give us our mantra, if the spiritual master gives us our mantra.
Prabhupāda: Yes, spiritual master.
Professor: Hay una ceremonia?
Prabhupāda: No, you can chant without ceremony. There is no loss. You can chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and see the effect.
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): He said he has seen us in New York and London, and one thing he has noticed that wherever he sees us, our faces are very satisfied, content.
Prabhupāda: You are intelligent. (laughter)
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): That even though it's outside, it shows that there's something special inside.
Prabhupāda: No, this enquiry was made by one priest. I was going from Los Angeles to Hawaii. The priest was in his ordinary dress. He came. He said, "Swamiji, can I talk with you?" "Yes." He first of all he said, "How your disciples look so nice and full of spiritual consciousness?" That was his first question. No, everything has got process. If we adopt the process, the result is there.
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): How do we finance our movement?
Prabhupāda: By Kṛṣṇa's grace. It is no sends us money.(?) We are spending about ten hundred thousand dollar per month. Kṛṣṇa is providing.
Professor: Ten thousand...
Prabhupāda: Ten hundred thousand. Million dollar. We are getting especially by selling these books. Our book selling is increasing. We are selling fifty thousand copies at the present moment of all these books.
Hṛdayānanda: Every month.
Prabhupāda: Every month. In America all the universities, professors, learned scholar, they are giving us standing order, "As soon as published, please send this."
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): Where in the world do we find that people most understand us and join us?
Prabhupāda: America, North America. Now we have come to South America.
Professor: (Spanish) I saw the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement on British television, and they had an interview with the head of the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement there, and they sang and they danced and many other things there. So people are very receptive to the message of...
Prabhupāda: All over the world. In Africa also.
Professor: But here in Venezuela, I find that Venezuelans, or at least the government, has been a little bit too intolerant with your people here.
Prabhupāda: Government is not tolerant?
Hṛdayānanda: Has been a little bit too intolerant. In the past they were a little bit pushy. But now they have stopped.
Prabhupāda: No, if anyone reads our books, then he will accept it. Therefore we are trying to publish all our books in different languages.
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): How is our movement doing in India?
Prabhupāda: India, it is already there. Every person is Kṛṣṇa conscious in India.
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): He's asking, "Everyone in India?"
Prabhupāda: Yes, everyone, by nature they are Kṛṣṇa conscious, but the modern leaders, they are trying to divert their attention. The leaders are trying to make them Kṛṣṇa unconscious. (laughter) Because they are of opinion that "Being Kṛṣṇa conscious, India is so backward. So we have to become American conscious or European conscious." That is their...
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): It was a great pleasure that you invited us to your...
Prabhupāda: Thank you very much. So you are welcome whenever you have got time. Hare Kṛṣṇa. Jaya. (end)
You are married, no?... No family man? No. So best thing would have been to live with us and work. Give contribution as much as possible for running on this missionary work. But the thing is, we have no place to...
Ian Polsen: Thank you, Your Grace. Before I go, Your Grace, I am employed in government service. Is it your wish that I resign?
Prabhupāda: No, no. We don't say like that. The thing is that you serve Kṛṣṇa. Our predecessor ācāryas, they are also government servants, but they resigned when they decided to preach this cult. If you have desire to preach this cult, then that is different. Otherwise, as a gentleman you can remain in your position, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, and follow the rules and regulations.
Ian Polsen: Your Grace, how many times do you recommend that I chant on my beads? How many rounds?
Prabhupāda: We recommend minimum sixteen rounds.
Ian Polsen: Minimum sixteen rounds, every day.
Prabhupāda: Otherwise, you can chant twenty-four hours. Minimum sixteen rounds.
Ian Polsen: Is it true that if I follow the regulative principles, the four, that I will be able to chant without offense?
Prabhupāda: Yes. But ah... You are married, no?
Ian Polsen: No.
Prabhupāda: No family man? No. So best thing would have been to live with us and work. Give contribution as much as possible for running on this missionary work. But the thing is, we have no place to...
Devotee: We don't have a very nice place.
Prabhupāda: Otherwise I would have asked you to live with us and work.
Devotee: We're trying to get another place with bigger facilities. Now they're sleeping in the hallways practically.
Prabhupāda: You have got your own apartment?
Ian Polsen: I've just transferred down from Edinburgh on Friday for the first time. So I have not found a place yet. I'm staying in a hotel for the time being.
Prabhupāda: Oh.
Devotee (2) (Kulaśekhara?): Śrīla Prabhupāda, he used to be a shepherd in France.
