View source for Even if one commits offenses, one should continue chanting the holy name

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[[Category:Commit]]
[[Category:Offenses]]
[[Category:Should]]
[[Category:Continue]]
[[Category:Chanting the Holy Name]]
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<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam" class="section" sec_index="1" parent="compilation" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam"><h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
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<div id="SB_Canto_6" class="sub_section" sec_index="6" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 6"><h3>SB Canto 6</h3>
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<div id="SB6324_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_6" book="SB" index="129" link="SB 6.3.24" link_text="SB 6.3.24">
<div class="heading">The chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is recommended even for persons who commit offenses, because if they continue chanting they will gradually chant offenselessly.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 6.3.24|SB 6.3.24, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">The chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is recommended even for persons who commit offenses, because if they continue chanting they will gradually chant offenselessly. By chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra without offenses, one increases his love for Kṛṣṇa. As stated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, premā pum-artho mahān: one's main concern should be to increase one's attachment to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and to increase one's love for Him.</p>
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<div id="SB_Canto_7" class="sub_section" sec_index="7" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 7"><h3>SB Canto 7</h3>
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<div id="SB752324_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_7" book="SB" index="200" link="SB 7.5.23-24" link_text="SB 7.5.23-24">
<div class="heading">There is no way to atone for any of these offenses. It is therefore recommended that an offender at the feet of the holy name continue to chant the holy name twenty-four hours a day. Constant chanting of the holy name will make one free of offenses.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 7.5.23-24|SB 7.5.23-24, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">One should therefore be very careful not to commit offenses at the lotus feet of the Lord's holy name. The offenses are described as follows: (a) to blaspheme a devotee, especially a devotee engaged in broadcasting the glories of the holy name, (b) to consider the name of Lord Śiva or any other demigod to be equally as powerful as the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead (no one is equal to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, nor is anyone superior to Him), (c) to disobey the instructions of the spiritual master, (d) to blaspheme the Vedic literatures and literatures compiled in pursuance of the Vedic literatures, (e) to comment that the glories of the holy name of the Lord are exaggerated, (f) to interpret the holy name in a deviant way, (g) to commit sinful activities on the strength of chanting the holy name, (h) to compare the chanting of the holy name to pious activities, (i) to instruct the glories of the holy name to a person who has no understanding of the chanting of the holy name, (j) not to awaken in transcendental attachment for the chanting of the holy name, even after hearing all these scriptural injunctions.</p>
<p>There is no way to atone for any of these offenses. It is therefore recommended that an offender at the feet of the holy name continue to chant the holy name twenty-four hours a day. Constant chanting of the holy name will make one free of offenses, and then he will gradually be elevated to the transcendental platform on which he can chant the pure holy name and thus become a lover of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.</p>
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<div id="SB752324_1" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_7" book="SB" index="200" link="SB 7.5.23-24" link_text="SB 7.5.23-24">
<div class="heading">It is recommended that even if one commits offenses, one should continue chanting the holy name. In other words, the chanting of the holy name makes one offenseless.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 7.5.23-24|SB 7.5.23-24, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">It is recommended that even if one commits offenses, one should continue chanting the holy name. In other words, the chanting of the holy name makes one offenseless. In the book Nāma-kaumudī it is recommended that if one is an offender at the lotus feet of a Vaiṣṇava, he should submit to that Vaiṣṇava and be excused; similarly, if one is an offender in chanting the holy name, he should submit to the holy name and thus be freed from his offenses. In this connection there is the following statement, spoken by Dakṣa to Lord Śiva: "I did not know the glories of your personality, and therefore I committed an offense at your lotus feet in the open assembly. You are so kind, however, that you did not accept my offense. Instead, when I was falling down because of accusing you, you saved me by your merciful glance. You are most great. Kindly excuse me and be satisfied with your own exalted qualities."</p>
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<div id="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta" class="section" sec_index="2" parent="compilation" text="Sri Caitanya-caritamrta"><h2>Sri Caitanya-caritamrta</h2>
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<div id="CC_Adi-lila" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta" text="CC Adi-lila"><h3>CC Adi-lila</h3>
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<div id="CCAdi8Summary_0" class="quote" parent="CC_Adi-lila" book="CC" index="1116" link="CC Adi 8 Summary" link_text="CC Adi 8 Summary">
<div class="heading">That is also an offense. One should seriously and sincerely continue to chant the Pañca-tattva names. All these ācāryas will bestow their causeless mercy upon a devotee and gradually purify his heart.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Adi 8 Summary|CC Adi 8 Summary]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">The Eighth Chapter of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta is summarized by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in his Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya. In this chapter the glories of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda are described, and it is also stated that one who commits offenses in chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra does not achieve love of Godhead, even after chanting for many years. In this connection, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura warns against artificial displays of the bodily symptoms called aṣṭa-sāttvika-vikāra. ([[Vanisource:CC Antya 14.99|CC Antya 14.99]]) That is also an offense. One should seriously and sincerely continue to chant the Pañca-tattva names śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda. All these ācāryas will bestow their causeless mercy upon a devotee and gradually purify his heart. When he is actually purified, automatically he will experience ecstasy in chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.</p>
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<div id="Lectures" class="section" sec_index="4" parent="compilation" text="Lectures"><h2>Lectures</h2>
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<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Lectures" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures"><h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
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<div id="LectureonSB1511NewVrindabanJune101969_0" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="135" link="Lecture on SB 1.5.11 -- New Vrindaban, June 10, 1969" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.5.11 -- New Vrindaban, June 10, 1969">
<div class="heading">Even there are offenses, we shall go on chanting. That chanting will help me to get out of all offenses.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.5.11 -- New Vrindaban, June 10, 1969|Lecture on SB 1.5.11 -- New Vrindaban, June 10, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Actually, this transcendental name of Kṛṣṇa, or God, can be chanted in liberated stage. Therefore we prescribe, while chanting, there are three stages. The offensive stage, liberated stage, and actually on the platform of love of Godhead stage. That is the perfectional stage by chanting. In the beginning we chant in offensive stage—the ten kinds of offenses. But that does not mean that we shall not chant. Even there are offenses, we shall go on chanting. That chanting will help me to get out of all offenses. Of course, we must take care that we may not commit offenses. Therefore this list of ten kinds of offenses are given. We should try to avoid. And as soon as it is offenseless chanting, then it is liberated stage. That is liberated stage.</p>
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<div id="LectureonSB1511NewVrindabanJune101969_1" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="135" link="Lecture on SB 1.5.11 -- New Vrindaban, June 10, 1969" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.5.11 -- New Vrindaban, June 10, 1969">
<div class="heading">Niścayāt means with firm determination: "Yes, I have begun chanting. Maybe there are offenses, but if I continue, Kṛṣṇa will be pleased to place me on the transcendental platform when I shall relish what is this chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa."
