Prabhupāda: Yes. On the strength of chanting, committing sin. Because as Dayānanda explained to you, that this is a purificatory process. So if we think that, "We are chanting. It is . . . I am being purified, so let me become contaminated by acting some sinful activities. I'll purify by chanting," this motive is very bad. This is the greatest offense.
Once purified, that's all right, but don't commit again sinful. Sinful life should be stopped. From this day of initiation these four pillars of sinful life—illicit sex life, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling—they should be broken. Not that, "Let me do it. I have got the mantra, machine, instrument for counteracting." No. You should not . . . no more commit any sinful activities. Once you are purified, no more.
Then, what is that?
Devotee (2): Instructing the glories of the Lord's name to the . . .
Prabhupāda: Yes. We (are) therefore cautious. Unless one is recommended by the president . . . if he is eager, he is . . . I mean to say, to accept harinām, then we see that how he is attending our classes, how he is becoming little interested. Then we offer this first initiation. Otherwise, if we see that he is unmindful, then we should not canvass. Let him come.
Just like Kṛṣṇa says Arjuna that, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja (BG 18.66): "You just surrender unto Me." He's saying. Not that by force making him surrender. That kind of surrender will not stand. We should not canvass. Let him become attracted by Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, and he personally asks for harer nāma (CC Adi 17.21).
Just like Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says, bhakativinoda prabhu-caraṇe paḍiyā (Jīv Jāgo). As soon as Lord Caitanya says that, "I have brought this medicine for killing māyā," hari-nāma mahā-mantra loilo. "Everyone can take from Me this chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra." So bhakativinoda prabhu-caraṇe paḍiyā. The Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura immediately fell down on the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya and begged, "Please give me."
So this, this should . . . the chance should be given like that. One should beg. Not that canvassing. No. That is not required. That is another offense. Unless one has increased little taste and he's personally eager to accept this chanting process, we should not canvass. That is not our . . . that is an offense.
Then?
Devotee: Comparing the holy name with material piety.
Prabhupāda: Yes. The whole thing is purification. Material contamination means desire to enjoy this material world. That is contamination. We have nothing to do with this material world. Brahma-bhūtaḥ. You are spirit. Unfortunately, I (we) are put into this association. So that is another chapter. But now we are trying to come out of it.
So at the same time I am trying to go back to home, back to Godhead, at the same time desiring some material sense gratification, this is another offense. This should not be done. We should try to forget. We shall try to forget, "No more I'll . . . no. There is no necessity of my materialness enjoyment." That sort of vow, determination, must be there.
Then, what is next?
Devotee: Becoming inattentive while chanting the holy name.
Prabhupāda: Yes. While you (are) chanting, you should hear also. Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. You should hear at the same time. Then the mind and the senses are compact. That is samādhi. That is perfection of yoga. This yoga is recommended in the Bhagavad-gītā: yoginām api sarveṣāṁ mad-gatenāntar-ātmanā (BG 6.47). So everyone, while chanting, he should hear. All right.
(japa)
So, what is your name?
Kevin: Kevin.
Prabhupāda: What is that?
Devotees: Kevin.
Prabhupāda: Kevin. Oh. So your spiritual name, Śrī Raṅga. Śrī Raṅga. Śrī Raṅganātha is Viṣṇu. It is a very big temple in South India.
Then, what is the name?
Robert: Robert.
Prabhupāda: So your name is Romaharṣaṇa. Romaharṣaṇa was a great learned scholar for explaining Vedic literature. But once upon a time he committed some offense. In a great meeting he was speaking about Vedic hymns, and Balarāma, He entered that sacrificial arena. So all the sages and brāhmins and everyone stood up. This Romaharṣaṇa did not. So Balarāma punished him, killed him. But although he was killed, but he got salvation and he was recognized. But, he . . .
It was an example that we should be always very careful about offering respect to the Supreme Lord. He was sitting on the vyāsāsana. Vyāsāsana, one who is sitting on the vyāsāsana, if somebody comes, he does not require to offer respect. That is the rule. But that is not applicable when God enters. No. (laughter) That was his offense. So exemplary. He was killed not with any weapon. One straw. He was immediately . . . Balarāma had some straw.
So all the sages said that, "Sir, we allowed him to sit on the vyāsāsana, and he was speaking. Now what is to be done? He's killed." So then Balarāma said, "All right. If you want, I can make him immediately alive." So they also considered that, "If we say that 'Make him alive', then . . . Balarāma's decision was to kill him. Then we overrule Him." Just see how the behavior. Then the saints and sages said: "No, Sir. We do not want. Whatever You have done, that is all right. But You do something, that we blessed this man for long life to speak. Now he is dead. So our version is also nullified. But we want that our version may not be nullified and Your action may not be nullified. You do something like this." (laughter)
So then Balarāma said, "All right. You bring his son. I shall empower him, and he'll be a great speaker on this Vedic literature." And because his son means he himself . . . Ātmaiva jayate putra. Son is born, there is no . . . the father and son, there is no distinction. Just like in Bible sometimes it is said the son of God and God is one. That's a fact, because son is expansion of the body of the father. So Romaharṣaṇa's son was Sūta Gosvāmī. This Sūta Gosvāmī's name you have heard. He is speaking Bhāgavatam. So Sūta Gosvāmī was blessed by Balarāma that, "You, on behalf of your father . . ." So their version and Balarāma's action was mitigated in this way.
All right. Come one. So you be careful. Huh? Don't be like Romaharṣaṇa. (chuckles) You take the advantage, but don't make . . . commit mistake like Romaharṣaṇa. (laughs) (laughter) Hare Kṛṣṇa.