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Devotee (2) (Kulaśekhara?): He used to be a shepherd three years ago. He used to be a shepherd for some years. And, ah, he was with a Muslim man who was telling him about sac-cid-ānanda, explaining to him about the philosophy of sac-cid-ānanda, about the soul and the spirit. So in Spain—that's where I first met him—he said, "I may appear to you to be a businessman, but also I've been known as a shepherd."
Prabhupāda: So you can read our Teachings of Lord Caitanya. You have got?
Ian Polsen: Yes, I have got Caitanya's teachings. I have...
Prabhupāda: Nectar of Devotion, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Bhagavad-gītā As It Is.
Ian Polsen: I have Bhagavad-gītā.
Prabhupāda: In this way, study seriously these books.
Ian Polsen: May I speak, Your Grace?
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Ian Polsen: There is a magazine called Studies in Comparative Religion which is published in this country, which I feel...
Prabhupāda: That will not help you.
Ian Polsen: No, but the reason why I mention it is that I think it is a magazine that Your Grace might contribute to, to propagate Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Because it's based on three principles: principles of traditional religion, the principles of spiritual guidance from a spiritual master, and the invocation of the name of God. There is great similarity there, and I think that the few people who read that magazine could be reached through the magazine.
Prabhupāda: What is the name?
Ian Polsen: It is called Studies in Comparative Religion. And I can leave the... I have no interest in this magazine except that I subscribe to it.
Prabhupāda: Hm. Comparative religion, from our point of view, that there cannot be many religions, cannot be many religions. Religion means... We define religion as the law given by God. So we understand from Bhagavad-gītā that God says, Kṛṣṇa says, man-manā bhava mad-bhaktaḥ, mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru: "Always think of Me, become My devotee, offer your obeisances unto Me." So any religion that has no conception of God, how he can think of God? If I think of something, that something must be known to me; otherwise how can I think of it? If I imagine something, that is not wanted. My imagination of God... God is not a thing to be imagined by me. He is a concrete thing. Therefore according to our philosophy, any so-called religion which has no conception of God, that is not religion. That is simply mental speculation. We accept that religion means the law given by God. But if you do not know what is God, what is His law, then where is religion? Therefore in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is said that all types of pseudo religion is rejected. You can ask any religious man, "What is your conception of God?" he cannot give any clear conception. So far we are concerned, we can immediately give conception of God—His name, His address, everything. That is the difference. Strictly speaking, we do not accept any system of religion as bona fide. They are all rejected. That is not religion. They do not know what is God. What is that religion? Strictly speaking, that is not religion. But if we speak publicly, they will be angry. So this comparative study of religion, we don't believe in it, because there is no religion. Where is the scope of comparative study?
He (a devotee who works for Krsna yet doesn't follow the four regulatives principles) will fall down?
Devotee (1): Śrīla Prabhupāda, in the Bhagavad-gītā it says that if a man simply works for Kṛṣṇa, he can come to the perfect stage. Is that perfect stage... When he fixes his mind on Kṛṣṇa... But is that achieved via the regulative principles?
Prabhupāda: Hmm?
Devotee (1): If a man simply works for Kṛṣṇa for his whole life, yet he doesn't follow the regulative principles...
Prabhupāda: Then how he follows Kṛṣṇa?
Devotee (1): That's not possible.
Prabhupāda: If you are following Kṛṣṇa, then how you can violate the regulative principles?
Devotee (1): Just like they follow a few regulative principles, like the basic four: no illicit sex, no meat-eating, no gambling, and no intoxication. If they follow those four regulative principles and just work for Kṛṣṇa...
Prabhupāda: He doesn't follow the four principles?
Devotee (1): Oh, yes. Yes. There's this one devotee in Sydney who works very hard for Kṛṣṇa, but...
Prabhupāda: But does not follow.
Devotee (1): He does not like āratis or things like that. He just likes to work hard all the time.
Śrutakīrti: He follows the principles, but he doesn't go to ārati, maybe he doesn't chant his rounds, but he's working...
Devotee (1): Real hard for Kṛṣṇa.
Prabhupāda: Like Gargamuni. (laughter)
Śrutakīrti: Yes, like that. And his plea is that Kṛṣṇa says...
Prabhupāda: Then he will fall down.
Devotee (1): He will fall down?
Śrutakīrti: But the plea is that Kṛṣṇa says in the Gītā, "By working for Me one can come to the perfectional stage."
Prabhupāda: Yes, but he will fall down.
Śrutakīrti: That means "By working for Me eventually one will come to the point of follow the principles and..."
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Śrutakīrti: Not "Simply by working for Me you can do it."