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.5.11 -- New Vrindaban, June 10, 1969|Lecture on SB 1.5.11 -- New Vrindaban, June 10, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">But we should not be dejected for that purpose. We should continue with perseverance. Utsāhād dhairyāt. Utsāhāt means with enthusiasm, and dhairyāt, dhairyāt means perseverance, patience. Utsāhāt. Niścayāt. Niścayāt means with firm determination: "Yes, I have begun chanting. Maybe there are offenses, but if I continue, Kṛṣṇa will be pleased to place me on the transcendental platform when I shall relish what is this chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa." Just like Viśvanātha Cakravartī has given that the mango in the ripe stage and unripe stage. Unripe stage, it is bitter, but the same mango, when it is fully ripe, it is sweet, the sweetness. We shall have to wait for this stage, and we shall have to be careful that we may not commit offenses. Then we, surely, we shall come. Just like a diseased patient, if he follows the regulations given by the physician and takes the medicine, then surely he'll be cured.</p>
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<div id="LectureonSB5527VrndavanaNovember141976_2" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="558" link="Lecture on SB 5.5.27 -- Vrndavana, November 14, 1976" link_text="Lecture on SB 5.5.27 -- Vrndavana, November 14, 1976">
<div class="heading">We should try to avoid the ten kinds of offenses. Of course, in the beginning the offenses will continue. But chanting, chanting, chanting, chanting, as soon as we become purified.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 5.5.27 -- Vrndavana, November 14, 1976|Lecture on SB 5.5.27 -- Vrndavana, November 14, 1976]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">But the difficulty is that we cannot come to the pure stage of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. Due to our past habits our mind is disturbed. We cannot concentrate. Therefore we have fixed up the minimum. We cannot imitate Haridāsa Ṭhākura. That is not possible. If somebody imitates Haridāsa Ṭhākura... We can see this chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa and smoking bidi. We can understand what is the position. The offense is going on. Therefore we should try to avoid the ten kinds of offenses. Of course, in the beginning the offenses will continue. But chanting, chanting, chanting, chanting, as soon as we become purified Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇam ([[Vanisource:CC Antya 20.12|CC Antya 20.12]]). By chanting, chanting, chanting repeatedly, when our, the core of heart will be cleansed, ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam, then immediately bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇam, this mahā-vimoha...</p>
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<div id="LectureonSB614142SuratDecember231970_3" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="669" link="Lecture on SB 6.1.41-42 -- Surat, December 23, 1970" link_text="Lecture on SB 6.1.41-42 -- Surat, December 23, 1970">
<div class="heading">By chanting, if you practice chanting, even though in the beginning it is full of offenses, but if you continue chanting... Therefore we say that "You must chant so many times." So even there are offenses, by chanting, chanting, chanting, chanting, he will be purified.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 6.1.41-42 -- Surat, December 23, 1970|Lecture on SB 6.1.41-42 -- Surat, December 23, 1970]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">There are three stages of chanting this Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. In the beginning there are full of offenses. Then it is almost offenseless. And then, when it is pure, that is perfectional stage. So by chanting, if you practice chanting, even though in the beginning it is full of offenses, but if you continue chanting... Therefore we say that "You must chant so many times." So even there are offenses, by chanting, chanting, chanting, chanting, he will be purified. Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam ([[Vanisource:CC Antya 20.12|CC Antya 20.12]]). So therefore, in this age we must stick to this process of chanting. That will make us perfect. If not immediately, it will do, certainly. That is special advantage for the men of this age. Kaler doṣa-nidhe rājann asti hy eko mahān guṇaḥ. Mahān guṇaḥ. It is a great advantage. What is that? Kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya: ([[Vanisource:SB 12.3.51|SB 12.3.51]]) "Simply by chanting Lord Kṛṣṇa's name," mukta-saṅga, 'he becomes free from all contamination and he becomes eligible to be promoted to the spiritual kingdom." That is special advantage of this age. Therefore we are advising, we are preaching, that "You chant this mantra. In any condition of life, begin chanting. You will be benefited."</p>
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