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THE FIRST OFFENSE is to blaspheme those persons who have actually dedicated their lives to spreading the glories of the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is called vaiñëava-aparädha. We usually think first of the guru, guru-aparädha, but this offense refers to all devotees, even the so-called little devotees with whom we are living.
Devotee means anyone who is actually surrendered to the teachings of God. You cannot indulge in faultfinding or criticizing such a person. One who has dedicated his life to the service of God is not to be considered an ordinary person. And not only should you refrain from blaspheming him, but you should keep his company. When mentioning those things favorable for devotional service, Rüpa Gosvämé states, saìga-tyägät sato våtteù ñaòbhir bhaktiù prasidhyati: One should avoid the company of the nondevotee and keep company with the devotee and value his association.
We have been speaking about the community of devotees. So I am one devotee; each of us is one individual. We have to honor all devotees. Whoever chants Hare Kåñëa has to be mentally honored. Whoever is initiated and is following the rules and regulations, you offer him obeisances. Whoever is actually an advanced devotee, you offer him service. Although one is himself a devotee—he’s taken initiation, he’s chanting hari-näma—he must think of himself as a servant of the devotees and hold the devotees in reverence.
You cannot chant the holy name and still speak offensively, act offensively, think offensively about others who are chanting the glories of the holy name. The relationships may be different, but in none of these relationships is there neglect of a genuine devotee of God. And if you do neglect, then you will be in difficulty, you cannot chant with the pure effect. You cannot chant on your beads and at the same time be blasphemous or neglectful of the devotees of the Lord. That is like trying to build a fire while throwing water on it. The potency of Hare Kåñëa mantra is always absolute. But if at the same time you commit such a great offense, it is like that—throwing water on the fire. You will make a great havoc of your devotional life.
All over the world devotees of God are working, in different religions, as followers of Mohammed or Jesus, and the Kåñëa conscious devotees should not blaspheme these persons. Anyone who is actually a devotee of God is dear to God. They shouldn’t be blasphemed.
It is also an offense to the holy name when there is criticism between disciples of different gurus (whether disciples of Prabhupäda toward the other disciples or toward the other gurus), or between the gurus or between the disciples of the same guru. They are all preaching, they have all received bona fide initiation, they are all following. So for myself, I should worship my guru exclusively, but respect all other bona fide devotees and spiritual masters in a humble way and try to improve my own Kåñëa consciousness in relation to my spiritual master. And everyone should uphold the principles of initiation, worship their spiritual master with the right understanding and the right siddhänta, and not blaspheme any of the devotees of the Lord.
If we chant Hare Kåñëa but don’t avoid this offense and the other offenses, then for us it is hopeless. The chanting is so purifying that all other discrepancies and offenses will be washed away. But if in the chanting you are full of offenses, then what can save you?