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Śrutakīrti: You will advance to the other stages.
Prabhupāda: Just like if a man is working hard, but he will never become rich, then what is the use? Working hard means one must become rich. But if he does not become rich, simply working hard, then what is the use? Śrama eva hi kevalam (SB 1.2.8). Utsāhād dhairyāt niścayāt tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt. You must follow the regulative principles. Sato vṛtteḥ. This is your honesty, and sādhu-saṅga (CC Madhya 22.83), this can be done-association with devotees. Ṣaḍbhir bhaktiḥ prasidhyati: "This is the way of increasing devotional service." (end)
Giving up the regulative principles and living according to one's whims is compared to a mad elephant, which by force uproots the bhakti-latā and breaks it to pieces. In this way the bhakti-latā shrivels up.
“If the devotee commits an offense at the feet of a Vaiṣṇava while cultivating the creeper of devotional service in the material world, his offense is compared to a mad elephant that uproots the creeper and breaks it. In this way the leaves of the creeper are dried up.
One's devotional attitude increases in the association of a Vaiṣṇava:
tāṅdera caraṇa sevi bhakta-sane vāsa
janame janame haya, ei abhilāṣa
By his personal example, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura stresses that a devotee must always remember to please his predecessor ācārya. The Gosvāmīs are represented by one's spiritual master. One cannot be an ācārya (spiritual master) without following strictly in the disciplic succession of the ācāryas. One who is actually serious about advancing in devotional service should desire only to satisfy the previous ācāryas. Ei chaya gosāñi yāra, mui tāra dāsa. One should always think of oneself as a servant of the servant of the ācāryas, and thinking this, one should live in the society of Vaiṣṇavas (CC Madhya 13.80). However, if one thinks that he has become very mature and can live separate from the association of Vaiṣṇavas and thus gives up all the regulative principles due to offending a Vaiṣṇava, one's position becomes very dangerous. Offenses against the holy name are explained in Ādi-līlā, Chapter Eight, verse 24. Giving up the regulative principles and living according to one's whims is compared to a mad elephant, which by force uproots the bhakti-latā and breaks it to pieces. In this way the bhakti-latā shrivels up. Such an offense is especially created when one disobeys the instructions of the spiritual master. This is called guru-avajñā. The devotee must therefore be very careful not to commit offenses against the spiritual master by disobeying his instructions. As soon as one is deviated from the instructions of the spiritual master, the uprooting of the bhakti-latā begins, and gradually all the leaves dry up.
Thank you.....so the crux .......of the entire conversation and philosophy is ..........even if one commits 4 sinful things..........He can chant ..........Its atleast better than Not-to chant ...........I just need a simple answer ....Yes or No....so it is Yes.........now i am free of confusion......I have all bad habits.....and I am greatly implicated in material life ........I don't want to know any philosophy.....and word jugglery.......because....the heavy philosophy ...gives guilt and low self-esteem ..that we are doin wrong........after all this is kaliyuga.......and to survive ..one cannot be very squeamish here.....but I only know hare krishna mantra........and I enjoy chanting the mantra......but I was afraid that ...God will get angry if I cannot leave the sinful habits....so I raised the question.but now I have got the answer............one can CHANT...in any circumstances,anywhere,anytime.........so ...Thanks !!
Replies
As the holy name of the Lord is the highest object, so namaparadha is more serious than all other kinds of sinful activities or offenses. All sinful activities and offenses are destroyed when one takes shelter of the holy names, but namaparadha does not go away so easily. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 24)
2. Can namaparadha be compared to any sinful activity?
If the five kinds of sinful activities are multiplied ten million times, still they cannot compare to namaparadha. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 25)
3. Can one gain anything by making a show of chanting the holy names without giving up the offenses?
Without realizing the difference between ndma and namabhasa, many people think that the holy names consist of only alphabets and therefore assume that by chanting without faith, they can attain perfection. To substantiate their claim, they present the history of Ajamila and various scriptural injunctions. It has been described before that the holy name is fully transcendental. Therefore it cannot be understood by the blunt material senses. Thus unless one takes shelter of chanting the holy names offenselessly, there is no possibility of achieving any fruit from one's chanting. The result a faithless person attains when he utters the holy names without faith is that later he will be able to chant faithfully. Therefore those who misinterpret the holy name's glories and advertise the holy names as a limb of fruitive activity, considering the holy name a mundane sound vibration, are extremely materialistic and are offenders at the feet of the holy name. (Harinama-cintamani)
7. What are the ten kinds of namaparadha?
The ten kinds of ndmdparddha are as follows:
1. To blaspheme the devotees who have taken shelter of the holy names. It is also an offense to neglect them by thinking that they know only the science of the holy names and know nothing about jhdna-yoga, etc.
