Hare Krsna
Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Srila Prabhupada Says - [Regarding how even though we are going to the Temple, chanting etc if we continue to sin where is the question of purification?]
But if you want to solve this real problem, then you should take up this nivrtti-mÄrga. Nivrtti-marga means stop this way of sense gratification and take to Krsna consciousness. That is the way. If you continue your misbehavior, at the same time you want to cure your disease, that is not possible.
Just like this alcoholic treatment. They go to the psychiatrist and so experienced... After all, if you do not give up this bad habit, then where is the question of treatment? Where is the question of treatment? That is called... That is explained in the sastra, hasti-snana. The example is very right. Hasti-snana. Hasti, hasti means elephant. Elephant, they go into the water, in the lake, in the pond, and very nicely cleanse their body. Body very nicely cleansed, and after taking bath, as soon as it comes to the bank on the ground, he takes some dust and throw over the body.
So atonement... Sometimes we make atonement. I have committed some sin. I go to church or go to temple. I make some atonement. Then after finishing that business, again I do that business. So this kind of habit will not help you. You must try to stop the bad habit. That you can do when you are in the association of devotees. Otherwise it is not possible.
[SB: 6.11 - Melbourne 21 May 1975]
Srila Prabhupada Says - [Regarding how the 'greatest sinners' are those who atone by chanting and then repeatedly sin]
So persons who are trying to commit sinful activities on the strength of some spiritual activity, they're the greatest sinners. Namno balad yasya hi papa-buddhiḥ. That is not allowed. You can neutralize your sinful activities by some spiritual a... But that does not mean... This is called hasti-snana. That is also explained. Hasti-snana. Hasti-snana means bathing of the elephant.
The elephant goes into the reservoir of water, takes bath very nicely, and, as soon as come on the land, again takes some dust and throws over the body. Immediately. You see? So, that sort of purification is not required. Once purified, don't commit again. The harer nama [Cc. Adi 17.21], Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra has got power to purify, but that does not mean that we shall commit again and purify it. That process is not this Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.
[SB: 1.5.11 - New Vrndavana 10 June 1969]
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