2. To consider the demigods independent of Krsna. Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the Lord of lords. All the demigods and demigoddesses are His servants and maidservants. Simply by worshiping Krsna, the demigods are automatically worshiped. Without such faith, if one considers Krsna as one God and Siva as another and thus imagines many independent gods, that is an offense.
3. To disobey the spiritual master. If one thinks that the spiritual master is expert only in the science of the holy names but knows nothing about other types of sadhana, that is an offense. Actually, for one who has attained knowledge of the science of the holy names, which is the ultimate goal of all pious activities, there is nothing left for him to be attained or known.
4. To blaspheme the Vedic literature. The Vedic literature has glorified the holy names in various ways. It is an offense to maintain a hostile attitude or lack of faith toward the Vedic statements glorifying the holy name.
5. To give some interpretation on the holy names. It is an offense to think that holy names like Rama, Krsna, and Hari are imaginary, and as such the Lord has no names, forms, qualities, or activities.
6. To commit sinful activities on the strength of chanting the holy names. It is a grave offense to think that by chanting, all one's sinful reactions will be destroyed or that chanting will gradually purify one's heart so that one will no longer have a taste for sinful activities, while planning in the meantime to continue committing those sinful activities. Such a mentality is an offense.
7.To consider chanting the holy names equal to pious activity. It is an offense to not take shelter of the holy name by thinking that chanting is a pious activity, similar to following religious principles, observing vows, or undergoing austerities. Such a mentality leads one to think that by taking shelter of any pious activity, one's heart can be purified. Thus one minimizes the holy name.
8. To remain inattentive while chanting the holy names is an offense. It is an offense to not pay attention while chanting—to become indifferent or lazy toward chanting. To become indifferent means to think of various forms of material enjoyment while chanting, to not have a taste for chanting, and to repeatedly look for the head bead to see when one will have completed his round. It is also an offense to chant the holy name under the influence of the cheating propensity or for name and fame.
9. To instruct a faithless person about the glories of the holy names. One should first preach the glories of the holy names to foolish, faithless persons. Then, when they develop sufficient faith in the holy names, he should be awarded the holy name through intitiation. It is a grave offense to initiate an unqualified person in order to collect money.
10. To maintain the mentality of "I and mine." It is an offense to engage in chanting the holy names while maintaining excessive attachments for material enjoyment even after understanding the holy name's glories. If one gives up these ten forms of namaparadha and engages in hearing and chanting Krsna's holy names, he will certainly achieve love of God, which is the goal of the chanting. (Sajjana Tosani 11/7)
20. What is the main impediment blocking one from developing attachment for chanting?
If one gives up all the offenses in chanting, but remains inattentive, he can never develop attachment for chanting. {Sajjana Tosani 11/1)
21. What are the various definitions of inattention while chanting?
O Lord! All anarthas are produced when we do not pay attention to our chanting. The exalted devotees have defined inattention as indifference, laziness, and restlessness. {Harinama-cintamani)
22. What is the symptom of a restless chanter?
Those who are afflicted with restlessness try to finish their prescribed rounds as soon as possible. One should be extremely careful not to commit such an offense while chanting. (Harindma-cintdmani)
23. Why is inattention in chanting the source of all offenses?
O reservoir of all transcendental qualities! If one chants the holy names of the Lord but his attention is elsewhere, how can he benefit? If even such a person chants one hundred thousand holy names of the Lord, still a drop of the mellow of ecstatic love will not be attained. O Lord! This is the definition of inattention while chanting the holy names. This offense is deeply rooted in the hearts of materialists. (Harinama-cintdmani)
24. How can laziness be destroyed?
The characteristic of a saintly person is that he does not waste time. By seeing such character in another, one will certainly hanker after it. One will think, "Alas! When will I become fortunate enough to chant, sing, and remember the holy names of the Lord like this saintly person?" Such enthusiasm in a lazy person's mind will destroy his laziness because he will remember Krsna.
(Harindma-cintdmani)
25. Why does one become indifferent to chanting the holy names?
If the desire to accumulate wealth, enjoy the association of women, name and fame, to cheat others, and to seek victory over defeat fills one's heart, that will naturally make one indifferent to chanting the Lord's holy names. (Harindma-cintdmani)
28. Why does an initiated devotee fall from the path of devotional service?
Even after being initiated, the majority of materialists fall down from devotional service because of their mentality of "I" and "mine." (Harindma-cintdmani)
29. How can we remove the mentality of "I" and "mine"?
We should seek devotees who have renounced material enjoyment and possessiveness and who worship the lotus feet of Krsna by chanting His holy names. We should then associate with them. By serving such devotees, we will gradually give up the waves of material enjoyment and develop faith in the holy name. In this way, our "I" and "mine" mentality will be destroyed and we will cross the ocean of material existence. (Harinama-cintamani)
30. What is the goal of the offenders at the feet of the holy name?
The holy name will certainly award whatever fruits an offender of the holy name desires from his chanting. However, the holy name will never award him love of God. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 25)
31. How can we counteract namaparadha?
If we commit offenses in Deity worship, the holy name can counteract them. Offenses to the holy name are only counteracted by chanting the holy names themselves. Constant chanting of the holy names awards all perfection. (Bhajana-rahasya Chapter 2)
so is it Yes or No..............No long philosophy please .............only a yes or No
Hare Krishna Prabhuji, Dandavat Pranam. All glories to Srila Prabhupada
June 13, 1976, Detroit
tyaktvā sva-dharmaḿ caraṇāmbujaḿ harer
bhajann apakvo 'tha patet tato yadi
yatra kva vābhadram abhūd amuṣya kiḿ
ko vārtha āpto 'bhajatāḿ sva-dharmataḥ
"If someone gives up his occupational duties and works in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and then falls down on account of not completing his work, what loss is there on his part? And what can one gain if one performs his material activities perfectly?" Or, as the Christians say, "What profiteth a man if he gain the whole world yet suffers the loss of his eternal soul?"
BG 9.30 :
Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated in his determination.
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So the whole point is we are conditioned for many lifetimes but due to mercy of a devotee we somehow got the chance in this life to perform devotional service. So though we have started chanting if somehow we fall down and not able to follow 4 regulative principle we should not be demotivated and we should carry on with our chanting because the Hare Krishna mantra is so potent that eventually we will be free from all sinful activity. We should have patience and should have faith in the holy name of Krishna. It will take some time as when a child first try to start to stand on his feet he many times fall down but due to care of his parents and his own endeavor he gradually start walking on his feet and never fall down.
Hope this will help.
Your servant,
Hari Bol
JAYA SRILA A.C. BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI PRABHUPADA
HARI BOL!
YES you can chant but it will be offensive due to seventh offense, inattention and may be disobedience of Guru. My Experience: I am suffering from masturbation which is illicit sex and it has made my mind very agitating.
CC Madhya 22.113, Translation and Purport:
“"Kṛṣṇa is the origin of Lord Viṣṇu. He should always be remembered and never forgotten at any time. All the rules and prohibitions mentioned in the śāstras should be the servants of these two principles."
Can someone outside, who does not follow these practices (give up certain habits such as one should not smoke and things), can he achieve perfection?
Expressions researched:
"Can someone outside, who does not follow these practices, can he achieve perfection" |"give up certain habits such as one should not smoke and things"
Contents
[hide]Conversations and Morning Walks
1975 Conversations and Morning Walks
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): You have given the example that one has to give up certain habits such as one should not smoke and things, but is it true that that is not the ultimate goal of transcendence?
Prabhupāda: No, that is a process.
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): Can someone outside, who does not follow these practices, can he achieve perfection?
Prabhupāda: Maybe, but that is exceptional.
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): He said that Buddha achieved perfection outside of joining any particular religion, and that after reading so many things and hearing all different philosophies that it was actually the practice.
Prabhupāda: He changed himself religion.
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): He says that... It's some story that when Buddha was about to leave his body, he said that... Anyway, the conclusion of the story is that he also considered himself imperfect.
Prabhupāda: Yes, that is the greatness of Buddha. Because his followers were imperfect, he could not say more than what they could understand. Therefore he said that "I am imperfect." His mission was to stop animal killing. But people are very much accustomed to animal killing, so he did not say higher things that they could not understand. For them, if they could stop animal killing, that was perfection. For primary student, if he understands the mathematics, two plus two equal to four, that is his perfection. That does not mean there is no higher mathematics. Give them prasāda. Wait, wait. Bring it. Wait, wait little minute. (break) ...otherwise one cannot understand spiritual matter.
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): He says, "That's another one of my problems."
Prabhupāda: It is not problem; it is practice. If you come here daily, within a week you will learn.
Professor: Every night?
Prabhupāda: Yes. We can give you hundreds of preparations, vegetarian.
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): They asked if we're eating anything, so I said we eat before and after all of them.
Prabhupāda: We shall eat also. (break) So I request you to come every Sunday and take feast with us. (break)
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): He wants to know, for example, if I eat meat today, if I lose my chance for enlightenment.
Prabhupāda: No, you do not lose. You hear from the enlightened. Then you will be enlightened, and you will automatically give up meat-eating. Therefore our business is to hear from the enlightened. That is the first business. Other things not immediately needed. Even if you cannot give up meat-eating, still, you hear from the enlightened.
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): He asked me how much time I've been in the movement.
Prabhupāda: How much time?
Hṛdayānanda: He asked me how much time...
Prabhupāda: Oh, yes.
Hṛdayānanda: He wanted to know if we make the yogurt ourselves. He said we must be specialists. He said we should put it in bottles and make "Hare Kṛṣṇa yogurt."
Prabhupāda: That is also good. (laughter) Because they will chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, and that will have effect. Hare Kṛṣṇa is transcendental vibration, so anyone who will vibrate the sound, he will get the benefit.
Hṛdayānanda: He wants to know who give us our mantra, if the spiritual master gives us our mantra.
Prabhupāda: Yes, spiritual master.
Professor: Hay una ceremonia?
Prabhupāda: No, you can chant without ceremony. There is no loss. You can chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and see the effect.
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): He said he has seen us in New York and London, and one thing he has noticed that wherever he sees us, our faces are very satisfied, content.
Prabhupāda: You are intelligent. (laughter)
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): That even though it's outside, it shows that there's something special inside.
Prabhupāda: No, this enquiry was made by one priest. I was going from Los Angeles to Hawaii. The priest was in his ordinary dress. He came. He said, "Swamiji, can I talk with you?" "Yes." He first of all he said, "How your disciples look so nice and full of spiritual consciousness?" That was his first question. No, everything has got process. If we adopt the process, the result is there.
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): How do we finance our movement?
Prabhupāda: By Kṛṣṇa's grace. It is no sends us money.(?) We are spending about ten hundred thousand dollar per month. Kṛṣṇa is providing.
Professor: Ten thousand...
Prabhupāda: Ten hundred thousand. Million dollar. We are getting especially by selling these books. Our book selling is increasing. We are selling fifty thousand copies at the present moment of all these books.
Hṛdayānanda: Every month.
Prabhupāda: Every month. In America all the universities, professors, learned scholar, they are giving us standing order, "As soon as published, please send this."
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): Where in the world do we find that people most understand us and join us?
Prabhupāda: America, North America. Now we have come to South America.
Professor: (Spanish) I saw the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement on British television, and they had an interview with the head of the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement there, and they sang and they danced and many other things there. So people are very receptive to the message of...
Prabhupāda: All over the world. In Africa also.
Professor: But here in Venezuela, I find that Venezuelans, or at least the government, has been a little bit too intolerant with your people here.
Prabhupāda: Government is not tolerant?
Hṛdayānanda: Has been a little bit too intolerant. In the past they were a little bit pushy. But now they have stopped.
Prabhupāda: No, if anyone reads our books, then he will accept it. Therefore we are trying to publish all our books in different languages.
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): How is our movement doing in India?
Prabhupāda: India, it is already there. Every person is Kṛṣṇa conscious in India.
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): He's asking, "Everyone in India?"
Prabhupāda: Yes, everyone, by nature they are Kṛṣṇa conscious, but the modern leaders, they are trying to divert their attention. The leaders are trying to make them Kṛṣṇa unconscious. (laughter) Because they are of opinion that "Being Kṛṣṇa conscious, India is so backward. So we have to become American conscious or European conscious." That is their...
Professor (Hṛdayānanda): It was a great pleasure that you invited us to your...
Prabhupāda: Thank you very much. So you are welcome whenever you have got time. Hare Kṛṣṇa. Jaya. (end)
Is it true that if I follow the regulative principles, the four, that I will be able to chant without offense?
Expressions researched:
"Is it true that if I follow the regulative principles, the four, that I will be able to chant without offense"
Contents
[hide]Conversations and Morning Walks
1972 Conversations and Morning Walks
Ian Polsen: Thank you, Your Grace. Before I go, Your Grace, I am employed in government service. Is it your wish that I resign?
Prabhupāda: No, no. We don't say like that. The thing is that you serve Kṛṣṇa. Our predecessor ācāryas, they are also government servants, but they resigned when they decided to preach this cult. If you have desire to preach this cult, then that is different. Otherwise, as a gentleman you can remain in your position, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, and follow the rules and regulations.
Ian Polsen: Your Grace, how many times do you recommend that I chant on my beads? How many rounds?
Prabhupāda: We recommend minimum sixteen rounds.
Ian Polsen: Minimum sixteen rounds, every day.
Prabhupāda: Otherwise, you can chant twenty-four hours. Minimum sixteen rounds.
Ian Polsen: Is it true that if I follow the regulative principles, the four, that I will be able to chant without offense?
Prabhupāda: Yes. But ah... You are married, no?
Ian Polsen: No.
Prabhupāda: No family man? No. So best thing would have been to live with us and work. Give contribution as much as possible for running on this missionary work. But the thing is, we have no place to...
Devotee: We don't have a very nice place.
Prabhupāda: Otherwise I would have asked you to live with us and work.
Devotee: We're trying to get another place with bigger facilities. Now they're sleeping in the hallways practically.
Prabhupāda: You have got your own apartment?
Ian Polsen: I've just transferred down from Edinburgh on Friday for the first time. So I have not found a place yet. I'm staying in a hotel for the time being.
Prabhupāda: Oh.
Devotee (2) (Kulaśekhara?): Śrīla Prabhupāda, he used to be a shepherd in France.
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Devotee (2) (Kulaśekhara?): He used to be a shepherd three years ago. He used to be a shepherd for some years. And, ah, he was with a Muslim man who was telling him about sac-cid-ānanda, explaining to him about the philosophy of sac-cid-ānanda, about the soul and the spirit. So in Spain—that's where I first met him—he said, "I may appear to you to be a businessman, but also I've been known as a shepherd."
Prabhupāda: So you can read our Teachings of Lord Caitanya. You have got?
Ian Polsen: Yes, I have got Caitanya's teachings. I have...
Prabhupāda: Nectar of Devotion, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Bhagavad-gītā As It Is.
Ian Polsen: I have Bhagavad-gītā.
Prabhupāda: In this way, study seriously these books.
Ian Polsen: May I speak, Your Grace?
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Ian Polsen: There is a magazine called Studies in Comparative Religion which is published in this country, which I feel...
Prabhupāda: That will not help you.
Ian Polsen: No, but the reason why I mention it is that I think it is a magazine that Your Grace might contribute to, to propagate Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Because it's based on three principles: principles of traditional religion, the principles of spiritual guidance from a spiritual master, and the invocation of the name of God. There is great similarity there, and I think that the few people who read that magazine could be reached through the magazine.
Prabhupāda: What is the name?
Ian Polsen: It is called Studies in Comparative Religion. And I can leave the... I have no interest in this magazine except that I subscribe to it.
Prabhupāda: Hm. Comparative religion, from our point of view, that there cannot be many religions, cannot be many religions. Religion means... We define religion as the law given by God. So we understand from Bhagavad-gītā that God says, Kṛṣṇa says, man-manā bhava mad-bhaktaḥ, mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru: "Always think of Me, become My devotee, offer your obeisances unto Me." So any religion that has no conception of God, how he can think of God? If I think of something, that something must be known to me; otherwise how can I think of it? If I imagine something, that is not wanted. My imagination of God... God is not a thing to be imagined by me. He is a concrete thing. Therefore according to our philosophy, any so-called religion which has no conception of God, that is not religion. That is simply mental speculation. We accept that religion means the law given by God. But if you do not know what is God, what is His law, then where is religion? Therefore in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is said that all types of pseudo religion is rejected. You can ask any religious man, "What is your conception of God?" he cannot give any clear conception. So far we are concerned, we can immediately give conception of God—His name, His address, everything. That is the difference. Strictly speaking, we do not accept any system of religion as bona fide. They are all rejected. That is not religion. They do not know what is God. What is that religion? Strictly speaking, that is not religion. But if we speak publicly, they will be angry. So this comparative study of religion, we don't believe in it, because there is no religion. Where is the scope of comparative study?
He (a devotee who works for Krsna yet doesn't follow the four regulatives principles) will fall down?
Expressions researched:
"He will fall down"
Contents
[hide]Conversations and Morning Walks
1975 Conversations and Morning Walks
Devotee (1): Śrīla Prabhupāda, in the Bhagavad-gītā it says that if a man simply works for Kṛṣṇa, he can come to the perfect stage. Is that perfect stage... When he fixes his mind on Kṛṣṇa... But is that achieved via the regulative principles?
Prabhupāda: Hmm?
Devotee (1): If a man simply works for Kṛṣṇa for his whole life, yet he doesn't follow the regulative principles...
Prabhupāda: Then how he follows Kṛṣṇa?
Devotee (1): That's not possible.
Prabhupāda: If you are following Kṛṣṇa, then how you can violate the regulative principles?
Devotee (1): Just like they follow a few regulative principles, like the basic four: no illicit sex, no meat-eating, no gambling, and no intoxication. If they follow those four regulative principles and just work for Kṛṣṇa...
Prabhupāda: He doesn't follow the four principles?
Devotee (1): Oh, yes. Yes. There's this one devotee in Sydney who works very hard for Kṛṣṇa, but...
Prabhupāda: But does not follow.
Devotee (1): He does not like āratis or things like that. He just likes to work hard all the time.
Śrutakīrti: He follows the principles, but he doesn't go to ārati, maybe he doesn't chant his rounds, but he's working...
Devotee (1): Real hard for Kṛṣṇa.
Prabhupāda: Like Gargamuni. (laughter)
Śrutakīrti: Yes, like that. And his plea is that Kṛṣṇa says...
Prabhupāda: Then he will fall down.
Devotee (1): He will fall down?
Śrutakīrti: But the plea is that Kṛṣṇa says in the Gītā, "By working for Me one can come to the perfectional stage."
Prabhupāda: Yes, but he will fall down.
Śrutakīrti: That means "By working for Me eventually one will come to the point of follow the principles and..."
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Śrutakīrti: Not "Simply by working for Me you can do it."
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Śrutakīrti: You will advance to the other stages.
Prabhupāda: Just like if a man is working hard, but he will never become rich, then what is the use? Working hard means one must become rich. But if he does not become rich, simply working hard, then what is the use? Śrama eva hi kevalam (SB 1.2.8). Utsāhād dhairyāt niścayāt tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt. You must follow the regulative principles. Sato vṛtteḥ. This is your honesty, and sādhu-saṅga (CC Madhya 22.83), this can be done-association with devotees. Ṣaḍbhir bhaktiḥ prasidhyati: "This is the way of increasing devotional service." (end)
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CC Madhya-lila
“If the devotee commits an offense at the feet of a Vaiṣṇava while cultivating the creeper of devotional service in the material world, his offense is compared to a mad elephant that uproots the creeper and breaks it. In this way the leaves of the creeper are dried up.
One's devotional attitude increases in the association of a Vaiṣṇava:
By his personal example, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura stresses that a devotee must always remember to please his predecessor ācārya. The Gosvāmīs are represented by one's spiritual master. One cannot be an ācārya (spiritual master) without following strictly in the disciplic succession of the ācāryas. One who is actually serious about advancing in devotional service should desire only to satisfy the previous ācāryas. Ei chaya gosāñi yāra, mui tāra dāsa. One should always think of oneself as a servant of the servant of the ācāryas, and thinking this, one should live in the society of Vaiṣṇavas (CC Madhya 13.80). However, if one thinks that he has become very mature and can live separate from the association of Vaiṣṇavas and thus gives up all the regulative principles due to offending a Vaiṣṇava, one's position becomes very dangerous. Offenses against the holy name are explained in Ādi-līlā, Chapter Eight, verse 24. Giving up the regulative principles and living according to one's whims is compared to a mad elephant, which by force uproots the bhakti-latā and breaks it to pieces. In this way the bhakti-latā shrivels up. Such an offense is especially created when one disobeys the instructions of the spiritual master. This is called guru-avajñā. The devotee must therefore be very careful not to commit offenses against the spiritual master by disobeying his instructions. As soon as one is deviated from the instructions of the spiritual master, the uprooting of the bhakti-latā begins, and gradually all the leaves dry up.
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http://www.vaniquotes.org/wiki/Nobody_will_die_without_sex_life._No... http://www.vaniquotes.org/wiki/In_the_beginning_of_life_nobody_smok... http://www.vaniquotes.org/wiki/Krsna_consciousness_is_not_so_easy._...
Sorry, for many links.
COnclusion is chanting is only way in this age. but we must repent if we break the principles. FOllowing them fastens our advancement.
Thank you.....so the crux .......of the entire conversation and philosophy is ..........even if one commits 4 sinful things..........He can chant ..........Its atleast better than Not-to chant ...........I just need a simple answer ....Yes or No....so it is Yes.........now i am free of confusion......I have all bad habits.....and I am greatly implicated in material life ........I don't want to know any philosophy.....and word jugglery.......because....the heavy philosophy ...gives guilt and low self-esteem ..that we are doin wrong........after all this is kaliyuga.......and to survive ..one cannot be very squeamish here.....but I only know hare krishna mantra........and I enjoy chanting the mantra......but I was afraid that ...God will get angry if I cannot leave the sinful habits....so I raised the question.but now I have got the answer............one can CHANT...in any circumstances,anywhere,anytime.........so ...Thanks !!